4-H News:

NBA Player Gives Cars to 4-H Volunteers Affected by Hurricanes

By Tobie Blanchard, LSU AgCenter

"I’ve never won anything in my life," cried Tasha Miller.

But her day had come. Miller, a 4-H volunteer from New Orleans who lost her home in Hurricane Katrina, won a 2006 Toyota Prius hybrid from NBA star Amare Stoudemire.

Stoudemire, a center with the Phoenix Suns, gave away cars to 10 4-H volunteer leaders. Those volunteers lost homes, jobs and even loved ones in hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

"I think it is well-deserved," Stoudemire said. "They put so much time in the community."

Stoudemire owns a Toyota dealership and wanted to do something for victims of the hurricanes. He contacted the NBA for help, and because of 4-H’s work with the New Orleans Hornets over the years, the NBA suggested he reward 4-H leaders.

4-H is the youth development and outreach program of the nation’s land-grant university system. 4-H provides young people with a variety of educational projects and activities designed to help them develop knowledge and skills that will benefit them throughout their lives. It is directed in Louisiana by faculty in the LSU AgCenter, but volunteer leaders across the state play vital roles in helping to reach more young people.

The 10 finalists who received cars this weekend were selected from 30 applicants. They gathered at New Orleans’ City Park Saturday (Feb. 18) under the impression that only one would drive away with a new car.

The 6-foot, 11-inch Stoudemire drove up in the black Prius. The finalists, all women, greeted him and took turns sitting in the car.

As the women lined up for the "drawing" Stoudemire said, "You guys have been so great to the community – all of you are getting Toyotas."

The women and their family members erupted in cheers as nine more Priuses drove up. Some of the winners fell to the ground; others rushed to hug Stoudemire.

"We all got cars," exclaimed Ellie Melancon, a 4-H volunteer from Jefferson Parish.

"I can’t catch my breath. I’m so excited right now," said Elaine Sanchez, sitting in one of the new cars. "This is wonderful."

Stoudemire toured the site of what was Sanchez’s home in New Orleans East before the giveaway.

"I just had to reach out and bless them with something that’s coming from the heart," said Stoudemire, the top of his white track suit covered in make-up from hugs and kisses from the grateful women.

Terril Faul, the head of the LSU AgCenter’s 4-H program, was proud that Stoudemire chose 4-H and these women to honor.

"They are not looking for awards," Faul said of the finalists. "They really just enjoy working with youth and making a difference in their lives."

Miller, a mother of three, relocated to Willis, Texas, with her family after Hurricane Katrina. She was very active in the New Orleans area 4-H club that met at Jackson Barracks.

"I loved working as a 4-H volunteer," she said. "I was so excited to give back to the community."

Miller said she doesn’t believe she will return to New Orleans and is looking for a 4-H club to work with in Texas.

"I miss it. I miss my kids. They were a part of my life," she said.

All the women were able to drive off in their new cars with taxes and title fees also covered by Stoudemire.

Dianne Jupiter, shivering from excitement and the damp chill in the air that afternoon, ducked into a silver Pruis and shouted "It’s warm in here."

The original story can be found at:
http://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/communications/news/headline_news/NBA+Player+Gives+Cars+To+4H+Leaders+Affected+By+Hurricanes.htm

For more information, contact Terril Faul at 225-578-2196, tfaul@agcenter.lsu.edu or Tobie Blanchard at 225-578-5649, tblanchard@agcenter.lsu.edu.

Phoenix Suns basketball player and car dealership owner, Amare Stoudemire, presented new Toyota Prius cars to each of 10 Louisiana 4-H volunteer leaders who had suffered from hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Top, 4-H volunteer Tasha M. Miller of New Orleans hugs Stoudemire after finding out she is the winner of one of the cars. Bottom, the winners pose together for a photo. They and their parishes are, left to right, Miller and Dianne Jupiter, Orleans; Brenda Bulot, Plaquemines; Ellie Melancon, Jefferson; Cyndi Nguyen, Orleans; Marleen Federico, St. Bernard; Elaine Sanchez and Liljose-Marie Tompkins, Orleans; Debbie Gissel, Jefferson; and Leisa Lee, Vermilion.

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Tech Teen Makes “Cents” with Tractors

The first time one of Jenna Greckel’s clients told her to put her father on the phone, she convinced him to change his mind and sold him a $6,000 tractor.

Jenna, 18, has learned a lot about bridging age and information gaps since she was the first 4-Her in her Nebraska county to complete the 4-H Business Sense program. At age 12 she took what she’d learned about communication skills, advertising, bookkeeping and creating business plans and started a pet-sitting business.

Within a year Jenna had started a larger enterprise that combined her rural heritage with modern-day technology. Selling antique tractors and equipment over the internet is more profitable than caring for pets, but it also produces more challenges.

“I had to put together and present my business plan to the bank manager in order to get a master note to fund my business,” the 4-H member said. “As a freshman in high school, it was scary having a payment due on a loan worth thousands of dollars every month!”

To make sure her venture succeeded, Jenna focused on the business essentials of buying and selling a product, planning for overhead costs, and determining profit margins. As her sales and reputation grew, she also began performing appraisals and selling items on consignment.

Jenna often works with lifelong farmers who aren’t familiar with modern business technologies. “They teach me about the tractors, and I help them get a higher sale price by using the internet,” she said.

Negotiating with people of different ages and personalities from all over the country was a daunting experience at first, but 4-H helped Jenna overcome her shyness. “Now I’m able to conduct business transactions with confidence,” she said.

Jenna also developed decision-making and financial management skills that she teaches to other youth as vice president of her 4-H teen leader group and counselor at an entrepreneurship camp.

She enjoys helping younger and older generations learn how to use technology for business, and she knows that she’s often helping people capture a part of their childhood. “People frequently buy antique tractors as a way of maintaining a connection with their past,” she said, “and I love helping them re-live fond memories of their youth.”

Learn more about the 4-H community of young people across America learning leadership, citizenship and life skills at www.4husa.org.

Teen entrepreneur Jenna Greckel.

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2006 4-H Literacy Education Mini-Grants from $500-$2,000 each
The 2006 4-H Literacy Education Mini-grants offers a limited number of youth grants in the amount of $500 to $2,000 to 4 H/Extension groups in local communities, in counties, and at the state level. Funding is provided by Bridgestone/Firestone Trust Fund, Firestone Agricultural Tire Company. This program provides opportunities for young people and adults to address critical literacy needs of youth and their families. Youth are empowered to lead the planning, implementation, and evaluation process with minimal mentorship from adults. Youth will learn how their leadership can result in community collaborations that amplify the impact of their project.

Grants are offered only to 4-H/Extension Programs in the United States and its territories. If you are not a part of 4-H, we encourage you to contact your local Cooperative Extension office and become a project collaborator.

Information and the grant application can be found at http://www.fourhcouncil.edu/GrantsLiteracy.aspx on the bottom of the page under “Related Links.” Completed applications are due on Friday, March 17, 2006, 5pm, EST. If you have any questions, email schaconas@fourhcouncil.edu, or call at 301-961-2858.

Email your grant application as an attachment to your state 4-H office, 1890/1994 Administrator, or the state programs/contracts office (SPO), for review before our deadline. Your designated office will then forward your grant application as an email attachment to: 2006literacy@fourhcouncil.edu. Applications must be received via email, as an attachment, in our email inbox no later than Friday, March 17, 2006, 5PM, EST.

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Resources and Opportunities:

Youth Join Forces Through National Youth Violence Prevention Week
National Youth Violence Prevention Week, April 3-7, 2006, will provide a unique opportunity for people of all ages and walks of life to join forces to address this crucial issue. Find out more about the campaign and get involved by visiting http://www.violencepreventionweek.org/.

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The Bald Eagle Is Back
Create and submit your 500-word story or art that answers the question "The bald eagle is back! Why is that important to America?" by March 24, 2006, and you and three of your family members or friends could win a trip to Washington D.C.!

The bald eagle symbolizes American values such as independence, freedom and strength. Declared an endangered species in 1967, the Eagle has become synonymous with the Endangered Species Act and is a prime example of how the Act protects the rich diversity of America's wildlife. Contribute your voice, your writing and your artwork to help convince the world the bald eagle is worth saving. Visit http://www.eaglesforever.org/ for more information.

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