4-H, the largest youth development program in the nation, is calling on all alumni to raise their hands to help bring 4-H to 10 million youth by 2025. Currently 4-H empowers nearly six million young people in every county across America, including 26,500 4-H'ers in Illinois.
For more than 100 years, the 4-H impact on young people has been immeasurable. "Having experienced our programs first-hand, our alumni know best what a positive impact 4-H had on them growing up, which is why we're reaching out to them to support the next generation of true leaders," said Lisa Diaz, University of Illinois Extension associate dean and 4-H director.
"Whether they're running Fortune 100 companies, performing to sold-out crowds, leading community programs or volunteering to empower local youth, 4‑H alumni are the epitome of true leadership," said Jennifer Sirangelo, president and CEO, National 4‑H Council. "Our remarkable alumni now have the perfect opportunity to pay it forward, ensuring that the next generation has the opportunity to benefit from the 4‑H experience."
As part of the Raise Your Hand call to action through June 30, 4-H is asking the millions of 4‑H alumni across the nation, including 4-H alums in Illinois to 'Raise Your Hand' and pay it forward in support of providing the hands-on learning that empowers kids across America.
Joining is easy – alumni can go online to 4-H.org/raiseyourhand and fill in their details. Raising a hand in this way is a vote towards a $20,000, $10,000 or $5,000 award for the states with the most alumni hands raised, including Illinois. Alumni can then support the activation by tweeting, posting and sharing their #4HGrown experience, or support and tag fellow alumni by asking them to raise their hands for their state.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Judy Mae Bingman, University of Illinois Extension Marketing and Communications Manager
Judy uses powerful words and photography to tell the Extension story. She is a skilled communication strategist and storyteller with demonstrated success in building teams and creating strong organizational brand identities that deepen Extension’s impact among key audiences, build brand loyalty, strengthen employee talent, and expand public engagement. She is a frequent conference presenter at the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents Conference and helps Extension staff across the nation tell compelling stories.
"4-H gives kids the opportunity to learn by doing, to grow from not only the encouragements brought by success, but also through challenges and failures, as these skills will help them to handle whatever life may throw their way," explains Jennifer Nettles, Grammy-award winning musician, actress and 4‑H national spokesperson.