Our Mission The Massachusetts 4-H Foundation is an independent non-profit 501(c)3 organization committed to the enrichment and advancement of 4-H youth development programs throughout the Commonwealth. Established in 1955, the Foundation generates and provides resources to help expand the 4-H program in Massachusetts. What is 4-H? 4-H is America’s largest youth development organization. We empower young people with the skills to lead for a lifetime. Youth collaborate with caring adult mentors to lead hands-on projects in areas like science, health, agriculture and citizenship. Mentors provide a positive environment where youth learn by doing. This experience grows leaders with the life skills like confidence, independence, resilience and compassion. This produces 4-H’ers who are 4x more likely to make healthy decisions and 2x more likely to pursue STEM opportunities. 4-H is one of four program areas of UMass Extension, part of the Center for Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. 4-H Grows Confident, Capable and Caring Kids The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development by Tufts University is a longitudinal study that began in 2002, surveying more than 7,000 adolescents from diverse backgrounds across 44 U.S. states. The results show 4-H youth, compared to their peers, are significantly more successful in academics and sciences, make healthier life choices, and contribute more to their communities. Read more about the Tufts University study: http://www.mass4hfoundation.org/images/facts/2012.tufts.study.fact.sheet.pdf Website: http://www.mass4hfoundation.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Massachusetts4HFoundation Twitter: https://twitter.com/Massachusetts4H