Revised:  11/13/2009

RSS Feed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Tiffany J. Cody Public Relations Specialist Rutgers Equine Science Center 732-932-9419 cody@aesop.rutgers.edu

Burlington County 4-H Clubs Rally to Support the Equine Science Center
Unique approach to fundraising leads to generous donation from 4-H members
 

New Brunswick, N.J. – The 4-H clubs in Burlington County recently made a generous donation to the Rutgers Equine Science Center. The $1,000 gift was made as part of a greater gift campaign by 4-H clubs at the county level throughout the state of New Jersey.
 

“The Equine Science Center is honored to receive this gift from the Burlington County 4-H clubs,” says Dr. Karyn Malinowski, director of the Equine Science Center. “We asked that all 4-H clubs within the state of New Jersey join forces and collectively become members of the Center’s gift initiative, the ‘Community of 50 for Equine Excellence’.” Members of the community pledge gifts of $10,000 or more for six years.

Wendy Hale, chair of the New Jersey 4-H Horse Project Advisory Committee, suggested a unique approach to reaching the Community of 50 goal. “If ten counties each commit to raising $1,000, we can easily meet or even surpass the goal of $10,000,” says Hale. With help from the Burlington County Horse Advisory Group, the ten 4-H horse project clubs in Burlington County raised $1,000 for the Equine Science Center. “Everyone has a small role to play and if we all pitch in and contribute, then we can achieve our greater goal together. We took the lead and developed a simple, yet effective, fundraising model. Our hope is that other counties will also rise to the challenge and mirror our fundraising effort for the Equine Science Center,” added Hale.

Of the 21 counties in the state of New Jersey, 20 have 4-H programs. Approximately 12 - 13 counties have strong, consistent participation in 4-H Youth Development equine programs and events. During the New Jersey State 4-H Championship Horse Show last month, participating 4-H counties sponsored an inaugural fundraiser event for the Equine Science Center. The event, aptly named the Equine Science Center Benefit Fun Show, was a great addition to the championship horse show and raised an impressive $400. “The 4-H program is happy to be affiliated with the Rutgers Equine Science Center,” says Carol Ward, county 4-H agent and department liaison to the state 4-H horse program. “The relationship between 4-H and the Center is mutually beneficial and is one that we hope will continue for many years to come.”
 

Dr. Malinowski praises Wendy Hale’s fundraising approach and agrees with Carol Ward regarding the relationship between the Center and the 4-H program. “I am tremendously proud of 4-H’s commitment to supporting the research and education efforts of the Equine Science Center,” says Malinowski. “I am humbled by their efforts. Their dedication is the embodiment of the horse industry’s future generation investing in itself.”
 

About Rutgers Equine Science Center

The Equine Science Center is a unit of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Its mission is better horse care through research and education in order to advance the well-being and performance of horses and the equine industry. Its vision is to be recognized throughout New Jersey as well as nationally and internationally for its achievements in identifying issues in the horse industry, finding solutions through science-based inquiry, providing answers to the horse industry and to horse owners, and influencing public policy to ensure the viability of the horse industry.

For more information about the Equine Science Center, please visit www.esc.rutgers.edu.