AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. — Tiger Giving Day has established a tradition of generosity on The Plains. Since 2015, the 24-hour fundraiser has supported 362 projects with donations of more than $6 million from over 12,000 donors.

On Sept. 10, two projects of Alabama Extension at Auburn University will be among the charitable giving options for Tiger Giving Day. One will provide an educational camp for children in Mobile, Alabama, while the other will support the next generation of potential Extension employees.

4M Youth Camp

As a land-grant institution, Auburn’s mission is to improve the lives of all people in Alabama. That mission can be fulfilled through the 4M Youth Camp. Over three days, children ages 9 to 12 learn about money, math, manners and meals during the camp.

“Children need to learn these life skills so they can build the foundation they need for a strong future,” said Portia Johnson, personal financial management state specialist for Extension.

Funds raised on Tiger Giving Day will allow 20 children from communities in Mobile County to attend the 4M Youth Camp free of charge.

“During the camp, participants learn healthy decision-making and essential life skills,” Johnson said. “Also, campers explore a variety of careers as they engage with community leaders, farmers, ranchers, chefs, entrepreneurs and business employees during the event.”

To help reinforce camp lessons once children return home, parents are given recipes and conversation-starters. The fundraising goal for this project is $12,000. Visit the Tiger Giving Day web page to donate to the 4M Youth Camp.

Extension Internships

Every year, Alabama Extension accepts applications for summer internships located in offices across the state’s 67 counties. The program is overseen by Becky Barlow, Alabama Extension assistant director for agriculture and Auburn associate dean.

“The work of Alabama Extension does not happen inside four walls; we have to get out into the community and meet people where they are,” said Becky Barlow. “Fundraising for the Alabama Extension Internship Program helps cover transportation costs, which provides interns with real world experiences. They get to see what it is like to serve our state through Extension’s work.”

Learning more about the mission of Alabama Extension and the available career opportunities has opened doors for past interns to become current employees.

“As an intern, I was able to take the research from Auburn University out to the general public, and now I get to serve in west central Alabama as an Extension animal sciences & forages agent,” said Court Green-Johnson, who interned during summer 2024. “I am so appreciative of the people who supported this program in the past, because it provided a great internship experience for me and others.”

The fundraising goal for this project is $8,000. Visit the Tiger Giving Day web page to donate to the Alabama Extension Internship Program.

More Information

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Tiger Giving Day. Coordinated by the Auburn Alumni Association, the event promotes charitable causes related to the university. Last year, for the first time, all 45 featured projects reached their set fundraising goals.