COLLEGE STATION – Three corporate alliance partners were recently recognized by the Texas 4-H Youth Development Foundation during the State 4-H Roundup in College Station.
La Quinta Inn and Suites, Stripes convenience stores and Tractor Supply Company were all recognized for their significant contributions to the Texas 4-H Youth Development Foundation’s growing list of alliance supporters, said Jim Reeves, executive director of the foundation.
“The 4-H foundation honored these companies for their outstanding dedication to providing royalty support for young people from across the state involved in the Texas 4-H program, which is the youth component of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service,” Reeves said.
Reeves said the first alliance was formed with La Quinta in 2006. It involves royalties gleaned from a 15 percent discount offered to 4-H supporters at participating La Quinta hotels.
“La Quinta has received extensive support and recognition not only from Texas 4-H members, but also from their families and friends,” Reeves said. “In return, La Quinta provides a 9 percent quarterly royalty payment to the foundation. The monies are used for 4-H programming across the state.”
Reeves said Stripes’ 500 convenience stores and 270 Taco Company and Country Cookin’ restaurants in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico joined the alliance team in 2010. Their September “Helping Today’s Kids Become Tomorrow’s Leaders” mobile campaign lets customers support 4-H by buying paper mobiles for $1 each. The proceeds go to 4-H club of the county where the stores are located.
“Mobile campaigns are important to Stripes, because they create direct relationships with customers to raise funds for deserving local causes,” Reeves said. “Stripes focuses all their charitable efforts on programs that enhance the health and education of youth residing in the communities they serve. Their next 4-H mobile campaign is planned for September, so take a minute to stop in and support this company just as they support our local Texas 4-H programs.”
Tractor Supply, with its 940 stores in 44 states, also became a foundation alliance member in 2010 through a partnership with the National 4-H Council, Reeves said. The partnership funds 4-H programs designed to enrich the lives of more than 6 million U.S. 4-H members.
“Tractor Supply holds annual ‘Paper Clover’ events in the spring and fall in which shoppers can support their 4-H programs through donations made at checkout,” Reeves said. “Each $1 donation buys a paper clover that’s displayed in the store with the customer’s signature.”
For more information contact Reeves at 979-845-1213 or jereeves@tamu.edu , or Jana Barrett, 4-H foundation development relations coordinator, at 979-845-1213, jcbarrett@ag.tamu.edu .
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