Rorabaugh family establishes endowment to support Iron, Mecosta and Menominee County 4-H
Print
EmailThe Rorabaugh Family 4-H Endowment, established at the Michigan 4-H Foundation by Thomas Rorabaugh and Joyce Hartom, will provide perpetual annual support for three county 4-H programs.
The Michigan 4-H Foundation is honored to announce the creation of the Rorabaugh Family 4-H Endowment, established by Thomas Rorabaugh and Joyce Hartom. This endowment will provide perpetual annual support for 4-H programs in Iron, Mecosta and Menominee counties—the communities where Rorabaugh spent his Michigan State University (MSU) Extension career and invested deeply in 4-H youth.
“4-H is a great program, and we just want to share the experience,” Rorabaugh reflected, a sentiment that shaped his decades of service to Michigan youth.
Rorabaugh began his long tenure with MSU Extension in 1979 as a 4-H agent serving Dickinson, Iron and Menominee counties. He later became County Extension Director (CED) in Iron County and then CED in Mecosta County, guiding and strengthening 4-H programs across both regions. Alongside his professional work, Rorabaugh was also a dedicated 4-H volunteer for many years while his children grew up in the program. He provided hands-on leadership in numerous animal science project areas, including horses, beef, sheep, swine, goats and more.
“Over the years, I witnessed counties struggling for funds to carry on programming,” said Rorabaugh. “This endowment is our way to ensure the three county programs that meant so much to our family will have the funding they need for years to come. For us, a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) was the way to carry out this plan.”
A QCD is a gift made directly from an IRA to a qualified charity, also called an IRA charitable rollover. By using a QCD, donors can support causes they care about while potentially reducing taxable income, since the gift does not count as income and may be applied toward the required minimum distribution (RMD).
The establishment of this new fund ensures that 4-H in the counties where Rorabaugh worked, lived and volunteered will continue to benefit for generations to come. Annual interest earnings from the endowment will be divided equally amongst the three county 4-H programs and may be used for a wide range of youth development opportunities. This includes program operations, supplies, curricula, promotional efforts, and participant sponsorships for county, state or national 4-H events. Funds may also support mini grants for clubs, match opportunities for additional grant funding, or emerging needs and new program development.
Rorabaugh’s career with MSU Extension and his longstanding volunteer involvement have left an indelible mark on thousands of young people. Now, through the Rorabaugh Family 4-H Endowment, he and his wife are ensuring the same opportunities, experiences and lessons continue to flourish in the counties they care about most.
“We extend our deepest gratitude to Tom and Joyce for their extraordinary generosity and their unwavering belief in the power of 4-H to change lives,” said Abbey Miller, Michigan 4-H Foundation director.
To learn more about giving to the Michigan 4-H Foundation, visit www.mi4hfdtn.org or contact Abbey Miller at abmiller@msu.edu.
