Goppert Foundation endows Missouri 4-H scholarship

COLUMBIA, Mo. – A $50,000 endowment from the Goppert Foundation, Kansas City, Mo., will provide perpetual support for 4-H youths from 10 Missouri counties to attain higher education. Youths from Carroll, Cass, Clay, Clinton, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Pettis, Ray, and Saline counties will be eligible for college scholarships through the Missouri 4-H Foundation beginning in 2013.

The Goppert Foundation is a family foundation established in 1959 by the late Clarence H. Goppert, a banker and philanthropist who believed in giving back to the communities that supported his family’s banking business. The Goppert Foundation has supported many civic groups, health care facilities and educational endeavors for many years, and has been an outstanding supporter of Missouri 4-H in local communities.

Through the Goppert 4-H Scholarship Fund, Missouri 4-H youths, who learn the importance of giving back to their communities very early in their 4-H involvement, will benefit from a family that also believes giving back is important.

“The Missouri 4-H success in developing both leadership skills and appreciation for community service has proven instrumental in developing character within our local youth. We are very excited about increasing the educational opportunities to enhance the leadership development of 4-H youth in our area. These young people will be our community leaders of tomorrow,” said Goppert Foundation board member Billy Campbell.

“We extend our deepest gratitude to the Goppert Foundation for establishing this scholarship that will help so many young people achieve their educational goals. There is no greater gift than the gift of education, and the Goppert family is providing this to Missouri 4-H members through the Goppert 4-H Scholarship Fund,” said Missouri 4-H Foundation Executive Director Cheryl Reams.

“The Goppert Foundation is supporting 4-H youths who will continue to give back to their communities as adults, and recipients of this scholarship will forever remember the impact it had on their ability to go to college,” said Nelda Godfrey, chair of the Missouri 4-H Foundation board of trustees.

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For more than 60 years, the Missouri 4-H Foundation has secured and managed funding for Missouri 4-H state programs, scholarships, community service projects and volunteer training.