4-H Presents Top Honors at First Annual Legacy Awards Gala

CHEVY CHASE, Md., April 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, National 4-H Council will host the first annual 4-H Legacy Awards Gala to honor extraordinary individuals and corporations that have made a lasting impact in their efforts to raise up America's 4-H youth development program. 4-H enriches the lives of more than six million young people around the country each year.

The Gala, which will be held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, D.C., promises to be an exciting evening filled with tributes to the honorees, a keynote address by National 4-H Council president and CEO, Donald T. Floyd, Jr., and a celebration of 108 years of preparing young people to step up to challenges and take the lead in their communities and their world.

Three awards will be presented during the span of the evening. DuPont executive vice president and Chair of the National 4-H Council Board of Trustees, James C. Borel, will present the Abraham Lincoln Vision Award to Dan Glickman, current president of Refugees International and former Chairman of the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. Glickman's epic career in public service has spanned from School Board president and Kansas Congressman to his tenure as the Secretary of Agriculture.  Glickman is a member of National 4-H Council's Board of Trustees and has demonstrated a life-long commitment to youth advocacy.

For more than 50 years, JCPenney's strategic partnership with 4-H has impacted millions of youth all across the nation who participate in 4-H Afterschool programming.  The company's support has provided millions of youth with a safe place to learn, grow and become smart, strong and socially responsible citizens.  In honor of their generous support and ongoing dedication to youth, Myron E. (Mike) Ullman III, Chairman of the Board and CEO of JCPenney, will accept the 4-H Corporate Leadership Award.

Every day, young people in 4-H take the lead in their communities and make a difference in the world. Samantha Jo Ridley, a young member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe from North Dakota, has embodied the spirit of the 4-H movement to help her overcome obstacles and stride forward to lead an effort to make her community and her world a better place. As a result, Samantha will be the deserving recipient of the 4-H Youth in Action Award.

"By providing innovative and engaging programming in science, healthy living and citizenship, 4-H is growing the next generation of America's leaders and strengthening our nation's ability to tackle the world's top challenges," said Don Floyd president and CEO, National 4H Council.  "Today, we are thrilled to host our first annual 4-H Legacy Awards Gala to honor the amazing individuals and corporate partners that help us to deliver on such an important mission.  Their commitment and contributions exemplify the 4-H philosophy of 'making the best better.'"

In fact, 4-H's positive impact on youth has been proven. According to longitudinal research conducted by the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development at Tufts University, we now know that if a child is in 4-H, he or she is:

• Nearly two times more likely to get better grades in school;
• Nearly two times more likely to plan to go to college;
• 41 percent less likely to engage in risky behaviors, and
• 25 percent more likely to positively contribute to their families and communities.

As the youth development program of Cooperative Extension and USDA, 4-H is directly connected to the research, resources and delivery system of the nation's 109 land-grant universities and colleges and more than 3,000 local county Extension offices across the nation. 4-H programs are further supported by 514,000 dedicated adult volunteers who help to put 4-H youth on a path towards successful careers.

About 4-H:

4-H is a community of six million young people across America learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills. National 4-H Council is the private sector, non-profit partner of 4-H National Headquarters located at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) within USDA.  4-H programs are implemented by the 109 Land-Grant Universities and the Cooperative Extension System through their 3,100 local Extension offices across the country.  Learn more about 4-H at www.4-h.org or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/4-H.

SOURCE National 4-H Council