March 17 is a great day for donating to 4-H
To give luck a bit of a boost, the Arkansas 4-H program uses March 17 — a day filled with green and clovers — as an invitation to support its youth development mission through donations.
By Mary Hightower
U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Feb. 10, 2025
Fast facts
- March 17 is ‘Giving of the green for Arkansas 4-H program’
- Donations help fund scholarships
- Program has more than 130,000 members in Arkansas
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(Newsrooms: with image of 4-H members conducting a service project)
FERNDALE, Ark. — Even for a program symbolized by a four-leaf clover, “It takes more than luck to succeed,” says John Thomas, managing director of the Arkansas 4-H Foundation.
To give luck a bit of a boost, the Arkansas 4-H program uses March 17 — a day filled with green and clovers — as an invitation to support its youth development mission through donations.
“People see our youth wearing their green 4-H clovers, they know good things follow. Our 4-H’ers have a tremendous track record of community service,” Thomas said. “Each year, we see St. Patrick’s Day as a way to remind people to help Arkansas 4-H.”
This will be the fifth annual giving day. Thomas said this year’s goal is $45,000.
“Since we started this giving day in 2021, it has become the day that more and more people rally around to support the Arkansas youth we serve through the 4-H program. We've raised over $100,000 since we started and it all goes directly to the youth we serve.”
Each year, Arkansas 4-H distributes more than $150,000 in college and activity scholarships to its members.
“Your donation goes to a good cause,” he said, “We hope you will support us.”
Thomas said donations can be made online, or donors may text AR4H to 44321. He notes that when texting, donors will be asked to give a $44 default gift or donate a custom amount.
Arkansas 4-H members can attest to the personal growth opportunities the organization offers. There are more than 130,000 youth involved with 4-H in Arkansas.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Media contact: Mary Hightower
mhightower@uada.edu