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[Editor's
Note: This is a fill-in-the-blank news release for use by county 4-H
agents who had a youth or adult delegate attend the National Conversation
on Youth Development in February 2002. This news release was emailed to
all county 4-H faculty in Florida.]
Local Youth
Participates in 4-H’s National Conversation on Youth Development
To Mark its 100th
Anniversary
For
Immediate Release
Contact:
_______________
(YOUR NAME) _________________ (YOUR PHONE NUMBER)
Ami Neiberger (352)846-0996 ext. 237, aneiberger@mail.ifas.ufl.edu
Date:
TBA
Washington
D.C. – [Youth
name] of [city,
state] was one of 1,200 youth and adults from throughout the country
participating in The National Conversation on Youth Development in the
21st Century, a national summit sponsored by 4-H to create a youth-led
action plan to improve urban, suburban and rural communities nationwide.
The
National Conversation’s findings, which will be tabulated using instant
polling technology, will be presented to President Bush, members of
Congress and other political and community leaders in April.
Speaking
at the National Conversation, USA Freedom Corps director John Bridgeland
said the purpose of President Bush’s new volunteer initiative “is to
ask every American to stop, to pause, to ask the question, ‘what will be
my great service to my neighbor, my community, my country and the
world?’”
Bridgeland
hailed the youth participating in the National Conversation, as well as
the millions of 4-H members throughout the country: “You are the rising
generation, and I know with your commitment to public service, you can in
fact become the next greatest generation.”
Also
speaking at the 4-H summit was Harris Wofford, chairman of America’s
Promise, who described the youth in attendance as “the promise in
America.” Further, he underscored the importance of their role in USA
Freedom Corps: “You are vital parts of those armies of compassion that
President Bush has called into action.”
The
“Power of YOUth Pledge” Campaign
4-H
youth presented Bridgeland and Wofford with a large check representing
more than 1.3 million hours committed thus far by 100,000 youth and adults
to the “Power of YOUth Pledge” Campaign, a
volunteerism drive aimed at improving communities nationwide. The
individual commitments were made to address a variety of community needs
including:
- Helping a younger person (17,641 pledges
totaling 282,221 hours);
- Improving my community (14,096 pledges
totaling 187,748 hours);
- Helping an older person (16,723 pledges
totaling 178,826 hours);
- Mentoring and tutoring (8,496 pledges
totaling 137,905 hours);
- Building
respect and tolerance (10,165 pledges totaling 136,954 hours);
- Improving
the environment (12,110 pledges totaling 119,333 hours).
Bridgeland
described the “Power of YOUth Pledge” Campaign as “an engine
of humanity that can change our country and the world” and “a great
gift to America.”
[Quote
from youth participant regarding his or her personal commitment to the
Campaign.]
4-H
Marks Its Centennial Anniversary
4-H
is sponsoring both the National Conversation on Youth Development in
the 21st Century and the “Power of YOUth Pledge” Campaign
to mark its 100th anniversary.
“Rather
than erect a monument to ourselves, we decided to make a gift to America
by identifying the needs of our communities nationwide and to develop a
youth-led action plan that addresses these needs,” said Donald T. Floyd,
Jr., president and CEO of National 4-H Council. “The Conversations will
identify how to make America better and the Power of Youth Pledge Campaign
will provide some of the resources to get the job done.”
4-H is grateful for the
generous donations of its many partners to support both initiatives:
American Honda Motor Co., Inc., American Income Life Insurance Co., AOL
Time Warner Foundation, Best Buy Children’s Foundation, Coca-Cola
Fountain, ConAgra Foods, Eastman Kodak Company, Fleischmann’s Yeast,
General Mills, Inc., Hilton, J.C. Penney Company, Inc., John Deere, Kraft
Foods North America, Lutheran Brotherhood, Montanto, The Pew Charitable
Trusts, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., Precious Moments, Sodexho,
and USDA – Rural Business Cooperative Services.
“The
generous support of our public and private partners is a strong indication
that America has heard President Bush’s call to service loudly and
clearly,” said Floyd.
About
the 4-H Movement
More than 6.8 million youth are involved in 4-H programs annually.
4-H is part of the Cooperative Extension System, which conducts
programs in all 3,067 counties of the United States, District of Columbia,
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and five territories as part of the
Cooperative Extension System. The
Cooperative Extension System is a partnership between the United States
Department of Agriculture, state land-grant universities and local county
governments.
National 4-H Council
works to build a world in which youth and adults learn, grow and work
together as catalysts for positive change.
National 4-H Council partners with the Cooperative Extension
System, communities and other organizations to provide technical support
and training, develop curricula, create model programs and promote
positive youth development to fulfill its mission.
National 4-H Council manages the National 4-H Conference Center, a
full-service conference facility, and the National Supply Service, the
USDA nationally authorized agent for the interstate sales of paraphernalia
bearing the 4-H name and emblem. The 4-H name and emblem is protected
under 18 U.S.C. 707. National
4-H Council is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. For more information visit www.4hcentennial.org
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