University of Illinois Extension has been helping the citizens of McLean County put knowledge to work for over 85 years.

Thousands of McLean County residents take advantage of research-based educational programming every year to enable them to make practical decisions to improve their quality of life. No matter what your age or occupation, or where you live, University of Illinois Extension-McLean County has something for you. Programming in leadership, agriculture, food and nutrition, work force preparedness and more is offered on an annual basis. The McLean County 4-H program reaches over 3,100 youth through 4-H community clubs or 4-H school enrichment activities. As one Extension user put it, "We have programs for everyone from cradle through retirement."

Read about the programs accessed by residents in our ANNUAL REPORTS.

One cannot speak of Extension programs without mentioning in the next breath the impact of Extension Volunteers. They are truly "making a difference" in McLean County with the quality programming they share. As we try to measure a dollar value of what Volunteers collectively contribute, it is very interesting! If we conservatively assume that each Extension Volunteer dedicated only one hour this year to Extension programming, this would total nearly 1,000 collective hours. According to the Independent Sector's* 2004 estimated value of a volunteer hour, this would represent $17,550.00** in one year for that single hour of each volunteer's time, as they assist in carrying out the mission of University of Illinois Extension. And we know that nearly all of our volunteers are donating far more than that one hour example!

We respectfully celebrate the involvement and support of McLean County Extension Volunteers who are responsible for forwarding Extension's mission: To enable people to improve their lives and communities through learning partnerships that put knowledge to work.

With much appreciation for our VOLUNTEERS' continued support,

Donald E. Meyer, Extension Unit Leader, University of Illinois Extension

*a nonprofit, coalition of approximately 500 national organizations, foundations, and corporate philanthropy programs, collectively representing the thousands of charitable groups in every state across the nation

** The "Independent Sector"* announced that the 2004 estimate for the value of a volunteer hour has reached $17.55** per hour. the hourly value of volunteer time is based on the average hourly wage for all non-management, non-agriculture workers as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a 12 percent increase to estimate for fringe benefits.