August 23, 2002

Garfield Comic Strip Art to Raise Money For North Dakota 4-H

The creator of the cartoon strip Garfield, Jim Davis, is helping the North Dakota 4-H Foundation raise money. During the week of Aug. 26-30, a Garfield limited edition print by Davis will be sold on eBay, an Internet auction site.

Davis, a former 4-H member, created an original acrylic painting on canvas featuring Garfield and the 4-H pledge. He has donated one signed and numbered 15-inch by 35-inch print for each state 4-H program. The weekly auctions on eBay, featuring a new state each week, started last November. Half the proceeds from the auction will benefit the North Dakota 4-H Foundation with the remainder going to the National 4-H Council.

"It’s a great way to promote our 4-H centennial celebration and support North Dakota 4-H programs," according to Tom McSparron, North Dakota 4-H Foundation director. "Jim Davis has long been a supporter of the 4-H program. So far, the weekly sale of the Garfield print has raised over $45,000 for 4-H programs across the country."

The average weekly selling price has been $1194 with the print for Indiana fetching the highest bid at $2550. The minimum opening bid is $250 and bidders must be 18 years or older. Keywords to search for on eBay are "4-H Garfield print" or you can find a link to the auction site at http://www.4-hmall.org/garfieldprint.htm.  You must have a registered account with eBay in order to bid.

The North Dakota 4-H foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to supporting 4-H programs with funds for furthering leadership development, education, research and scholarships and creating opportunities for the youth of North Dakota.

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Source: Tom McSparron, (701) 231-8569, tmcsparr@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Rich Mattern, (701) 231-6136, rmattern@ndsuext.nodak.edu