May 5, 2020
Launch of 4-H Resilience Fund
Submitted by Jake Worcester, President/CEO
Thank you for stepping up and responding to the recent challenges and adapting the 4-H experience. Many donors and supporters are asking how they can help.
COVID-19 4-H Resilience Fund
As summer approaches and physical distancing measures begin to ease, we know the recovery from our situation will be significant. Meetings, events, camp, and fairs and other opportunities for connection and the traditional ways in which we deliver 4-H experiences are canceled or still uncertain. What is not uncertain and has not changed are the needs of youth to belong, master new skills, grow their independence, and experience generosity. We are here to support you.
Last Friday, the Foundation launched the COVID-19 4-H Resilience Fund. This fund was created to meet the critical and immediate needs of Kansas 4-H youth. We are currently assessing with Kansas 4-H leadership how to most effectively invest these funds. At a high level, this fund will provide resources for:
• programming designed to reach youth where they are
• support for our volunteer educators
• new and innovative platforms to deliver 4-H experiences across the state
As you know, much of this work is already underway. We are building these resources to be able to respond to the needs of the program in the coming months. The investments made will benefit Kansas 4-H youth now and beyond the current crisis.
Match for first $20,000 in gifts
The COVID-19 4-H Resilience Fund campaign will last from May 1 to May 31. I am pleased to share that generous donors have committed to doubling the impact of the first $20,000. Beginning May 1, the first $20,000 in gifts to the 4-H Resilience Fund will be matched dollar for dollar! Gifts to the COVID-19 4-H Resilience Fund can be made at kansas4hfoundation.org/give/now. You can find gift matching guidelines on this webpage as well.
How you can help
As Extension professionals, your ability to adapt current 4-H programming is inspiring. Continue to share with us and your networks what you and Kansas 4-H members are doing to be resilient during this time. Mail, email and other digital appeals will be launched later today regarding the COVID-19 4-H Resilience Fund. We wanted you to be aware as these communications go out to many 4-H supporters in your local units. Your efforts to share this campaign with your community will make an impact on the experiences Kansas 4-H provides members during this global pandemic.
For 115 years, Kansas 4-H has transformed our communities. We will come out of this crisis stronger, more resilient and prepared with new methods of delivering 4-H that will allow even more young people to grow their heads, hearts, hands and health.