HOUSTON The RSMIS Foundation has again helped the Texas 4-H program. This year it is providing four grants totaling nearly $60,000.
The monies will help fund opportunity scholarships, rebuild the Aldine agricultural mechanics shop, assist Extension agents and promote education in Houston’s inner city.
Since 1998, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Silverthorn have donated more than $60,000 to Texas 4-H Congress, supported Community Partnership Development grants and the Texas 4-H Roundup. Much of the support has benefitted the Texas Cooperative Extension district that includes Harris County and the Greater Houston area.
The grants, awarded in late July, will continue to help the same areas. The first grant will fund three opportunity scholarships. Two will be used by graduating 4-H’ers; the other will go to a former 4-H member who is classified as a college sophomore or junior.
Another grant will help refurbish an existing agricultural mechanics shop used by the Aldine 4-H club.
“Mr. Silverthorn was very impressed with the work that Crosby (4-H) had already done with the shop they had; he felt there was a need for an additional one in a different area of the city,”said Cathy Broun, 4-H agent. ‘Why not improve one that was already in good use?”
Leadership and character development education will be improved with the award. The Ambassador program, which promotes 4-H throughout the world, will receive funds. Additional money will be set aside to award need-based scholarships to leadership workshops.
The last of the four grants will be donated to vocational programs. Three events for inner city youth will be developed to encourage higher education.
Over the years, RSMIS has awarded Harris County 4-H clubs with three previous grants. Those funds have provided loans to 4-H’ers to purchase materials needed for projects, created the Crosby 4-H Ag Mechanics lab and the Crosby 4-H home economics lab.
The foundation been recognized for its support of 4-H programming, and this year it was awarded a citation for Outstanding Service to 4-H during the annual State 4-H Roundup.
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