February 14, 2023
Kansas 4-H Foundation Program Rally Update
It was a pleasure seeing and visiting with everyone at Program Rally in Emporia a few short weeks ago. For those of you who were unable to attend, here are a few takeaways from the update I shared at the meeting.
Leadership
Jake Worcester has moved into a new role with National 4-H Council. While he is greatly missed in the Kansas 4-H Foundation office, we are so pleased that he will continue his work toward advancing 4-H. While I serve in the interim role, the board of trustees are facilitating a national search for a replacement. Meanwhile, the team continues to move forward with fundraising priorities.
Partnerships
Within a recent news release, you learned about a new partnership with Healthy Blue. This partnership includes the opportunity to advance healthy living initiatives for 4-H youth and their families. This is one example of the type of partnerships we strive to develop in order to advance the mission of the Kansas 4-H. We are gaining traction with a number of potential philanthropic partners for other priorities, as well. We appreciated the opportunity to collaborate with Dr. Maass and Amy Sollock to prepare a compelling case for support. This is the tip of the iceberg. As the team in the state office continues to build, we know there are many more opportunities we want to pursue together.
4-H Happens Locally
We want to help you make an impact. Whenever possible, we visit local units when our team is on the road. We enjoy stopping by your office to say hello, and let you know who we are visiting in your area. We love to hear your success stories and challenges with us, so we can share them to inspire philanthropy from individuals and businesses.
Annual Giving
Thanks to the leadership of Lindsey Oakes and Callie Lehman, we celebrated another record year of annual giving. This response is a reflection of the great work you are doing with 4-H youth.
4-H Summer Camp
Rock Springs Ranch Executive Director Steve Maynard shared a comprehensive update regarding plans for 4-H summer camp. Steve and Camp Directors Jared and Letha Causby are eager to visit clubs to share plans for 4-H camp. Give them a call at 785-257-3221 to schedule a time for them to visit. Thank you for your work to encourage your youth and families to register early!
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or want to visit further. It’s a pleasure to serve with you!