The California 4-H Foundation

ENGAGES YOUTH IN REACHING THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL WHILE ADVANCING THE FIELD OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT.

THE FOUNDATION RAISES PRIVATE FUNDS TO SUPPORT, STRENGTHEN, AND GROW THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OFFERED IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE. THE FOUNDATION ALSO WORKS WITH 4-H STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS TO STRENGTHEN FUNDRAISING CAPACITY STATEWIDE AND IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING TRAINING AND ASSISTANCE IN FUNDRAISING AND FUND DEVELOPMENT PLANNING. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES MARKETING SUPPORT TO INCREASE AWARENESS ABOUT THE DEPTH AND BREADTH OF 4-H PROGRAMING AND THE IMPACTS ACHIEVED BY 4-H FOR INDIVIDUAL CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES IN CALIFORNIA. THE MISSION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IS TO ENGAGE YOUTH IN REACHING THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL WHILE ADVANCING THE FIELD OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT. APPROXIMATELY 50,000 YOUTH BETWEEN THE AGES OF 5 TO 19 SUPPORTED BY OVER 6,000 TEEN AND ADULT VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATE IN 4-H THROUGH A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS INCLUDING CLUB-BASED PROJECTS, COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES, CAMPS, CONFERENCES, AND SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS TAILORED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND POPULATIONS ACROSS CALIFORNIA. ALL 4-H PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO CREATE LARGE AND DIVERSE CORPS OF ARTICULATE AND COMPASSIONATE YOUNG LEADERS GROUNDED IN RESEARCH-BASED KNOWLEDGE OF THE ISSUES AFFECTING OUR WORLD TODAY, SUCH AS CLIMATE CHANGE, WATER USAGE, ALTERNATIVE ENERGY, FOOD SAFETY, AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. 4-H DEVELOPS LEADERSHIP, CITIZENSHIP, AND LIFE SKILLS IN ITS PARTICIPANTS AT EVERY LEVEL FROM THE CHILDREN WHO PARTICIPATE TO THE TEENS AND ADULT VOLUNTEERS WHO SUPPORT THEM. THE FOCUS OF ALL 4-H PROGRAMS IS POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT THROUGH ACTIVITIES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, MATH, HEALTHY LIVING, AND CITIZENSHIP. 4-H PROGRAMS ARE DISTINGUISHED BY A COMBINATION OF ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS: -PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS TO PRACTICE LEADERSHIP BY BEING A LEADER IN A VARIETY OF CONTEXTS AND SETTINGS; -PROMOTING POSITIVE YOUTH-ADULT PARTNERSHIPS THAT FOSTER SHARED DECISION MAKING; -LEARNING-BY-DOING THROUGH RESEARCH-BASED ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE INQUIRY AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING; AND -PROMOTING AND SUPPORTING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND CONTRIBUTION TO ONE'S SELF, COMMUNITY, AND THE WORLD.