St. Jude's Ranch for Children

Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Run...

CALLING ALL RUNNERS!!
The 17th Annual Jingle Bell Run hosted by the New Braunfels Running Club and benefiting St. Jude's Ranch for Children gets underway Saturday, December 12, 2009. Last year's run featured over 900 runners so you won't want to miss this one!!

The adult race starts at 9 a.m. and the children's race starts at 9:45 a.m.  Both races start and finish in the park and will be followed by a post-race party.  There are five age groups with awards given to the top three finishers in each age group.  There are also awards for overall and masters overall for both men and women.  T-shirts guaranteed to all early registrants.

Event Website

Downloadable Entry Form

Course and Map Directions

See Pictures from the 2008 Run

Some Las Vegas Businesses Working to Help Prepare Foster Kids for Adulthood

Here is a link to a recent article where some of our kids were referenced.  The article was published in the Las Veags Sun and speaks to the incredible work some Las Vegas businesses are doing to help prepare foster children for adulthood.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/oct/16/businesses-improve-foster-kids-chances-succeed-lif/

Listen to SJRC CEO Christine Spadafor talk about our kids, programs and services on KABC 790, KRLA 870, KCBQ 1170 and KTIE 590 Radio Stations in California

As you may know, we are always on the quest to increase awareness about the Ranch and our amazing children.  Most recently, our CEO Christine Spadafor was interviewed on radio stations KABC 790/KRLA 870 in Los Angeles .  A full hour talking just about our kids, our programs and our plans going forward. We are so excited!

The weekly radio program is “Champions of Justice” hosted by Attorney Tom Girardi, a nationally known trial attorney.  His colleague Amy Solomon joined us for the discussion.  The program has a broad audience, including many attorneys and has featured legal experts such as justices of the California Supreme Court, Governor Arnold Schwartzenegger, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomyor, and now St. Jude’s Ranch!  We will have the show post on our website in the near future. In the meantime, you can stream it live on your computer when it is broadcast again at the following times below.  Happy listening!

KABC 790 – Saturday, November 7 at 9am (PACIFIC)
KRLA 870 - Saturday, November 7 at 5pm (PACIFIC) & Sunday, November 8 at 8pm (PACIFIC)

It will also be broadcast in San Diego and San Bernadino:

KCBQ 1170 – Saturday, November 7 at 5pm (PACIFIC)
KTIE 590 – Saturday, November 7 at 5pm (PACIFIC) & Sunday, November 8 at 8pm (PACIFIC)

Takeda Day of Caring - THANK YOU!

Thank you Takeda for making a HUGE difference in the lives of our kids!!  The following comes to us from Erika Curtis our Community Relations Coordinator in Texas:

"I recently went to the Westin at La Cantera to speak to about 60 of Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America’s top sales reps. I gave them a brief overview of who we are and what we do and all of our programs. They were gathered for a retreat and decided to do a service project for SJRC again for the 4^th year. They made Christmas bins for every kid here in Texas . Each bin was decorated and personalized for our kids and full of games, toys, puzzles, and hygiene products.

Following this event, they then came to the New Braunfels Campus and delivered all the bins, took a tour and met our little kids and Pregnant and Parenting teen moms and their new babies. They loved being able to see firsthand what an amazing job we are doing with our kids and what a powerful difference we are making in their lives."

 

 

Don't Miss This Year's Wurstfest - October 30 - November 8, 2009 in New Branfels, TX.

Wurstfest 2009 is almost here!  A long standing tradition in New Braunfels, TX, this is Oktoberfest done Texas style!  Full of the German tradition, this is one event you won't want to miss.  St. Jude's Ranch for Children receives a portion of the proceeds brought in at our food booth staffed by volunteers.  It's a great local tradition that makes for a terrific and wonderful time for the entire family.  Find out more and watch a video on this great event at http://www.wurstfest.com/.

Landmark Dome Replaced at St. Jude's Ranch

See today's Las Vegas Sun for a great article regarding the dome atop our Chapel that has been replaced and the great photographs that document the process.  There are about 16 total photos and they are really great - don't miss it and thanks to all who have worked so hard to make this a reality!

St. Jude's Ranch Mentioned in Corvette Enthusiast Magazine!

As you have probably read in previous posts, St. Jude's Ranch for Children enjoys a wonderful relationship with Texas Corvette Association in San Antonio, TX.  Each year the club holds their annual car show in April and proceeds are donated to the Texas campuses of St. Jude's Ranch for Children.  This year's April show was profiled in the November issue of Corvette Enthusiast Magazine and SJRC was mentioned!  The three page article includes a great history of the show and what it's all about as well as some amazing photographs.  You don't want to miss this one!  Read more about it here and download the article in PDF.

 

Valero Volunteer Day a Whopping Success!

Saturday, August 29th was an exciting day at our campus in New Braunfels, TX.  Over 40 Valero volunteers descended on the Emergency Shelter and made a very large impact!  The group did arts and crafts activities with the children, read books, played games and then got to work.   They cleaned and scrubbed the learning and play areas in the activity building, organized the donation room and the clothing closet and then proceeded to clean out and reorganize the curriculum room.  What an incredible group and what amazing results! 

THANK YOU SO MUCH!! 

Here's a few more comments from their project leader to our community relations coordinator Erika:

Erika,

Everyone had a really great time for such a wonderful organization.  you all have a nice facility and the children there are lucky to have you all.  Thanks for letting us spend some time helping.

Tom

Gruene United Methodist Church visits St. Jude's Ranch for the day

A group of volunteers from Gruene United Methodist Church (GUMC) recently paid a visit to our campus for the day.  Part of an inspiring program called "Be the Church Day", it focuses on missionary work within the local community.  Read more in the article from The Herald-Zeitung and below from John Boller of Lenda Hand Ministry of GUMC. 

Thank you to all who came out and touched our campus and more importantly, our incredible kids - we appreciate you!

Good Morning,

I just wanted to send a note of thank you to St Judes.  I personally, feel blessed that we were able to come out Sunday and spend some time with the children and I know all the volunteers felt the same.  They are beautiful and I hope that they enjoyed the time as much as we did.  I also want to thank you again for all that you and the wonderful staff does there at St Judes.  It is obvious that you are filling a need in this community and that God has touched each of you in a special way.  You will continue to be in our prayers.  Please let me know if there is anything else we may be able to help you with.  I hope the children get some joy out of the bikes we were able to get fixed.

God's Peace to you all!

John Boller
Lenda A Hand Ministry - GUMC

2009 For the Love of Kids and Harley's Almost Here!!

If you haven't been, you need to plan on attending this year's For the Love of Kid's and Harley's.  It's a  foot-stomping, heart-pounding Texas night full of fun, great music and incredible people all for a great cause!  Click here for more information and be sure to get your tickets now!  Stay tuned to our blog for more details!