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The Commercial Bank CEO Mike Sale (middle), meets with 4-H Americorps volunteer Kayla Latimer (left) and Oglethorpe County 4-H Agent Marcus Eason (right) to present a donation check to Oglethorpe County 4-H. The Commercial Bank gave the donation to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the local business. (Submitted Photo)
The cost for a child to attend 4-H summer camp is the highest it has ever been, but a new Oglethorpe County 4-H summer camp scholarship fund has been created to help.
A $5,000 donation made by The Commercial Bank led to the establishment of the 4-H scholarship fund, which will allow the county’s students to receive partial or full scholarships.
“They grow a lot at camp, and I think everyone needs an opportunity to go to camp,” said Marcus Eason, Oglethorpe County’s 4-H agent.
The Commercial Bank was founded in Oglethorpe County in 1924. To celebrate its 100th year, CEO Mike Sale set aside $100,000 to donate to community organizations. The school system, Sheriff’s Office and emergency services also received donations.
“We are only in business for 100 years because the community has supported us for 100 years,” Sale said.
The Commercial Bank’s donation is the largest donation Eason has seen. Since 4-H is a nonprofit, it only makes money through fundraising, donations and sponsorships.
“If it weren’t for local businesses and their generosity, a lot of these youth programs wouldn’t make it,” Eason said. “I know they’re in tough times too, a lot of times making ends meet, but we’re glad that they’re there.”
Instead of using the donation money on yearly 4-H expenses, he wanted to create a way for students to benefit for years to come.
This led him to establish the camp scholarship fund specifically for students in Oglethorpe County. Applications are available to students looking to receive full or partial scholarships.
“I could have used that donation just for this year, but I didn’t want to do that,” Eason said. “That’s the easy out. I wanted to put it in an investment fund, and from here to eternity there will be a child sponsored by The Commercial Bank to go to camp.”
Kelly Mathews is a school nurse at Oglethorpe County Elementary School and the parent of two children who received partial scholarships last year to attend 4-H summer camp through the Georgia 4-H Foundation.
“I have more than one kid wanting to be involved in 4-H programs, which I love,” Mathews said. “Camps are not cheap, so any kind of financial assistance with that is always helpful.”
Since attending 4-H summer camp, Marty and Mae Matthews, who are 13 and 11 years old, are activein 4-H. Both participate in the Cooking to Share Program, which teaches students how to cook, prepare food and budget for meals. The food is then donated to Oglethorpe County residents in need.
“They’re learning how to take care of people in the community that can’t take care of themselves, so that part is wonderful,” Mathews said. “I just love the heart of it, and I love that it’s here within our community.”
After seeing her children thrive in 4-H, Mathews joined the Oglethorpe County 4-H extension leadership system as a way of staying involved in the organization. Her role in the extension office is to help secure donations so more children and families in the county can be involved in the program.
As 4-H summer camp is often their first time away from home, students can learn independence and self confidence. Additionally, they interact with other students across Georgia, learn special topics and engage in competitions.
“We’re teaching them life skills, but they don’t know they’re learning life skills,” Eason said. “Learning by doing is one of the 4-H mottos. They’re learning all these life skills to help them as adults.”