St. Jude's Ranch for Children

T-14 days and counting until our BIG grand opening for CROSSINGS at St. Jude's Ranch!

We are getting excited!! 

It’s getting close…our big grand opening for CROSSINGS at St. Jude’s Ranch, a supportive housing program for homeless 18 to 25 year olds, is just two weeks away on, MONDAY, JUNE 11, 2012 AT 10:30 AM.  Your invitation to the event is attached, the Press Release will come later. 

This is a one-of-kind facility and program in Southern Nevada that will help support homeless young adults, many of whom have aged out of foster care.  Why is this important to our community? 

• A recent National study showed that 7 in 10 young adults who age-out of the Foster Caresystem will be homeless within 18 months.
• A recent report estimates the lifetime monetary value of saving a single high-risk youth to be anywhere from $2.6 million to $5.3 million per youth.
• The average total cost of providing intensive family preservation services ranges from $3,100 to $10,000 per year. Compared to the lifetime cost to society for a high risk youth, this equates to a 255 to 532 times return on investment (ROI). 

We need to support these young adults, give them a chance, provide them the services they need and allow them the opportunity to become successful, contributing members of our community.  Please join us in celebration of this momentous occasion as we break ground on a facility and program for them! Help us spread the word to the whole community about this exciting program!  

Download Crossings_Invitation

 

2012 Props and Wheels Poker Run

Don't miss this really cool event! Las Vegas' only land AND water poker run benefitting St. Jude's Ranch. How fun is that?  For more info click here or you can also download the flyer.

St. Jude's Ranch Receives $25,000 from Floyd Mayweather Jr., and Diamonds Love Foundations

St. Jude's Ranch for Children received a $25,000 donation from the Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Diamonds Love Foundation Spring of Style Pre-Fight Social Affair and Fundraiser.  The event was said to be a "fully integrated experiential marketing platform bringing entertainment and lifestyle programming to the Spring's most prestigious sporting event: Ring King's boxing matches featuring Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Shane Mosley in separate bouts."

The two Foundations chose a local charity that closely fits their missions. The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation (FMJF) is dedicated to empower and promote the social development and advancement of struggling adults and adolescents. Focusing on community health and wellness, economic growth and development and youth education - all areas touched by St. Jude's Ranch for Children.

The Diamond's Love Foundation, founded by the Mosley family in 2010 amoung other goals: supports at risk youth and children which also closely ties with St. Jude's Ranch's mission.

"We at St. Jude's Ranch are simply speechless by the generosity of these great fighters and their respective foundations. This money will go a LONG way to care for our children, young adults and families! For instance, the USDA only reimburses us for breakfast and lunches for our children, but NOT dinners. We pay $1.57 per child, per day out of our pockets to provide a very basic need for our children - dinner! This $25,000 could provide over 15,923 meals for our kids and we can't thank Mr. Mayweather and Mr Mosley enough," says Sarah Sheehan, Director of Community Relations at St. Jude's Ranch.

Weather PERFECT for 20th TCA Open Car Show

Just a few photos from yesterday's incredible show. The TCA tells us they had 382 registered cars which makes yesterday's show their biggest to date. More photos will soon be posted on their website at www.texas-corvette-association.org. Thanks to all who made it such a success.

SJRC to be featured at NHRA Drag Races!

We just received this exciting information from Mary Ray ..read on to learn how SJRC is headed to the NHRA Drag Races...

Anybody looking for some fun drag racing and supporting our St. Jude's Ranch kids at the same time?? My son, Michael Ray, rides a Pro Stock Motorcycle for Gottspeed Racing at the NHRA drag races. These races are held all across the country and telecast on national television. This year the bike will have For the Love of Kids and Harleys and St. Jude's Ranch for Children on it, as well as a "text to donate number". St. Jude's Ranch for Children will also get a lot of TV exposure as the commentators at the races will mention it every time Michael races and he will be interviewed several times over the season. We will also have a table set up at each race displaying St. Jude's Ranch mission, pictures, etc. The qualifying races are televised on ESPN2 on Saturday evenings and the eliminations are shown on ESPN2 on Sunday evenings. I have attached the television schedule, but don't worry, I'll send reminders every time the races are on! Also, you can follow him on his driver blog at NHRA.com. On Saturday, April 21, 2012, 2:00 pm,the motorcycle will be unveiled for the first time with the new paint scheme on it at Gruene Harley-Davidson in New Braunfels. The motorcycle will also be on display at the Bulverde Campus in October for the Las Vegas race. Please keep Michael and his safety in your prayers as he races for our kids. Will keep you posted!!

9th Annual "Moms Rock" Mother's Day Tea to be Held at Southern Highlands

“Non Traditional” Garden Party and Brunch Benefits Children in Foster Care 

WHO:  Over 300 women, children and even a few lucky men from across southern Nevada

WHAT:  Celebrate the bonds of families and friendship at “MOMS ROCK,” the 9^th Annual Mother’s Day Tea and Brunch benefitting Child Focus at St. Jude’s Ranch for Children.  This year’s event will feature live entertainment, a hat parade, special activities for young “princesses and pirates,” a silent auction and raffle, and a special drawing for a mother/daughter diamond pendant designed exclusively for the event by MJ Christensen Jewelers.  The Diamond Heart Award will also be presented to Diana Bennett, chief executive officer of Paragon Gaming, for her lifelong support of children and youth in southern Nevada.

WHEN: Saturday, May 12, 2012 from 11:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.

WHERE:  Southern Highlands Spa Clubhouse

WHY:  The 9^th Annual Mother’s Day Tea was created to honor the mothers, daughters, sisters, grandmothers and friends who enrich the lives of many in our community every day.  Billed as a “not so traditional tea for the not so traditional mom,” the event is open to the public and is the primary fundraiser for Child Focus at St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, the only nonprofit program in southern Nevada dedicated to preserving the bonds of siblings who are separated through foster care. 

Las Vegas Valley women will celebrate moms twice in one weekend this year as Child Focus’ 9^th annual Mother’s Day Tea, “Moms Rock,” takes place on Saturday, May 12, from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at Southern Highlands Spa Clubhouse.  The event is the organization’s largest annual fundraiser, designed to raise both funds and awareness for Child Focus’ mission of connecting siblings who have been separated by the foster care system. 

Each year, the annual brunch offers mothers, daughters, grandmothers, aunts, friends, children and even some local men the opportunity to celebrate the care giving contributions of women in the community.  This year, Diana Bennett, chief executive officer of Paragon Gaming, will receive the Diamond Heart award for her ongoing commitment to children and youth in the community.  The “My Special Mom” award will also be presented to an adoptive or foster care mom, or to a recipient who has played a significant role as care giver in the lives of children throughout the community. 

Since 1999, Child Focus has been the sole service provider in Clark County devoted to the mission of preserving sibling bonds while children are in foster care.  In southern Nevada, there are over 3,200 children living in the foster care system at any given time.  Of those children, 45 percent are unable to be kept with their siblings during this challenging chapter in their lives, and once separated, the majority of these children are never reunited. Each year, Child Focus reunites siblings through a variety of programs and activities, including marquee events such as Camp To Belong and the Gift of Giving holiday celebration.  In March of 2012, Child Focus was acquired by St. Jude’s Children’s Ranch and is now operating as part of the umbrella of services the organization provides to abused, neglected and abandoned children in southern Nevada.

 

Don't Miss Sadie's Soiree May 12th in New Braunfels, TX!

Don't miss Sadie's Soiree May 12 at 7pm at the McKenna Events Center New Braunfels, TX. This 80s prom event and all the proceeds from it will benefit YoungLives--specifically sending our teen moms, their babies, mentors and childcare workers to camp this June!  Men and women are welcome to come too!  It's a great date night or girls' night out.  Tickets are just $20, or you can sponsor a table for $250 (the only available seating--your group/company name will be on your table, plus some bonus treats for sponsoring).  
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20th Annual TCA Open Car Show Just Days Away!!

As you may have read in past years and posts, St. Jude's Ranch is a benefactor of the annual Texas Corvette Association's Open Car Show. This year is their 20th Anniversay and it's going to be HUGE!  (You can view photos from last year's show here.)

Founded 33 years ago in 1979 by two Corvette enthusiasts, the Texas Corvette Association today has grown to more than 300 active members.  With monthly meetings, social gatherings, dinner events, road rallies, car shows, local parades, performance events, restoration parties and more, the club offers something for everyone. 

 

Today, the TCA’s car show continues and what started as a small one day event has grown to a three day event and a Saturday show that last year alone comprised more than 300 entries.   From street rods, to hot rods, to daily drivers, if you love cars, you won’t want to miss this event. It was even featured in Corvette Enthusiast Magazine a few years ago.

 

The Saturday car show is just a third of the fun.  Friday evening April 20th features a dinner and dance at the Boerne Convention Center while Sunday, April 22nd offers a Hill Country Run that departs the WalMart in Boerne, travels through the beautiful hills of Texas and concludes at a lunch for all at the House Pasture Cattle Company in ConCan, TX.

 

With more than twenty-five registration classes as well as music, vendors, food and more, the event promises a day of fun, relaxation and a chance to meet and mingle with lots of great people.  If that sounds like fun, then come join us!  Registration for the show is $25 and includes a t-shirt. A $10 raffle ticket could win you a 1996 SVT Mustang Cobra and admission to the grounds is free for all.

 

For more information on the show and related events, visit www.texas-corvette-association.org and click on the ‘Car Show’ link. We’ll see you at the Main Square in Boerne on Saturday, April 21, 2012.

Pregnant and Parenting Teen Program Receives New Furniture

 

Through an ongoing partnership with Ashley Furniture, our Pregnant and Parenting Teen program in New Braunfels, TX recently received more than $50,000 in furniture.  "We are so excited for our kids today!" said Kimberly Chavis, Program Director, for St. Jude's Ranch for Children.  The collaborative effort is a result of of both Ashley Furniture and St. Jude's Ranch working together to improve the lives of our children and provide a safe, functional and comfortable environment for these new mothers and their babies. Click here to view the photos and THANKS SO MUCH ASHLEY FURNITURE!!

 

 

St. Jude’s Ranch for Children Acquires Child Focus

Collaboration Between Agencies Will Expand Services Available to Siblings In Foster Care

In an effort to expand the reach of services available to children in foster care, St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the needs of abused, abandoned and neglected children and families, announced today it has acquired Child Focus, a nonprofit organization specializing in maintaining the bonds of siblings who become separated while in foster care.