4-H volunteers build endowments in Kent and Osceola counties with planned gifts

Kent County 4-H Youth Endowment
In 2009, Merry and Jerry Malfroid, of Casnovia, launched an endowment campaign to build a fund to provide long-term support for Kent County 4-H and at the same time honor the service and achievements of Margaret and
Richard Bethel in advancing Kent County 4-H and statewide MSU Extension programs.

In the midst of planning for the campaign, Jerry Malfroid was lost to cancer. After a successful campaign led by Merry Malfroid and Maggie and Dick Bethel, the Kent County 4-H Youth Development Fund was fully endowed in 2011. Merry, a long-time Kent County MSU Extension employee, died July 18, 2012. She designated a portion of her estate to grow the Kent County 4-H Youth Development Fund. Because this is an existing county 4-H endowment fund, this estate gift and gifts honoring Merry and others from Kent County also qualify for the 1:1 county 4-H endowment match.

The fund serves not only to honor Jerry and Merry Malfroid’s commitment to Kent County 4-H but also serves as an ongoing tribute to the contributions of all youth and volunteers involved in Kent County 4-H.

Osceola County 4-H Youth Endowment
A charitable gift from the Adrian R.Sengelaub Revocable Trust has established the Osceola County 4-H Youth Endowment Fund.

The fund provides memorial recognition to Adrian Sengelaub and perpetual support for the Osceola County 4-H program. Because  this charitable gift funded a general 4-H county endowment fund, it will be matched 1:1 by the county 4-H endowment match fund, doubling its impact for 4-H.

Sengelaub served 20 years as a 4-H leader and had a zeal for life and helping others. He was also active in St. Philip’s Catholic Church and joined the Knights of Columbus in 1940. In retirement, he volunteered for the Commission on Aging, accumulating over 1,000 hours of service.

A lifetime resident of Richmond Township, Reed City, Mich., Seneglaub died July 18, 2008. He attended Trimmer Elementary School where he graduated eighth grade in 1937. He continued his father’s work as a farmer, carpenter and stone/brick mason. He worked for many farmers in the surrounding area over the years. In addition, he worked as a bus driver for St. Philip’s Catholic School and was also employed by Tubelite (Miller industries) for more than 22 years.