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April 8, 2008

Free Grant Money Available!

By Richard Livingstone
4-H Youth Mentor, Pinellas County Extension

What is a 4-H Community Service Grant you ask? Well, it is a monetary award for youth led service projects and 4-H has been awarding them for the past 10 years. Did you know that any Pinellas County youth or youth-led group is invited to apply for a grant to complete a project that addresses a community need during the summer of 2008? Well now you do!

The 4-H Community Service Grants Board is holding its final funding cycle of the year during the month of June. 4-H is “taking the responsibility to create change” by encouraging youth or youth-led groups in summer school programs, camps, and recreational activities to apply for a community service grant and benefit from the many life skills developed during the process.

4-H Targeting Life Skills ModelIn a publication written by Marilyn Norman, Associate Professor in Family, Youth and Community Sciences and state 4-H Program Leader as well as Joy Jordan, Associate Professor in Family, Youth and Community Sciences, a life skill is “a learned ability and competency that assists people in functioning well in the environments in which they live.” Using the four H’s and eight subcategories of the 4-H Targeting Life Skills Model (right) youth development programs can identify the skills within the five targeted competency areas that are appropriate for the ages they serve and offer 4-H experiences to teach these skills.
To view the full report visit http://florida4h.org/clubs/files/101.9_Targeting_Life_Skills.pdf

Applying for a 4-H Community Service Grant is a great way for youth to gain needed life skills including youth/adult partnerships, presentation & public speaking skills, as well as earning service hours. In an impact report published by Florida 4-H surveying 628 Florida 4-Hers, results showed that youth involved in 4-H indicated greater life skills gained from 4-H experiences particularly in the areas of communications, relationships, leadership, and decision making. To view the full impact report visit http://florida4h.org/news/files/4-H_Impact_in_Florida%20.pdf.

Pinellas County 4-H is working to increase civic engagement in the community using its 4-H Community Service Grants Board. Please visit our website at http://www.pinellasteeninfo.com/ to download a grant application and take a look at other projects being done in your community. For more information on applying for a 4-H Community Service Grant please contact Richard Livingstone at (727)-582-2103 or rlivingstone@pinellascounty.org.

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