Sixteen-year-old Dani McTague has spent several years turning her love of art into a way to help others.
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McTague → spend → others
She began ‘Dani’s Dream - Sharing the Love of Art’ in 2020, when she was 10, and schools were closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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schools → begin → pandemic
After noticing that some children did not have access to art supplies, she set out to share them with those in need.
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she → notice → need
As per Points of Light, the project began with a Facebook page and donations from across the country before growing into an effort that provides art supplies to children’s hospitals, hospice centres, homeless shelters and families in need.
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that → begin → need
Since then, McTague has donated more than 3,700 art bags across three states and created a mobile art cart for OU Children’s Hospital, where supplies are taken directly to paediatric patients.
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supplies → donate → patients
How Dani’s Dream grew from a childhood idea into a nationwide service project
Dani McTague said, “I realized not everybody had access to art supplies because schools were closed.
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schools → grow → supplies
I created a Facebook page and a project video explaining what I wanted to do, and donations started arriving from across the country.”
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donations → create → country
Donations soon began arriving from across the country, helping the project grow beyond its original goal.
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project → arrive → goal
Since then, McTague has distributed more than 3,700 art bags filled with creative supplies to children, hospital patients, seniors, veterans, and others in need.
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McTague → distribute → need
Through grants, donations, and community partnerships, Dani’s Dream has generated more than $30,000 in support, as reported by Oklahoma State University.
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Dream → generate → University
McTague has also taught workshops as part of the project and said she enjoys seeing children become excited after completing their art projects.
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children → teach → projects
PC: Points of Light
Her 4-H work grows through workshops, leadership and mentoring
McTague’s work has extended beyond Dani’s Dream.
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work → grow → Dream
She has served as a state 4-H Ambassador since age 13 and serves on the State 4-H Leadership Council.
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She → serve → Council
She has also led more than 125 workshops across Oklahoma.
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She → lead → Oklahoma
Her efforts have earned several state and national honors.
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efforts → earn → honors
Oklahoma State University reported that these include the National 4-H Lead to Change Grant, the Prudential Spirit of Community Award, and the President’s Volunteer Service Award at the bronze level.
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these → report → level
Through her service projects, workshops, and outreach efforts, McTague has impacted more than 135,000 people and logged more than 5,500 volunteer hours.
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McTague → impact → hours
Her service has also included mentoring younger leaders.
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service → include → leaders
Oklahoma County 4-H educator Serena Woodard said, “We had an 11-year-old member who wanted to start his own service project, and Dani stepped into a mentor role and helped guide him through planning and carrying it out.”
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Dani → say → it
Her Hall of Fame selection comes as a surprise during a family trip
McTague learned about her Hall of Fame selection while she was travelling with her family.
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she → come → family
She said she was at the airport on her way to Hawaii and was on a plane when Cathleen Taylor, Oklahoma 4-H youth development specialist, called her.
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Taylor → say → her
After she got off the plane, McTague saw notifications and called Taylor while she was with family.
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she → get → family
“I was at the airport on my way to Hawaii, and I was on a plane when Cathleen called me.”
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Cathleen → call → me
“When I got off, I had all these notifications.
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I → get → notifications
I called her back, and I was with all my family.
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I → call → family
McTague was honoured during the Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma Honor Night assembly at the 105th State 4-H Roundup at Oklahoma State University.
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McTague → honour → University
As a Hall of Fame inductee, she received a $7,500 scholarship sponsored by Farm Credit Associations of Oklahoma.
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she → receive → Oklahoma
How does Dani McTague plan to help younger 4-H members
McTague plans to continue expanding Dani’s Dream and serving Oklahoma 4-H during her senior year.
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McTague → plan → year
She said, “I hope that I can be a mentor to younger 4-H’ers so they can start their own service projects and make an impact on their communities”
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they → say → communities
Oklahoma County 4-H educator Cody Yount said McTague’s work ethic and determination helped distinguish her for the Hall of Fame.
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ethic → say → Fame
He also pointed to her attention to detail and self-motivation.
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He → point → detail
Serena Woodard highlighted McTague’s willingness to help others succeed.
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others → highlight → willingness
After graduation, McTague intends to major in biology at Oklahoma State University with the goal of becoming a dermatologist.
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McTague → intend → goal
The Aporia
