COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Missouri 4-H Foundation, in partnership with the Barton County 4-H Council, has established the Barton County 4-H Endowment Fund thanks to generous contributions by the Hugh and Fran Nutt family and Don Lucietta. The fund will be used to provide sustainable support for the Barton County 4-H program in perpetuity.
Barton County 4-H works with more than 1,100 young people each year through traditional 4-H community clubs, special interest (SPIN) clubs, school enrichment programs and after-school programs. Barton County 4-H also offers programming in some public school districts, including Lamar R-1, Liberal R-II and Golden City R-III. These programs teach young people skills like hard work, respect and compassion to create positive change in their community. The fund will provide a flexible stream of income that will help Barton County 4-H meet the unique needs of local youth now and in the future.
“We are humbled by the generosity of these donors and excited about what this will mean for the future of the 4-H program in our community,” said Elaine Davis, MU Extension 4-H youth program associate in Barton County.
Barton County is among the first counties in Missouri to establish a permanently endowed fund with the Missouri 4-H Foundation. Each year, investment interest from the fund will be returned to Barton County 4-H to support the greatest needs of the local program.
“County endowments are a wonderful way to ensure stable and long-term support for local 4-H programs,” said Rachel Augustine, director of the Missouri 4-H Foundation. “They also offer donors a way to make a positive, local impact that will last for generations.”
Additional contributions to the Barton County 4-H Endowment Fund may be sent to the Missouri 4-H Foundation, 109 Whitten Hall, Columbia, MO 65211. For more information about this and other giving opportunities, contact Rachel Augustine at 573-397-1166.
About 4-H
More than 55,000 members strong, Missouri 4-H is an active, dynamic organization of young people who are learning, growing and preparing to be the leaders of today and tomorrow while making a real difference in their community, country and world. 4-H is the youth development program of the University of Missouri and the nation’s Cooperative Extension System. For more information on Missouri 4-H, visit 4h.missouri.edu.
About the Missouri 4-H Foundation
The Missouri 4-H Foundation is the private resource partner of the University of Missouri Extension 4-H Center for Youth Development. For 70 years, the foundation has secured and managed funds for Missouri 4-H, providing higher education scholarships, recognizing 4-H volunteers and supporting the work of MU Extension 4-H. Learn more at 4h.missouri.edu/foundation.