Educational Endowment

The Sarah L. Proctor Educational Endowment at the 4-H Children’s Gardens

The Sarah L. Proctor Educational Endowment at the 4-H Children’s Gardens is being established to honor and continue Sarah’s passion for children’s education. It will specifically help fund a permanent position for a full-time Educator at the 4-H Children’s Garden at Michigan State University in order to benefit area children for years to come.

Sarah L. Proctor and child feeding a horse.

One of Sarah’s goals as a teacher included offering real-world experiential learning to her students. Learning by doing was an important component in her lesson planning. Hands-on activities and local field trips to reinforce classroom learning were integral parts of her lessons. We feel this endowment is a meaningful way to help to carry on Sarah’s legacy of positively affecting the education of children through real-world learning. 4-H was also an important part of Sarah - both as a participant, and later as an adult volunteer - so education at the 4-H Gardens seems a wonderful way to combine interests important to Sarah during her life.

Donate in Sarah's Memory Today

Michigan 4-H Children’s Garden

The educator position at the Michigan 4-H Children’s Garden provides for children’s hands-on learning - through field trips, summer classes and special events. Using art, basic gardening skills and field trips through the gardens, it offers a hands-on way to teach children about their world. Last year, the Garden served over 9,000 children!

Visit the Garden

The entrance to a children's garden with colorful decorations.

A classroom with a butterfly hanging from the ceiling.

Join us?

This endowment may also give the educator at the Gardens the opportunity to offer workshops for MSU education students to experience how hands-on learning can impact students in a meaningful way.

Donate in Sarah's Memory Today

Donate today

Three ways to donate

Organized under Michigan State University’s Advancement Department, the endowment can easily receive donations in one of three ways. Online, via check, or via phone. As a not-for-profit university, all donations are tax deductible and you will be provided a letter and receipt of your giving.

Online

Donate directly with Michigan State on a secure online form. Click “Add to Cart”. Enter a donation amount. Then (at the bottom) click “Proceed to Checkout”.

Donate in Sarah's Memory Today

Mail in Check to

University Advancement, Spartan Way, 535 Chestnut Road, Room 300, East Lansing, MI 48824. Please make checks payable to “Michigan State University” and include the name of the fund (Sarah Proctor 4-H CG Endow) on the memo line.

Call (800) 232-4MSU

Mention the name of the fund (Sarah Proctor 4-H Children’s Garden Endowment) and provide your credit card number and gift amount.