"The Suzanne McMurry Memorial 4-H Award"

The Suzanne McMurry Memorial 4-H Endowment Fund was established through the Illinois 4-H Foundation.

Acknowledgement

Suzanne M. McMurry was born December 1, 1941 in Orion, Illinois. Her parents were Edgar and Elizabeth (Wilson) McWhinney. Suzanne earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics with a minor in Journalism from the University of Illinois in 1964. She traveled to New Zealand later that year as an IFYE (International 4-H Youth Exchange) delegate. Progressionally, Suzanne taught at Sunny Hill School in Orion and later was an English grammar instructor at Rock Valley College in Rockford. She embraced community life and volunteered extensively including as a 4-H Club Leader for the Guilford Gainers 4-H Club for more than 20 years. All four of her children, Elizabeth Russo, Sara Dady, Kathy McMurry, and Robert McMurry, were Guilford Gainers 4-H club members. Her grandchildren, Suzanne and Dori Russo, are now the current generation of the Guilford Gainers 4-H Club.

Annual Income from the Endowment Fund

The net income from the fund shall be used to support University of Illinois Extension 4-H Youth Development programs and activities in Winnebago County, Illinois. A priority shall be to help fund 4-H youth or alumni from Winnebago County that participate in any 4-H international exchange programs during a given year. Second preference is that the net income be used to support 4-H club recruitment and marketing programs so more youth in Winnebago County will benefit from and be impacted by 4-H youth develeopment activities.