GORDONSVILLE, VA - June 4, 2004 - A Virginia 4-H Club has won a national award in Colgate-Palmolive's 31st Annual search for the country's best community projects by young Americans. The Orange County 4-H Horseshoe Club organized and presented the 4th of July Charity Horse Show and their efforts have won high honors in the 2004 "Colgate Youth for America" campaign.

The club's project was chosen from among more than 2,000 entries nationwide and was recognized with a $100 fourth prize in the 4-H division. Each year, U.S. clubs and troops of six national youth organizations-Girl Scouts of the USA, Boy Scouts of America, Camp Fire USA, Girls Incorporated, 4-H, and Boys and Girls Clubs of America-are invited to enter their best community service projects for consideration. The effort was launched by Colgate-Palmolive in 1973 to encourage community involvement among young people and cash grants are awarded for the best projects in each of the organizations annually.

"We are delighted that Colgate Youth for America has been able to put these young people in the spotlight and hope they inspire others to get involved in community service and make a difference in their own hometowns," said Jennifer Marcus Barbara, Program Director, Colgate Youth for America.

David and Sally Lamb of Oakland Heights Farm and leaders of the Orange County 4-H Horseshoe Club praise their club members, "Our 4-H group worked very hard at bringing awareness and raising money to find a cure for juvenile diabetes, which affects 3,900 children in Virginia. Our kids saw a need and volunteered their time to help fight this disease."

Club members asked and received tremendous financial support from community businesses and individuals. The funds that were raised were matched by PBM Products in Gordonsville. They also invited the researchers and doctors from the University of Virginia's Center for Cellular Transplantation and Therapeutics to attend the event and they were present to answer questions about diabetes and the research that is being done at UVa. Following the horse show, the 4-H club members presented a check in the amount of $7,459.21 to the Islet Replacement Research Foundation. Paul Manning of the Islet Replacement Research Foundation presented a proclamation to the 4-H club and thanked them for joining the fight in finding a cure for juvenile diabetes. Dr. Kenneth L. Brayman, M.D., Ph.D. and Professor of Surgery at the University of Virginia directs the renal, pancreas and human islet transplant programs at the University of Virginia Medical Center and also directs UVa's Center for Cellular Transplantation and Therapeutics with Dr. Jerry Nadler. Dr. Brayman gave a presentation to the 4-H club members about diabetes.

The Orange County 4-H Horseshoe Club will again be hosting a charity horse show benefiting the Islet Replacement Research Foundation on July 4, 2004, beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Oakland Heights Farm in Gordonsville. The show will feature competitions in two divisions:

• Hunter: Judges evaluate the horses as their riders guide their mounts over a series of obstacles.
• Equitation: The skill of the rider is evaluated, rather than the horse.

The Islet Replacement Research Foundation is a nonprofit grant maker and supporter of diabetes research. It funds dedicated scientists who support ambitious research projects to find a cure for Type 1 (juvenile) Diabetes. The Foundation raises funds through gifts from individual and corporate donors, special giving programs, events and grants. The University of Virginia Health System established the Center for Cellular Transplantation and Therapeutics-the first islet cell isolation facility in the Commonwealth. The first islet cell transplant will take place in the very near future. In the short-term, the University's goal is to provide a treatment for diabetic patients by replacing non-functional islet cells with healthy ones. Their long-term research is dedicated to finding a cure for diabetes.