The Oklahoma Oil & Gas Association (OKOGA) celebrated the end of the legislative session with a Sine Die event at the Harn Homestead in Oklahoma City.
The Oklahoma Youth Expo (OYE) and the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) each received a $7,500 check from OKOGA to help the organizations fulfill their missions to support children.
“OKOGA is passionate about providing the future leaders of our state the resources they need to grow and thrive,” said Chad Warmington, president of OKOGA. “It’s been a long legislative session, and we are thrilled to end it on a positive note by giving back to two groups who do so much for children.”
The OYE is a nonprofit organization which produces the world’s largest junior livestock show each spring. It’s the biggest youth event in the state and has a $24 million annual impact on the Oklahoma City economy. The organization’s mission is to serve as an extension of the classroom in a hands-on, real-world environment.
(Tyler Norvell, executive director of the Oklahoma Youth Expo, receives a check from Wade Hutchings, chairman of the OKOGA board of directors.)
“We provide a positive influence in the lives of approximately 7,000 Oklahoma youth every year,” said Tyler Norvell, executive director of the OYE. “Without the support of organizations like OKOGA, we wouldn’t be able to provide agricultural scholarships and leadership training programs for as many young people. This gift will go a long way toward helping our state’s children.”
OICA is dedicated to giving children a voice. The group advocates for youth in state care or who are growing up amid poverty, violence, abuse and other situations that put their lives and future at risk.
The funds from OKOGA will benefit OICA’s OK Foster Wishes program, which ensures over 8,000 foster kids’ holiday wish lists are fulfilled.
The institute’s executive director, Joe Dorman, expressed his gratitude.
“Our organization works to ensure every child in Oklahoma is healthy, educated and given the chance to excel,” Dorman said. “We look forward to using this gift to spread holiday cheer to Oklahoma’s foster kids.”
