The 'Campaign for 4-H' Celebration

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The climax of National 4-H Council's $50 million "Campaign for 4-H" was celebrated on December 6, 1988 during the 67th National 4-H Congress in Chicago.

The 1,600 teen delegates to 4-H Congress were joined at the Tuesday night gala by nearly 1,000 guests representing leadership of the public-private partnership of 4-H support. Many corporate executives, university officials, government representatives, leaders from cooperating organizations and associations attended.

From the opening ceremonies with the U.S. Navy Color Guard and the National 4-H Congress Chorus singing "America the Beautiful," to the closing with the music group Three Dog Night playing their hit song, "Celebrate," the recognition event, "America's Youth: The Challenge and The Opportunity," was something special.

Major Campaign donors were honored and revered with standing ovations as young delegate advisors boomed out their names to come on stage. Videos shown on large screens reflected the dramatic impact the 5-year funding effort would have on youth education. As special effects video were used to visually build to the final Campaign total and the emcee announced $58 million – $8 million over the Campaign goal – celebrating was in order!

Campaign Chairman Robert B. Gill, vice chairman, J.C. Penney Company, Inc. and vice chairman of Council's board of trustees, stated, "the fact that 4-H was successful in meeting, and surpassing, the Campaign goal clearly signals that this youth development program has a constituency and a support base that is strong and deep across America."

Board Chairman Lawrie Thomas, president, Amoco Oil Company, in publically thanking Bob Gill for the leadership he had provided over the five years of the Campaign emphasized, "this has been a volunteer driven campaign and we are proud of the corps of volunteers from both the public and private sectors that have made this campaign a success."

"Success of this largest fund-raising effort in 4-H history," Thomas said, "has greatly enhanced the ability of the Cooperative Extension System to play a key role in addressing societal problems that threaten our youth and indeed the very fabric of America."

All 37 major donors giving one-half million dollars or more to the Campaign were present and individually recognized on stage.

A highlight of the program was the premiere of three video programs designed to strengthen and broaden the land-grant universities' Cooperative Extension System youth outreach mission. This major project, "America's Youth: The Challenge and The Opportunity," was produced by J.C. Penney Company, Inc. in cooperation with the Cooperative Extension System and National 4-H Council.

Several major corporations made special gifts to support the Campaign success celebration: Amoco Corporation, Inc.; Coats & Clark; Deere & Company, Eastman Kodak Company; Ford Motor Company Fund; The General Foods Fund, Inc.; International Paper Company Foundation; Nabisco Brands; J.C. Penney Company, Inc.; Ralston Purina Company, Purina Dog Foods Group; and Unocal Corporation.