Blog

Cooper is a 7-week old male Golden Retriever who came to live at YBGR this April.  Cooper is in training to become a Therapy Dog.

Cooper will join Emmy Lou, a 7-year old female Golden Retriever, who is the Ranch’s current certified therapy dog through the Delta Society and Pet Partners. 

There are many benefits to Pet Therapy for both the mental and physical health of YBGR youth, including; providing comfort, lowering anxiety, creating play activity, and offering unconditional love.

It takes a special dog to be a Therapy Dog at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch and we look forward to young Cooper growing up to join our team. 

Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch has a powerful economic impact in our local community and the State of Montana.

 – For every dollar spent at YBGR, there is return of almost $14 to the local economy. 

 – YBGR’s direct programs produce $12.2 Million per year in local economic job impact, benefiting a total of 486 jobs.

 – The total economic benefit of YBGR is $174.1 Million annually.

Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch has accepted youth from every part of Montana and from nearly every state.  Without YBGR programming, an estimated 75% of the youth served would continue in  high-cost correctional or psychiatric programs for an average ten years of their remaining life.

 

Last year we kicked off our fundraising campaign to update two older residential lodges in order to make room for more kids.  Yellowstone Foundation is happy to report that we have met, and exceeded, our fundraising goal of $199,000 for the McVay Lodge and Leuthold Lodge updates.  The outpouring of support the Foundation received from local businesses and individual, near and far, was incredible.

Because of the urgency of the project, construction began in late fall with the installation of the water main lines to each lodge. Next, the sprinkler system was installed in McVay and the lodge is now going through the State approval process before youth can reside there once again. Once approved, youth will be moved from Leuthold Lodge to McVay and work will begin in Leuthold. Once both lodges are complete, YBGR will hire additional staff and begin accepting more children to Residential Treatment.

Thank you to our generous donors and business sponsors for helping YBGR help more hurting kids! 

 

Lexi* came to Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch with a chip on her shoulder the size of Texas. She was seething at her parents for sending her to the Ranch, and unable to process, much less let go of, the anger she felt toward all those who had wronged her.  She was hostile toward all and trusted no one.   

Lexi was surprised to learn soon after she arrived at the Ranch that there is actually a name for the intense loneliness that had followed her around for so long.  It is called Major Depressive Disorder, and it is treatable.  With expert psychiatric care and on-demand therapeutic resources at YBGR, Lexi started to stabilize.  She began to notice that she wasn’t in a rotten mood all of the time.  She began to realize that some of the girls in her Lodge were actually kind of cool and she could relate to them.

That’s when a couple of Lexi’s Lodge-mates talked her into attending the Ranch’s summer Young Life camp.  She wasn’t much interested in hearing about Jesus or why some of her new friends had started reading their bibles, but the activities during the day were a blast and the candlelight Club Talks in the evening were low-key and actually made sense.  Lexi began to wonder whether Jesus really did have an interest in her life?

By the end of the summer camp, Lexi was feeling like she had connected with several of the volunteers and staff working in the Spiritual Life Program.  Then one evening, a Young Life volunteer came to Lexi’s Lodge and helped with a “spa night” where all the girls painted their nails.  Amid the giggles and laughs, some of the girls talked about the 30-Day Challenge they were doing where they commit to reading their bibles and journaling about the experience.  Lexi decided she was up for the challenge.

Fast forward almost a year later to Lexi’s recent discharge from YBGR.  The angry and hostile girl was gone, and in her place was a young lady who had hugs for everyone and crocodile tears because she had to leave.  These moments are more sweet than bitter for the caring staff at the Ranch because they can see that a life has been changed on the inside, as well as the outside.

The Spiritual Life Program at YBGR is made possible by our caring donors who believe that offering a voluntary spiritual component of care to the hurting children at the Ranch makes sense.  Government and insurance companies will not pay for all the “extras” that make the Ranch so unique, most especially the Spiritual Life Program.  But donors like you will.

We need your help now to keep the Chapel programs available to the kids for another year.  Thank you for your past support for the boys and girls in treatment at YBGR.  This Easter, please send a gift so that children like Lexi have an opportunity to learn of God’s love for them.  Thank you.

*name and photo changed to ensure confidentiality

Please join us for a celebration of the Franklin and Merle Robbie Chapel’s 50th year.

Sunday, September 12, 2021
9:30 am Worship Service in the Chapel
10:30 am Brunch in the Dining Hall

There will be a re-dedication of the Robbie Chapel and a celebration of YBGR’s Spiritual Life Program. 

Mark your calendars now to join us for fellowship and festivities!

Please contact Kristi at 406-656-8772 for more information.

Due to the on-going COVID crisis, Congress has extended the CARES ACT charitable provisions for tax year 2021.  

The Universal Charitable Deduction is a special tax deduction up to $300 for cash gifts to charity this year even if you do not itemize on your tax returns. For itemizers, the  increased deduction cap to 100% of donor’s annual income for cash gifts has also been extended through 2021.

You can also save money, create income, and save on taxes by using Charitable Planned Gifts, such as the Yellowstone Gift Annuity.  Let us show you how to make the most of your charitable giving this year!

Like us on Facebook.  Join us on LinkedIn.

Yellowstone Foundation is happy to announce its social media presence.  We look forward to building the Yellowstone social network, bringing you interesting content, inspiring stories, and timely information.

Let’s get social!

The Spring Wrangler Newsletter is available online now!

In our first edition of 2021, you will meet the Studers and learn about this family’s legacy of support for YBGR kids.  Foundation President, Bill Hritsco, shares the how-tos and advantages of Donor Advised Funds.  Online Bonus: Yellowstone Donor Advised Funds

We also have a holiday recap of Christmas at YBGR with photos and stories.  Ranch CEO, Mike Chavers has a COVID-19 update and reports and the launch of YBGRConnect.  And you won’t want to miss reading Stephanie’s story about her personal road to recovery.

The Wrangler publication  reports on the direct working relationship of the Ranch with children and the Foundation’s activities in fundraising for the benefit of at-risk youth.

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