Endowment

The 4-H Endowment Board is looking for new members to start the year!

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The Fairfield County 4-H Endowment Board is committed to supporting the County’s 4-H program in a variety of ways that includes fundraising for needs that are beyond traditional funding resources. Many thanks for the time and effort of our Board members past and present. The Fairfield County 4-H Endowment Board includes up to 25 members who may be 4-H volunteers, 4-H alumni, 4-H members, representatives from business and organizations, and the general public. The Board also includes the Fairfield County 4-H Educators and the County 4-H Advisory Committee President (or their designee).

The 4-H Endowment Board is always looking for new members from the community who wish to get more involved in our long term fundraising efforts of the Fairfield County 4-H Program. Persons interested in volunteering for the Board may complete an application at any time. Upon selection to the Board, the 4-H Endowment President will reach out to you with more information.

4-H Endowment Board Member Application

Board Mission: The purpose of the Board shall be to solicit contributions, gifts, grants, and bequests to be invested through The Ohio State University Endowment and the Fairfield County Foundation, the annual income from which shall be used to provide a sound source of program funding for the 4-H youth and volunteers of the Fairfield County 4-H Youth Development Program. This support may include, but is not limited to, the funding of trips and awards for 4-H members, volunteer leaders, and friends of 4-H; sponsoring seminars and programs; purchasing material and services that will supplement 4-H programming or increase visibility and public support of 4-H in Fairfield County; fundraising activities of the Board or other organizations conducting fundraising to benefit 4-H in Fairfield County; the partial or full funding of professional and administrative staff positions to administer the Fairfield County 4-H Youth Development Program; and other funding for the 4-H youth and volunteers of the Fairfield County 4-H Youth Development Program. For more details please read the 4-H Endowment Brochure.

Expectations: Support the mission of the board, attend meetings, assist with event preparation, work board events. There is no obligation to donate financially to the board’s mission. However, you may incur expenses while volunteering, such as your time and travel, that cannot be reimbursed. If selected to the 4-H Endowment Board, your attendance at board meetings, the annual Legacy Dinner, and awareness breakfast are expectations of all members.

Support Fairfield County 4-H on Giving Tuesday!

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This year Ohio 4-H reached more than 156,000 youth through community clubs and special interest (SPIN) groups, after school programming, and camps. Through these experiences, youth build lifelong skills and develop the confidence, independence, resilience, and compassion to lead for a lifetime.   

You can help us continue to create the opportunities for youth in Fairfield County by supporting 4-H programming on Giving Tuesday. Two options to give to our local Fairfield County 4-H Endowments:

  1. Participate in Fairfield County’s 34-hour give on Tuesday, Nov. 28th at 8:00 a.m. through Wednesday, Nov. 29th at 6:00 p.m. Donate online to the Fairfield County 4-H Endowment at the Fairfield County Foundation at this website.
  2. Be a part of this global celebration of giving on Tuesday, Nov. 28 by giving to our endowment at The Ohio State University designated for Fairfield County 4-H (OSU Endowment Fund #642082). Click here to give online to this fund.

Supporters like you make it possible for us to meet youth where they are through innovative programming opportunities. With your help with can help 4-H’ers thrive this Giving Tuesday! 

4-H Endowment Breakfast: Sunday, October 8th from 8-10 am, Ed Sands Building

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The 2023 Endowment Donation Breakfast will be held at the Ed Sands/Farm Bureau Building on Sunday, October 8th, from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. (or until sold out). Come have some fun, enjoy breakfast and make a donation to the Fairfield County Endowment Fund. Money donated covers the cost of the breakfast and helps provide training and personal development opportunities for 4-H members today so they can be strong leaders tomorrow.

Call for Live Auction/Silent Auction Items for the 2023 4-H Legacy Dinner benefiting Fairfield County 4-H

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The Fairfield County 4-H Endowment Board is busy preparing for the 12th Annual 4-H Endowment Dinner scheduled for Thursday, June 8, 2023 at the Home of Joy Farm in Lancaster.  We need your help!!  One of the highlights of the annual fundraising event is the Live and Silent Auction.  If your club would like to help by donating a gift basket or item for the auction, your donation would be most appreciated.  Popular items for themed baskets have included Pet Themed Basket, Kid Friendly Movie Baskets, Family Board Game Baskets. A very popular basket in the past was the Shooting Sports Basket which offered a basket of supplies plus passes to a shooting range.

Does your club focus on health-related projects?  How about a basket of healthy snacks!!  Quilt projects…who wouldn’t love a nice table runner quilted by a 4-H club member(s)!!  Does your club have a great health and safety committee…everybody always needs to update their home or vehicle safety kits or maybe a basket of sun screen protection products. Gardening projects….hanging baskets, succulent gardens…oh my, the possibilities are endless!!

Think outside the box. Be creative and focus on something that might be a good representation of your 4-H club’s scope of projects: maybe a basket of brushes, combs and grooming supplies, halters or feed pans and buckets. Maybe a set of clippers!! How about your 4-H clubs’  favorite snack …make or bake your favorite recipe, fill a basket with the ingredients and a sampling of the cookies, brownies or snack!!   Make it fun!! Legacy Dinner Basket Ideas

Better yet, send a representative of your club to the Endowment Dinner!!  Put your head to clearer thinking and hands to larger service and help us “Leave a Legacy” at the 2023 4-H Endowment Legacy Dinner. Your generous support is truly appreciated.

Please contact lcornett11@aol.com or stephanie.mathias@vcnbfamily.bank for more information. Additionally, please include the 2023 Legacy Donation Form and include this with your donated item.

Fairfield County 4-H Endowment Board to Host Annual Legacy Dinner June 8, 2023

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Event Reservations Due: May 25, 2023 – RSVP deadline extended through May 31st.

LANCASTER, Ohio – The Fairfield County 4-H Endowment Board is hosting the annual Legacy Dinner where 4-H supporters can enjoy a night out on June 8, as well as raise funds for the 4-H program. The event will be hosted at Home of Joy Farm in Lancaster, Ohio, starting with a social hour and silent auction at 5 p.m., followed by dinner catered by Cheers Chalet at 6 p.m. The program and live auction will commence at 7 p.m.

Event tickets are $75 per person, and table sponsorships that seat eight people are available for $750.

“Being a 4-H alumna of Fairfield County, I want to see the program continue to grow and support our youth,” said Fairfield County 4-H Endowment Board President Heather Wilson. “Our board members are dedicated to this mission, and it’s been great to see local businesses, community members and 4-H families generously support the endowment since 2006. We’re excited to bring the community together again to support this cause and enjoy a night of fun and socialization.”

Although planning for the endowment was started in 2000, it became fully endowed in 2006. The first Legacy Dinner was held in 2010 and has grown to more than 350 attendees supporting the youth in the Fairfield County 4-H program. The goal of the board is to generate funds sufficient to endow a 4-H position in Fairfield County and support the 4-H youth development program, allowing the 4-H tradition to continue for generations to come.

“Our county’s 4-H program serves over 3,000 youth each year through traditional club and school enrichment programming,” said Fairfield County 4-H Extension Educator Leslie Cooksey. “The endowment board works hard to ensure 4-H remains funded in the county for generations to come.”

Business owners and employees, 4-H families, community members and all 4-H supporters are invited to attend the event to support the future of the 4-H program in Fairfield County.

Sponsorships are available:

  • Platinum: $3,000 (receive 2 dinner tickets)
  • Gold: $1,000 (receive 2 dinner tickets)
  • Silver: $500 (receive 2 dinner tickets)
  • Bronze: $250

For more information on what’s included in sponsorship levels, contact:
Heather Wilson, Board President at Heather.wilson.2011@gmail.com or 614-905-6866.

Click here to view 2023 Legacy Dinner Invite and 2023 Response Card.

Checks can be made payable to one of two funds:

  • 4-H Fairfield County Foundation Fund (Money stays in Fairfield County. No Ohio State University gift credit given)
  • Fairfield County 4-H Endowment. On the check memo line designate: Fund #642082** (Earn Ohio State University gift credit and receive a giving receipt from The Ohio State University)

“4-H camps and trips are great learning experiences for youth and teens,” said Fairfield County 4-H Extension Educator Aubry Fowler. “The endowment board helps to fund many of those life-changing trips for 4-H members each year from interest money alone.”

The 2023 event is to be held at Home of Joy Farm located at 3315 Lake Rd NE, Lancaster, OH 43130. Reservations and payment should be mailed to: Fairfield County 4-H Endowment, c/o Ron Ruff, 2700 Kull Road, Lancaster, OH 43130.

To subscribe to updates, visit the Fairfield County 4-H Endowment blog at u.osu.edu/4hlegacy

About the Fairfield County 4-H Endowment
The endowment was created in 2006 to raise funds to support the future of the 4-H program in Fairfield County and endow a position of a 4-H Educator if other funding sources dwindle. The 4-H Endowment consists of two permanent funds made possible through individual donations, business contributions and fundraising events. The 4-H Fairfield County Foundation Fund allows the money to be housed in Fairfield County. (No OSU gift credit given) and the Fairfield County 4-H Endowment is operated by the Ohio State University (Fund #642082). Visit fairfield.osu.edu/program-areas/4-h-youth-development/endowment to learn more.

About the Fairfield County 4-H Program
4-H is a non-formal educational, youth development program offered to individuals age 5 and in kindergarten to age 19. The Fairfield County 4-H program was founded in 1920. The program currently reaches more than 3,000 youth each year through traditional club and school enrichment programming – helping kids “learn by doing” through hands-on activities. For more information, visit fairfield.osu.edu.

Save the Date! 4-H Legacy Dinner: June 8th at Home of Joy Farm

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The 2023 4-H Legacy Dinner will be held Thursday, June 8th at the Home of Joy Farm. Invitations will be mailed to past attendees soon. All are welcome to attend! Contact the Extension Office for more information.

Ticket Information: $75 per person with meal catered by Cheers Chalet. RSVP due May 25th. Event will feature a live and silent auction with proceeds benefiting the Fairfield County 4-H Program. Additional sponsorship opportunities are also available.

Support the Fairfield 4-H Endowment on #GivingTuesday (Nov. 29th and 30th)

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The holidays will be here soon and we know many may be preparing for #GivingTuesday. We are fortunate to work with the Fairfield County Foundation during their 33 hour give once again this year. This is a time where the community is invited to support the organizations they choose. We are gracious for any support our 4-H family and friends contribute to the long-term fundraising efforts and sustainability of the Fairfield County 4-H Program.

If you’d like to make a #GivingTuesday donation to support Fairfield County 4-H, we invite you to drop off your donation at the Fairfield Foundation beginning at 8:00 a.m. on November 29th through 5:00 p.m. on November 30th or you can make donations online.

A few things to note:

  • Support the Fairfield County 4-H Program by donating to this fund: 4-H Fairfield County Foundation Fund
  • Donations must be made online at www.fairfieldcountyfoundation.org through the Donate Now link or in person at the Fairfield County Foundation office, during the specified date and time.
  • Donations received through the mail will not count toward the match.  
  • At least $33,000 in matching gifts will be awarded. All donations received during the 33-Hour Give will be eligible for matching funds on a pro rata basis, which gives everyone who participates the opportunity to have their donations increased.

Matching gifts will be distributed based on the percentage each fund receives of the total contributions made during the 33-Hour Give. No single gift, by an individual, to a single organization, can receive more than 20% of the total match amount. For example, a fund with donations that account for 5% of the total 33-Hour Give contributions would receive 5% of the $33,000 in matching funds, or $1,650.

Questions? Contact 4-H Educator, Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu or 740-653-5419.

Thank you for supporting the Fairfield County 4-H Program!

THANK YOU for supporting the 4-H Legacy Dinner!

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On behalf of the 4-H Endowment Board, thank you to all 4-H alumni, parents, and donors who helped make the 2022 4-H Legacy Dinner possible! With over 175 individuals in attendance, we enjoyed fellowship and shared continue support of one of Ohio’s largest 4-H programs in the state. Over $9200 was raised that evening of the even to support the Fairfield County 4-H Endowments.

Were you unable to attend but wish to support the 4-H Endowment Funds? Contact Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu to discuss options. We recognize that this year’s dinner looked a bit different compared to our last dinner in 2019 – feel free to send any feedback for future 4-H fundraising events to Leslie as well and she will share this with the 4-H Endowment Board as they make future decisions.

Thanks again to our live auction donors:

  • Buckeye Ready Mix donated ten yards of concrete.
  • Four (4) 2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Tickets, being held on Monday, December 5 in the Thomas and Mack Arena on the campus of UNLV in Las Vegas. These tickets are the generous donation of the Michael Family.
  • Again this year Auman Landscape donated TWO 6-7 foot trees.
  • Back, yet again, by popular demand . . . Lancaster’s oldest independent grocery – Bay Food Market along with Bay Packing donated half a processed hog, times 2 of them!
  • McGuire’s Distinctive Truck and Ruff & Associates donated a Husqvarna leaf blower and pressure washer.
  • OSU football tickets with parking pass has been donated by Buckeye Ready Mix.

Additionally, we were excited to feature a few of our 4-H members who have taken 4-H projects where they have mastered various talents and creativity. Items donated by Fairfield County 4-H members:

  • 4-H member, Kendall Wild, donated two homemade pies with cinnamon minis!
  • 4-H’er Destiny McCray painted two beautiful art pieces representing 4-H including a bald eagle and a peacock.

Pictures from the event have been shared on the Ohio State-Fairfield County 4-H Facebook Page

Fairfield County 4-H Endowment Board to Host Annual Legacy Dinner June 9, 2022, reservations due May 25th

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Event Reservations Due May 25, 2022

LANCASTER, Ohio – 4-H supporters can enjoy a night out to at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds on June 9. A social hour will begin at 5 p.m., followed by dinner catered by Bob’s Backyard BBQ at 6 p.m. The program and live auction will commence at 7 p.m.

Event tickets are $50 per person, and table sponsorships that seat eight are available for $500.

“I was a 4-H member in Fairfield County for 10 years,” said Fairfield County 4-H Endowment Board President Heather Wilson. “As an alum, I want to see the program continue to grow and support our youth. It’s been amazing to see local businesses, community members and 4-H families generously support the endowment throughout the last decade. We’re excited to be bringing the community together again to support this mission and allow attendees to enjoy a night of fun and socialization.”

Although planning for the endowment was started in 2000, it became fully endowed in 2006. The first Legacy Dinner was held in 2010 and has grown to more than 350 attendees supporting the youth in the Fairfield County 4-H program. The goal of the board is to generate funds sufficient to endow at 4-H position in Fairfield County and support the 4-H youth development program, allowing the 4-H tradition to continue for generations to come.

“Our county’s 4-H program serves over 2200 youth each year through traditional club and school enrichment programming,” said Fairfield County 4-H Extension Educator Leslie Cooksey. “Leaving a legacy is what the endowment is intended to do. Whether you’re a local business, 4-H family or community member, we’d love for you to join us and support the future of the program in our county.”

Additional sponsorships are available for the Legacy Dinner as follows:

  • Platinum: $3,000 (two sponsorships available) – Receive two dinner tickets
  • Gold: $1,000 (five sponsorships available) – Receive two dinner tickets
  • Silver: $500 – Receive two dinner tickets
  • Bronze: $250

Sponsorship and reservation forms can be found on u.osu.edu/4hlegacy. Checks can be made payable to one of two funds:

  • 4-H Fairfield County Foundation Fund (Money stays in Fairfield County. No Ohio State University gift credit given)
  • Fairfield County 4-H Endowment. On the check memo line designate: Fund #642082** (Earn Ohio State University gift credit and receive a giving receipt from The Ohio State University)

The event is held at Ed Sands/Farm Bureau Building located at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds: 157 East Fair Avenue, Lancaster, OH 43130. Reservations and payment should be mailed to: Fairfield County 4-H Endowment, P.O. Box 564, Lancaster, Ohio 43130

To subscribe to updates, visit the Fairfield County 4-H Endowment blog at u.osu.edu/4hlegacy and follow the event on Facebook at facebook.com/events/1866721206856119

About the Fairfield County 4-H Endowment
The endowment was created in 2006 to raise funds to support the future of the 4-H program in Fairfield County and endow a position of a 4-H Educator if other funding sources dwindle. The 4-H Endowment is comprised of two permanent funds made possible through individual donations, business contributions and fundraising events. The 4-H Fairfield County Foundation Fund allows the money to be housed in Fairfield County. (No OSU gift credit given) and the Fairfield County 4-H Endowment is operated by the Ohio State University (Fund #642082). Visit fairfield.osu.edu/program-areas/4-h-youth-development/endowment to learn more.

About the Fairfield County 4-H Program
4-H is a non-formal educational, youth development program offered to individuals age 5 and in kindergarten to age 19. The Fairfield County 4-H program was founded in 1920. The program currently reaches more than 2200 youth each year through traditional club and school enrichment programming – helping kids “learn by doing” through hands-on activities. For more information, visit fairfield.osu.edu.