NEW YORK FFA GEARS UP FOR ANOTHER RECORD-SETTING GIVE FFA DAY CAMPAIGN

Croghan – National Give FFA Day Campaign is February 22, 2024. For the past eight years, National FFA has hosted this online fundraising event to encourage 24 hours of philanthropy across the nation in support of nearly 950,000 FFA Members nationwide. The beauty of Give FFA Day is that all gifts made to National FFA on Give FFA Day can be designated to the donor’s state FFA of choice. 

Last year, New York FFA joined the rest of the country and initiated a campaign. On February 23, 2023, New York FFA demonstrated the power of collaboration and creativity by placing third in the nation for both raised dollars and donors. New York FFA raised $32,167 from 163 donors – a truly impressive result given it was their first year participating. Retired Ag teacher Sam Shapiro, from John Bowne in Queens, NY, pledged matching gift funds to encourage giving. Sam agreed to match every gift, dollar for dollar, up to $10,000. 

Sam, like so many other steadfast supporters of the New York FFA, believes in the critical role that FFA members will continue to play in agriculture, and in the transformative power that FFA membership has in strengthening personal growth, leadership development, and career success. Sam's influence did not end when last year's campaign did. Four new donors have stepped forward to contribute matching gift funds for the 2024 Give FFA Day campaign. 

Plans are currently underway to take advantage of the successful strategies that brought us unprecedented success last year, as well as many new initiatives. The primary is to bring the campaign to each FFA member at the chapter level. What better way to promote the virtues of leadership and personal development through agriculture education than through the collective voices of over 11,500 FFA members statewide.

Chapter efforts will be part of a larger strategic plan involving FFA alumni, current and retired FFA advisors, current and past state officers, and Foundation friends and donors. Give FFA Day is poised to become the Foundation's hallmark funding campaign every year. Together, we can provide funding to support our growing New York FFA membership and bring the organization forward.  

The NYS FFA Leadership Training Foundation encourages their constituents, and all those who support youth development through agriculture education, to support the campaign on February 22, 2024. Gifts can be made online at http://www.nyffafoundation.org/giveffaday.html.

For more information on Give FFA Day 2024, please contact Todd Lighthall, Executive Director, at 315.346.1222 or tlighthall@oswegatchie.org.or visit http://www.nyffafoundation.org/giveffaday.html