Auburn, Jan. 15, 2004---Alabama residents can now give money to 4-H when they are completing their state income tax as 4-H has been added to the charities listed on income tax forms.

The Alabama 4-H Income Tax Check-Off bill passed the Legislature this summer and was signed by Gov. Bob Riley, a 4-H alumnus.

“The Alabama 4-H program is one of the best character education programs our state has to offer,” Riley has said. “4-H, along with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, has played a vital role in shaping the lives of young people in this state.”

Lamar Nichols, state 4-H leader and associate director of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, said financial support generated through the Income Tax Check-Off program will allow 4-H “to expand to new audiences and become more innovative with the programs already in place.

“We will be good stewards of this money and be as effective and efficient as we can be to deliver the highest quality programs possible to our young people.

Alabama 4-H is the state’s largest youth education organization, reaching nearly 180,000 youth between the ages of 9-19. 4-H provides programs and activities for youth in rural and urban settings through after school programs, community clubs and special events.

4-H provides programs in eight areas including:

Citizenship and Civic Education	Communicative and Expressive Arts
Environmental Education and Natural Resources	Family and Consumer Science
Healthy Lifestyle Education	Personal Development and Leadership
Plant and Animal Sciences	Science and Technology

In the Legislature, Sen. Ted Little and Rep. Mike Hubbard were the bill’s original sponsors, spearheading the effort to get the legislation passed. Alabama Senate President Pro Tem Lowell Barron made sure the bill came up for a vote in the Senate.

“It was an honor for me to sponsor this bill because 4-H has had such a positive impact on my life,” said Hubbard. “I sincerely hope the Income Tax Check-Off will be utilized by a great number of Alabamians because it is providing funds to support a tremendous program in our state.”

Little, said, “I am pleased to have a part in making sure all Alabamians have the opportunity to make a contribution to Alabama 4-H.

“I hope Alabamians will accept this with enthusiasm because we all know what 4-H, over the years, has done for our youth.”

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