HEALTHY LIVING

ILLINOIS 4-H IS BUILDING

This statewide effort enabled 4-H staff to address local needs while partnering with schools, libraries, and various other youth-serving organizations to create new and lasting nutrition education impact to build skills youth can use today and in the future!

This programming is funded through a grant provided by the Walmart Foundation.

HEALTHY LIVING

This year Illinois 4-H delivered

Healthy Habits programming to 856 youth participants utilizing 143 teen leaders across the state.

HEALTHY LIVING

TEENS TAKE ACTION TO PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

Illinois 4-H is addressing the issues of mental health in teens by providing youth ages 13 and up with a tool to help them to talk about mental health issues with family and friends. Your Thoughts Matter helps guide youth in learning more about mental health, why it is important to overall well-being and what action can they take to promote understanding in their homes, schools, and communities.

Here's what participants said they will do differently after participating in the Your Thoughts Matter Class: • Think about what I say to others. • Treat people with kindness. • I will start talking to people if I need help. • Make sure others are okay. • Look at mental health differently. • Be more positive and help more people when they need it. • Make sure to inform a trusted adult or person about my mental health. I want to start talking to my friends and others more seriously about mental health.

YOUR THOUGHTS MATTER PARTICIPANT

YOUR GIFT HELPS 4-H DO MORE!

Give to support • 4-H Healthy Living/Nutrition Fund • Illinois 4-H Foundation Board of Directors Endowment Fund

HEALTHY TEENS MAKE BETTER CHOICES

Health Rocks! utilizes the cornerstone 4-H “Teens as Teachers” model to build leadership skills, leveraging the influence of young people by engaging teens to empower their peers and families to help establish life-long healthy habits.

95%

INTEND TO AVOID UNDERAGE TOBACCO USE

83%

DISAPPROVED OF RISKY BEHAVIOR (I.E. ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO USE)

DEMONSTRATED 97% HIGH LEVEL OF SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL 92% THRIVING EXPRESSED THE INTENT TO PURSUE HEALTHY BEHAVIORS AND AVOID RISKY BEHAVIORS

HEALTHY LIVING

4-H YOUTH NAMED 2023 YOUTH IN ACTION PILLAR AWARD FINALIST FOR HER WORK IN HEALTHY LIVING

Avani Rai’s passion for public speaking didn’t come easily, but it opened up a whole new world to her. On a small stage in Illinois, Avani found her voice and dove into all 4-H has to offer. As her passion for public speaking and leadership grew, Avani explored several roles where she could build her skills and connect with others while serving her community. First as a McLean County Teen Teacher through a 4-H SPIN club and later as an Illinois 4-H Healthy Living Delegate and Food Advocacy Ambassador, Avani’s interest in the need for food security and raising awareness about heathy living—focusing on accessible nutritious foods —bloomed. With the support of her 4-H community, Avani is confident she will continue her path of leadership, service and mentorship. A rising high school senior, Avani dreams of pursuing law and utilizing legislation to bring the topics of Healthy Living and food advocacy into the spotlight.

HEALTHY LIVING

TACKLING TODAY’S ISSUES OF NUTRITION EDUCATION, PHYSICAL FITNESS, WELLNESS, AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING.

Illinois 4-H’s Healthy Living programs educate and inspire youth to lead healthy lives that balance physical, emotional, and social health. This year 2,814 youth across the state learned how to make decisions for better health in classrooms, after-school sites, club meetings, and community programs.

The National 4-H Summit for Healthy Living provided a pathway for an experience beyond Illinois! Teen health leaders from across the country gathered in Bethesda, Maryland, in April. At the Summit, youth develop the knowledge and skills to address nutrition, physical fitness, wellness, and emotional well-being issues. Working alongside professionals in family consumer science and healthy living, students will create action plans they can implement in their communities to teach other youth about what they have learned. This year four delegates from Illinois attended the Summit. They were: Victoria Zwilling, Richland County; Alana Dolan, Vermilion County; Naomi Dolan, Vermilion County; and Olivia Clover, Union County.

TAKING THE LEAD ON HEALTHY LIVING ISSUES

Healthy Living Ambassadors provide youth with the statewide leadership opportunity that allows teens to develop leadership skills further, deepen their understanding of various healthy living topics, and share what they learn with others. This year’s Ambassadors are: Dominic Burkett, Williamson County Olivia Clover, Union County Emilee Cox, Hamilton County Alana Dolan, Vermilion County Naomi Dolan, Vermilion County Karlee Piercefield, Richland County Ojas Shah, McLean County Avani Rai, McLean County Victoria Zwilling, Richland County A SIMPLE WAY TO EXTEND YOUR IMPACT ROLLOVER IRA

THE IRA CHARITABLE ROLLOVER IS TAX-FREE

After you have attained the age of 70 ½, you are permitted to transfer up to $100,000 annually from your IRA to a qualified charity like the Illinois 4-H Foundation. The funds must come directly from your IRA provider with the check written to the University of Illinois Foundation.

The direct transfer has two main benefits: 1) Any funds transferred will count towards or cover your required minimum distribution (“RMD”) for that tax year, and 2) distributions are not added to your taxable income. (Please note that while you will not receive a charitable deduction for these gifts, excluding them from your income is more advantageous than a deduction.)

To make your rollover gift, instruct your IRA administrator to send a check payable to the “University of Illinois Foundation” P.O. Box 734500, Chicago, IL 60673-4500, for the benefit of Illinois 4-H Foundation. Please also ask your administrator to include your name and preferred designation ie. Illinois 4-H Foundation (or applicable, fund name/number) on your check’s stub.