Michigan 4-H Foundation opens grant cycle for 2018-19

The Michigan 4-H Foundation has announced grant and award opportunities of up to $1,000 to support local 4-H clubs and county programs for the 2018-19 program year.

The Michigan 4-H Foundation has announced grant and award opportunities of up to $1,000 to support local 4-H clubs and county programs for the 2018-19 program year. 4-H volunteer leaders, members and staff members are encouraged to apply for these funds starting April 1. All grant and award applications are due June 1, 2018.

The following funding opportunities are now open for the 2018-19 program year:

  • Michigan 4-H Legacy Grants – Two $1,000 grants available
    Supports development of a new program or initiative, or effort to strengthen, enhance or expand a current program that’s making a difference. Funded by the Michigan 4-H Legacy Fund Endowment.
  • 4-H On-Target Grants – Two $500 grants available
    Supports 4-H shooting sports programs to enhance existing programs, develop a new program or offer a special experience related to 4-H shooting sports. Funded with support from the Thomas H. Cobb 4-H Shooting Sports Endowment Fund.
  • The Collins 4-H Youth Horticulture Grant – One $350 grant available
    This grant opportunity is for 4-H youth clubs only to advance club work in plant science and horticulture activities locally. This grant is made possible by the William J. and Ruth D. Collins Endowment Fund to advance 4-H youth horticulture and gardening programs.
  • 4-H Educational Garden Grants – Two $1,000 grants available
    Supports the creation of local 4-H educational gardens in Michigan. Funded by the Albert A. Albright Endowment for support of 4-H plant science and gardening education.
  • Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) 4-H Excellence in Agriculture Award – Three $1,000 grants available
    This award recognizes the outstanding achievements of Michigan 4-H volunteers or groups that  have exhibited excellence in 4-H youth agriculture education and in helping youth participants develop leadership skills in the following project areas: beef cattle, dairy cattle, goats, horses, horticulture, crops and soils, poultry, rabbits, sheep, swine and veterinary science. Funded by the Michigan Farm Bureau 4-H Excellence in Agriculture Endowment.

You can apply for these grants and awards online at http://mi4hfdtn.org/grants or contact the Michigan 4-H Foundation for more information at 517-353-6692.

The 4-H grant and award recipients for the 2017-18 program year were:

Michigan 4-H Legacy Grants

  • 4-H After-School Robotics Club (Iosco County) -- $1,000 grant to use VEX Robotics as a tool for Hale-area middle school students to help them develop life skills, reduce risk factors and build assets. The program will foster innovation, teamwork and responsibility as youth work together to solve problems and collaborate on the creation of their robots.
  • Kalkaska County 4-H Dream Team -- $1,000 grant to support the creation of a Dream Team baseball team and summer day camp in 2018. The team and camp will allow for special needs youth to be paired with peers in middle and high school to create an active learning environment in which all youth can grow together.

4-H Educational Garden Grants

  • Pleasant Valley Community Garden (Shiawassee County) – $1,000 grant to build a garden in a local, economically depressed mobile home park that will benefit many families and senior citizens. The youth involved will learn how to grow, harvest, prepare and eat their produce while working together and building confidence through the project.
  • 4-H Community Garden (Iosco County) – $1,000 grant to provide youth an opportunity to prepare a garden, plant seeds and harvest the crops to support the AuSable Valley Community Mental Health Youth and Family Services Department. The youth participants will also learn about responsibility, food and nutrition, and physical activity.

Collins 4-H Youth Horticulture Grant

  • Alcott Spring Time (Oakland County) -- $350 grant to plant and grow a large quantity of daffodils and tulips in Alcott Elementary’s barren garden areas and courtyards. The 4-H Tech Wizards Program at the school will be able to develop relationships with their mentors and garner a better understanding of service to their community.

4-H On-Target Grants

  • Archery Grows Here (Houghton/Keweenaw counties) – $500 grant to support the Copper Tips 4-H Archery Club, which serves over 100 youth in the area. The grant will expand and further develop the club and provide new space and equipment for club activities, which aim to increase coping, competencies and contributory life skills.
  • Aiming for Archery (Schoolcraft County – $500 grant to develop an archery club geared to 7- to 12-year-olds. The club will allow youth to develop skills that help them succeed by actively engaging in their own development through archery.

Michigan Farm Bureau 4-H Excellence in Agriculture Awards

  • Melanie Barnes (Iosco County)
  • Michelle Barnes (Calhoun County)
  • Tiffany Spedowski (Mecosta County)

The Michigan Farm Bureau 4-H Excellence in Agriculture award honorees will choose how their $1,000 grant awards will be used to support Michigan 4-H agriculture programs – such as for 4-H volunteer training, buying supplies and curriculum materials, or enhancing local or statewide 4-H programming. These outstanding 4-H volunteers have exhibited excellence in creating positive learning environments that allow young people to participate in the learning process, understand and appreciate society’s diversity, and become active citizens through service and leadership.

The Michigan 4-H Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports Michigan 4-H Youth Development. For more information about the Michigan 4-H Foundation, visit http://www.mi4hfdtn.org.

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