MSU Extension 4-H

Thanks to an estate gift, a highly successful 4-H Proud Equestrians Program (PEP) in Livingston County will continue to serve youth for years to come. PEP is a therapeutic horseback riding program for people with special needs that helps to improve balance, coordination, posture and muscle tone.

A gift to the Michigan 4-H Foundation from the Patrick W. Bergmann and Joan S. Bergmann Trust will create a new term-endowment to help fund necessary PEP instructor certification and training for the Grand Equestrians 4-H Club. The club, founded in 1976, has about 30 riders each year with another 15 youth in their “Out of the Saddle” program, which teaches equine caregiving skills.

Kat VanDouser, Livingston County 4-H program coordinator for Michigan State University Extension, says the Bergmann donation could greatly expand the program and will ensure its longevity.

“Grand Equestrians is the only riding program for disabled youth in Livingston County. Volunteers have shared stories about youth who were non-verbal when they entered the program and then began speaking after having some time with the horses. Other youth have gained self-confidence. The goal of the program is to improve balance and gross motor skills, but we have seen benefits far beyond that.”

To learn more about how you can make an impact with an estate gift for 4-H, contact Abbey Miller at (517) 353-4433 or email abmiller@msu.edu.

PLANNED GIFTS

Estate and other planned gifts are future gifts to support 4-H. Planned/deferred gifts include:

• Bequests/estate gifts. Donors may bequeath a specific amount, a percentage of an estate, or a residual after other distributions are fulfilled.
• Life insurance policies or retirement funds.
• Testamentary charitable remainder trusts.
• Charitable remainder unitrusts.
• Charitable gift annuities.
• Life estate contracts.
• Charitable lead trusts.