Geraldine Fenn shared many innovative ideas for educating youth during her time as a 4-H youth development specialist with MSU Extension from 1947-1967. Years later, one idea has continued to inspire today’s youth to help build them into confident citizens and community members.

Gerry Fenn knew that the solvers of the world’s problems had to start somewhere. In 1975, she founded the People Partner Program. For 50 years, her vision and funding of the program have allowed youth to practice the skills to recognize an issue or a problem, develop solutions, create teams to implement potential answers, and evaluate the results.

Fenn was planning for a future of active, engaged, and empowered youth to propel their communities with problem-solving and leadership skills. Upon her passing in 1989, she left a gift of $135,000 in endowed funding to the Montana 4-H Foundation, with part of it designated to support the People Partner Program.

People Partner Grants are available to 4-H groups and individuals as well as those not involved in 4-H. Since inception, thousands of projects have been supported and led by youth in communities across Montana. In recent years, the Montana 4-H Foundation receives an average of 25 grant applications yearly and funds a variety of service and community improvement projects.

Fenn emphasized the importance of “people-focused” work to improve the quality of life. She wanted People Partner projects to make it possible for youth to accomplish something educational and worthwhile while improving the satisfaction of living in communities.

In the short term, community gains were visible through tangible projects (see sidebar).

a child doing community service

Photo: Sagebrush & Snowdrifts 4-H Club and Beaverhead Conservation District, Beaverhead County

In the long term the gains were felt more than seen. Those improvements were from youth building confidence through contributions to their communities; and from team building and community connection. The impacts were felt through some of the most important exchanges humans have with one another — giving and receiving. These define the humanity that Gerry Fenn had in her heart when she created the People Partner program.

As an example, in 2024 the Community Hustlers 4-H Club in Big Horn County received a People Partner Grant. They addressed a pressing need in their high-poverty area by partnering with the H.O.P.E Center. The youth assembled care packages, which included spices and seasonings, socks, hats, gloves, and hygiene items. Club members delivered the packages to individuals and families facing hardships. Their efforts met immediate physical needs and sent a message of love and dignity to the recipients. One H.O.P.E. center employee said, “The quality of life is so much greater from every single thing you provide — it’s awesome.”

Natalie Hodgskiss was a 12-year-old sixth grader when she applied for a People Partner grant for her 4-H club to make blankets and personal care kits for abused and neglected children to be distributed through CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children). Hodgskiss gained confidence when she completed the grant application at such a young age. Now, a junior in high school, she reflected, “Receiving the People Partner grant allowed us to impact many lives in a positive way, and give to people in need. I saw growth in the club as well; it helped teach us how to work together. At one meeting everybody made tie blankets and put together multiple backpacks filled with toothpaste, hairbrushes and deodorant.” Hodgskiss also said she gained leadership skills as president of her 4-H club that she has since applied.

4-H member Hadley Barbie reflected, “The People Partner grant opened my eyes to the power of youth-led community service. Having respected leaders invested in our vision to address local needs was transformative — it showed me that young people’s ideas matter and we have the capability to create meaningful change. This experience shaped my heart for service and prepared me for larger leadership roles.” Barbie is now an MSU student and was recently recognized with a Montana Student Volunteer Award.

The annual amount of funds requested is six times greater than the funding available. The investment for People Partner was originally through annual funding provided by Fenn, and later through a bequest in her will. Several others continue to donate in her honor and in support of people, especially youth, partnering to solve problems.

“Having respected leaders invested in our vision to address local needs was transformative — it showed me that young people’s ideas matter and we have the capability to create meaningful change.”

4-H kids working on a service project

Photo: Sage Flats 4-H Club, Glacier County

PEOPLE PARTNER PROJECTS LED BY YOUTH

Funded in part by donations to the Montana 4-H Foundation

  • Restoring public parks
  • Making accessible pathways at community venues
  • Creating kits of blankets and personal items for
    teens experiencing homelessness
  • Building and erecting free library nooks
    throughout a county
  • Organizing a school and community pow wow
    with cultural workshops and educational activities
  • Making blankets for residents of long-term care
    facilities
  • Leading a mental health program to support
    fellow students
  • Creating an indigenous plant garden with lessons
    on indigenous plant uses
  • Creating an outdoor ice-skating rink complete
    with skate rentals
  • Assembling birthday kits to donate to a local
    food bank
  • Enhancing a community medical equipment
    lending program for those experiencing a recent
    surgery or injury
  • Making blankets for first round chemo patients

The value of that investment is preparing generations of youth by developing their skills to contribute to solutions for people in their communities. The dividends are generations of youth who are Beyond Ready to lead and serve. The value is Beyond Measure.

To learn more about Geraldine Fenn visit montana.edu/president/extraordinarywomen/eow_profiles/fenn.html. 

To learn how to give an immeasurable gift that will touch future generations (or to contribute additional People Partner funds), contact the Montana 4-H Foundation at 4hfdn@montana.edu or 406-994-5911. MT4HFoundation.org 

 

Jane Wolery is the Executive Director of the Montana 4-H Foundation and Kelsey Proue is the Montana 4-H Foundation Program Manager.

Author’s note: As the Executive Director of the Montana 4-H Foundation, I found an archive article highlighting a People Partner Grant that was awarded to the Chirping Meadowlarks 4-H Club in Hill County about 45 years ago. I was part of that club and was in the photograph. I had long forgotten the project. The lesson of the importance of serving others remained. Through the years as an agent in Teton County Extension, I was inspired by youth who applied for the grants, and through the youth I continued to learn about needs in local communities. I am grateful that I was invited to participate in many of the youth-led efforts to improve the lives of others.