AMES, Iowa -- The phone will ring for one more week of the Iowa 4-H Call-a-thon.

Collegiate 4-H’ers and Iowa State University students have been calling friends and supporters of Iowa’s 4-H Youth Development Program since late April, asking them to pledge their support for Iowa’s largest youth development program. 

“With more than 110,000 participants, 4-H reaches more youth than any other youth program in the state --fully 20 percent of Iowa’s young people -- and the program is growing,” said Shelly Greving, 4-H marketing coordinator. 

“Support from the call-a-thon will help ‘keep the 4-H clover green,’” added Albert Grunenwald, associate director of the Iowa 4-H Foundation. The foundation, established in 1949, has funded the operation of the Iowa 4-H Camping Center, provided scholarships to 4-H’ers, and funded other opportunities for Iowa youth, such as this summer’s Iowa 4-H Youth Conference June 30 to July 2 at Iowa State University.

Recently, the foundation pledged to raise additional funds to help 4-H survive the budget cuts facing ISU Extension.

“This year’s call-a-thon has been a great way to help kick off our 60th anniversary year with a renewed sense of purpose and support for 4-H programs in every county,” Grunenwald said.

To date the call-a-thon has raised more than $97,000 in cash and pledges, he noted. “We still need support, and we’d love to break last year’s record of $119,000 raised to help 4-H kids, which will put us closer to our $150,000 fundraising goal to help 4-H with the budget cuts.”

4-H friends can donate online at www.iowa4hfoundation.org or send contributions to Iowa 4-H Foundation, Extension 4-H Youth Building, Ames, IA 50011-3630.  Gifts can be made in memory of or to honor past 4-H leaders and friends, and can be designated to a specific county or 4-H program.

4-H is a community of 6 million young people across America learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. In Iowa, the 4-H program is a part of Iowa State University Extension and headquartered on the ISU campus in Ames. For more information about 4-H or how to get involved contact your local county office of ISU Extension.

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