News Releases

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.– The State 4-H Council has selected Project Linus as the major service learning project for the 2003 4-H Roundup and All Star Conference, scheduled for July 21-25.

The Tennessee 4-H program is the youth development component of the University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service. It is also the state’s largest youth organization with approximately 187,000 members statewide.

To kick off the 80th annual 4-H Roundup, all delegates and leaders are encouraged to participate in Project Linus by bringing new, handmade, washable blankets to the Welcome Wagon on July 21.

The blankets will be given as gifts to seriously ill and traumatized children from ages 0 to 18. Project Linus accepts blankets of all sizes and types. For information on how to help with Project Linus or for pattern ideas, visit the website, http://www.projectlinus.org.

Approximately 375 people are expected to attend this year’s Roundup to be held at the University of Tennessee at Martin.

At the State 4-H Roundup, 4-H’ers will be recognized for their outstanding project work and leadership accomplishments. The All Star Conference is the part of Roundup in which All Stars conduct the year’s service project, Project Linus, and recognize outstanding service projects.

Each year, the 26 high schoolers who make up the 4-H Council select a service learning project that will meet community needs, foster civic responsibility, enhance education and provide reflection time. The idea is “service that you can learn from.

In Robertson County, elementary school 4-H’ers participate in the Linus Project by sending the blankets they have made to Roundup with their high school delegate.

4-H All Stars are high schoolers who were part of the 4-H Honors Club in junior high and completed a service project requirement. Tennessee currently has almost 600 All Stars. They are required to make a personal application of the All Star motto, “Service,” in their local clubs and communities.

4-H Seeds of Service is the service learning program of The University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service and is funded through a Learn and Serve grant under an agreement with the Tennessee Commission on National and Community Service.

As of March, Project Linus had delivered over 673,000 security blankets to children around the world. There are over 300 chapters in the United States. Project Linus is a 100 percent volunteer organization that was founded in 1995 by Karen Loucks.

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Contact: Patricia McDaniels or Samantha Hill, 865-974-7141; Lori Jean
Mantooth, 865-974-2128.