Highlights

Picture Yourself . . . In The 4-H Photo Fund

“Picture yourself . . .” That’s the theme of our Wisconsin 4-H Photography Endowment Fund.

I'm Wayne Brabender and I served as Wisconsin 4-H Photo Specialist for over 30 years. I retired in 2008, but I’m still passionate about the 4-H photo program. It’s never been stronger. Over 11,000 youth now take the 4-H photo project each year, making it the largest project in Wisconsin. They are led by 550 dedicated adult and youth volunteers. It’s one of the largest 4-H photo projects in the country, and I’d argue, the best. I want to keep it that way.

For nearly 100 years 4-H arts projects like photography have helped young people become more creative and self-confident. 4-H’ers can also improve their ability to communicate, make decisions, and lead . . . skills they will use every day for the rest of their lives, on and off the job. Our society needs young people who have these skills. Perhaps you or someone in your family has reaped the benefits of 4-H or the 4-H photo project.

A statewide 4-H arts and communication survey confirmed the importance of these creative opportunities for kids. The survey confirmed the importance to families because kids and parents enjoy photo activities together. The family that photographs together, stays together! But because of budget cuts, schools have been cutting back on the arts. So, if 4-H doesn’t provide these opportunities, who will?

How do kids and leaders benefit from our 4-H Photo Endowment Fund? Income earned on the principle is used to:

• Support and maintain a highly successful statewide 4-H photography program
• Provide photo training resources and opportunities for 4-H photo volunteers
• Provide photo training resources and opportunities for new and diverse 4-H photography project members

$100,000 goal by 2015

The goal of our endowment fund is $100,000 by 2015. We’ve come a long way toward that goal, as the fund now exceeds $30,000, thanks to generous donations from friends of 4-H photography, UW-Extension and 4-H staff, 4-H photo volunteers and youth, and county fair photo judges. Thanks to all our contributors. A special thank you to Mike and Wendy Lougee of Minnesota whose contributions and ideas got us started.

Guiding our statewide fund-raising campaign is a group of veteran Wisconsin 4-H photo volunteers and staff who are excited about leaving a legacy that will last for generations to come. The steering committee members are:

• Dane County: Joyce Hach and Tom Miller
• La Crosse County: Doyle and Shirley Gates
• Outagamie County: Gary Holz
• Racine County: Tracy Strother
• Sauk County: Ann and Jeff Vogtschaller
• Vernon County: Al Lothen
• Winnebago County: Anne Rosenau
• Wood County: Barb Lassa

Won't you "picture yourself" in the 4-H photo fund? You can make a tax-deductible contribution by writing a check to the Wisconsin 4-H Photo Endowment Fund and sending it to the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation, 428 Lowell Hall, 610 Langdon St., Madison, WI 53703. For gifts of $500 or more, I'll send you one of my photos of the Wisconsin Capitol as a thank you.

You can also contribute online through the University of Wisconsin Foundation Web Site. Under "Designation," click on “UW Extension - Area of Greatest Need,” and then select "UW Extension - 4-H Foundation." Finally, where it asks, “If you would like to further restrict your gift to a specific department or program, or add detailed instructions for directing your gift, please indicate those instructions below,” write in "Wisconsin 4-H Photo Endowment Fund."

If you have other ideas on how to spread the word on the endowment fund, I would love to talk with you. Just call me at 608-577-3300 or e-mail me at wayne.brabender@ces.uwex.edu.

Thanks!

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