1. family and parenting
2. children

RANCHO SAN ANTONIO
Boys Home, Inc.
21000 Plummer Street, Chatsworth, CA 91311, (818) 882-6400
Volume 33 No. 1
www.ranchosanantonio.org
Spring 2015
l
O
a
pen House
u
n
n
A
h
t
8
6
BBQ and Car Show
Sunday,
May 3rd
Y
ou are all invited to
our Open House, Car
Show and BBQ extravaganza. The Classic Chevy
Car Club of Southern California will have over 200 classic cars and trucks
showcased on Rancho’s gorgeous field. The event
will feature guided tours led by RSA boys, raffle
prizes and our world famous Rancho BBQ smoked
ribs, chicken and beef dinners. This event is a fantastic opportunity to bring our community together
for more than one cause. Not only will you enjoy the wonderful food and car show, but the funds
from this event will go to support the programs
11am-4pm
and boys at Rancho San
Antonio. Some of our
programs include our
Education Department
which provides job and
career training, tutoring, and books. We also have
our Transitional Housing Program for emancipating youth. Lastly, the funds will allow our boys to
experience a religious retreat in the beautiful Sierra
Madre Mountains where the boys can enjoy the silence and solitude of the center. Please purchase at
least one book of raffle tickets to help raise money
for our programs. There will be ten $100 drawings
and major cash prizes of $5,000 and $2,000.
First Place Black History Month Art Piece
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
T
he development of character has been an
important factor in our mission to teach our
boys how to be successful in their communities. At
Rancho we take pride in having a diverse population
ranging from different religions, ethnicities and
cultures. Teaching respect for cultural differences is
one of our strong suits, usually taught to our boys by
our staff and administration. February was a special
month for Rancho as staff taught the boys about
Black History. Throughout the month they were
involved in special
activities such as
watching educational
films,
participating
in an art gallery, and
played capture the flag
(which taught them the
significance this had
on the Civil War). They learned about moments
in time such as the Genesis, Harlem Renaissance
and The Civil Rights Movement. The celebration
culminated at the end of the month with a block
party for the boys that included educational games,
food and music.
RSA GOLF TOURNAMENT
T
he 21st Annual Rancho San Antonio Golf Tournament will be held on June 22, 2015 at the
Woodland Hills Country Club.
The Entry fee is $175 per player.
A continental breakfast will be
served at 9:30 am and Tee Time
is scheduled for 11 am. Participation is on a first-come first-served basis. For
sponsorship and player information please contact
Brother John at (818) 882-6400 ext. 113. Hope to
see you all there!
A MOTHER’S LOVE
D
ealing with grief and loss is something most
people have to do at some point in their lives.
As a Rancho family we help guide our boys while
they find their own way to grieve. Unfortunately,
there is no instruction manual for coping with death;
however, we pulled together to be there for two of
our boys who lost their mothers in the beginning of
2015. Showing our support, we hosted car washes
to help raise money for funeral costs for both boys’
mothers. May their loved ones rest in peace.
“If Roses Grow In Heaven”
If Roses grow in Heaven
Lord, please pick a bunch for me.
Place them in my Mother’s arms
and tell her they’re from me.
Tell her that I love her and miss her,
and when she turns to smile,
place a kiss upon her cheek
and hold her for a while.
Because remembering her is easy,
I do it every day,
but there’s an ache within my heart
that will never go away.
Author: Kirsten Preus
KEEPING IN TOUCH
T
here are many boys who have entered through
the gates of Rancho since 1933. Our Alumni
are an important part of the history and success of
our Rancho family. We always enjoy hearing from
our alumni as it helps us realize why we do what
we do. Below is a letter we recently received from
a former youth circa 1986.
‘I was here at Rancho San Antonio in the mid
1980s. I want to thank Rancho San Antonio and all
of its staff for all of the support in helping me grow
into the man that I have become. During my stay
here at Rancho, I learned most of my decision making skills and life skills to lead a successful life. I
found it difficult to apply these skills till I got a bit
older. Through the Rancho Program, I managed to
mature and lead a successful life. I now have two
children, one who’s going to UCLA medical school
and one who is still in high school. I would like to
thank Sport and Charlie Lloyd and the entourage of
staff for making a difference in my life.’
-A Former Youth 1986
THANK YOU
O
n behalf of everyone here at Rancho San Antonio, thank you to the families of St. Euphrasia, The Chevy Car
Club, Knights of
Columbus, The Early Birds of CSUN
and all other generous donors for your
very kind donations and your support of our Rancho family. Your generosity has made an immediate difference in the lives of our young men. Thank
you again for your compassionate support.
A LETTER FROM THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dear Friends,
I
n the past few months I have been reflecting on
the past fifty years of my service at Rancho San
Antonio Boys Home. Fifty years is a long time to
be in the helping profession. Webster defines service as “work done for the benefit conferred on
another.” The Brothers of Holy Cross’ mission is
to provide service to wherever we are assigned to
work. We are “givers” of hope; our gifts are intended to make life better for others in ways that
elevate their dignity and self-respect.
The following letter is only a sample of the thousands of boys who have found new hope in and for
life, due to their experience at Rancho San Antonio.
‘Hello Brother John. I wanted to thank you for
your generosity and kindness. I was very happy to
receive this gift from you. This really touched me
because, not many people have shown me that they
really care for me in my life, except for my mom.
And what you did for me made me really happy. I
am happy to even have the honor to be the M.C.
at “Success is Our Future”. And now I get to keep
my first suit. I feel like I’m growing up, and I want
to try and find every chance I can to use it. Thank
you for caring and believing in me. Thank you
very much, Michael.’
We all need to thank you, our generous benefactors, for helping provide the facilities and program
for those boys entrusted to our care! Thank you for
the past 50 years and let’s hope we can continue
for 50 more.
Sincerely,
The Chevy Car Club
Brother John Crowe, C.S.C.
Rancho San Antonio Benefactors List
Rancho is grateful to our friends who contributed from November 18, 2014 through March 11, 2015.
All donations are greatly appreciated, our mission would not be possible without your continued support.
Please excuse our mistake if your name was omitted and contact us so that we may correct our error.
Mrs. Marie Acebo
Mr. & Mrs. John Archer
Mrs. Frances Ardolf
Mr. & Mrs. Harold V. Bahrke
Ms. Judy A. Beer
Mr. & Mrs. Virgil Birgen
Mrs. Arlene Boniface
Mrs. Lyn Boniface
Mr. & Mrs. Bruce D. Boulton
Mr. & Mrs. Richard Bratkovich
Mr. & Mrs. Roger Broderick
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Brykalski
Mr. Robert Buffum
Mr. Robert J. Campbell
Ms. Nelly Caywood
Mrs. Martha Cengr
Mr. William K. Challoner
Chatsworth Women’s Club
Mr. & Mrs. John Chillington
Mr. Pat Ching
As You Are Church
Ms. Claire Colicchio
Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Connolly
Mr. Alan Croall
Ms. Anna Marie Cronin
CSUN Early Birds
Ms. Erna De Barro
Mr. & Mrs. Carl L. De Dionisio
Ms. Linda L. Delaney
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Deleo
Mr. Steve Dey
Mr. John Farrell
Mr. & Mrs. Peter L. Ferry
Mr. L. Finch
Mr. & Mrs. Richard Mader
Mrs. Mary Mahon
Mr. Anthony Maurer
Mr. Douglas Maxey
Mr. L. W. Mohrfeld
Ms. Carmel T. Molyneux
Ms. Carol Morgan
M.T. Motor Repair
Mrs. Joanne M. Nash
Network for Good
Mr. & Mrs. Ed Newhart
Mr. & Mrs. Britt Napoli
Mrs. Antoinette Nothacker
Northridge Womans Club
Mr. & Mrs. Timothy Olinger
Mr. Daniel Olsen
Mrs. Barbara Pampalone
Mrs. Leslie Parker
Mr. & Mrs. Walter Petrovsky
Dr. & Mrs. Earl P. Petrus
Mr. & Mrs. Roland Pinza
Mr. Eric Price
QEP CO INC.
R.A. Macasaet Dental Co.Mr.
Robert Radford
Mr. & Mrs. Roy Rehfeld
Mr. Robert Rinde
Mrs. Eugenia Riordan
Mr. & Mrs. Nick Rizzo
Mr. & Mrs. Christopher N. Leupold Mr. Edmond J. Russ
Ms. Marie A. Saliger
Mr. Eugene Lipic
Mr. Ernest Sanchez
Ms. Tina Little
Mr. Michael Llach
Mrs. Anne Sanderson
Mr. & Mrs. Tony Lufrano
Mr. Richard M. Santoyo
Mr. & Mrs. Carl Fischer
Mr. John Foster
Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Freund
Mr. Raymond A. Fuess
Mrs. Susan Fuess
Mr. David Furukawa
Gourmet Coffee
Mr. & Mrs. James Grant
Ms. Debra Greene
Mrs. Annie Grimes
Mr. Terry Gordon
Guardian Angel
Mr. & Mrs. Don Gustavson
Mr. Thomas Haglund
Mrs. Mary Harrigan
Mr. & Mrs. Richard Hoefflin
Mr. & Mrs. Gary Hoover
Ms. Shirley Hodgson
Mr. Willard Howard
Mrs. Joann Jacks
Mr. Harry G. Johnson
Ms. Anita Jones
Mr. Jonathan Jones
Mr. & Mrs. Frank A. Kelleher
Mr. & Mrs. Frank S. Kuric
Mr. & Mrs. Pat Lagerstrom
Mr. Thomas P. La Porte
Mr. & Mrs. Stephen G. Lee
Mr. Timothy M. Lefevre
These giving hearts, Dear Lord, please bless;
Fill their lives with happiness and joy.
For all they have given, all they have done,
Natural warmth like gentle sun,
Many generous, selfless deeds,
Lord give to them and meet their needs;
Cover them in Your holy love;
Write their name in heaven above.
Ms. Kathryne Saravia
Mrs. Jaqueline S. Sarosi
Mr. Carl Schack
Sherman Oaks Women’s Club
Ms. Ellen Schneider
Schrillo Family Foundation
Mr. George Schwary
Shah Charitable Foundation
Mrs. Sherry Scobey
Mrs. Mary Ann Shiner
Ms. Mary S. Sima
Dr. Lupe Simpson
Mr. Phil Solomon
The Honorable Bruce Sottile
Mrs. Julie Tanner
Ms. Luisa Tassey
Mr. Brian Testo
Ms. Carol Thachuk
Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Thornton
Mr. & Mrs. Edward Tinsley
Ms. Jacqueline G. Torres
Mr. John Vara
Ms. Demitrie Villa
Ms. Irene P. Vincent
Vintage Corvettes of Southern
California
Mr. Robert G. Volpe
Mr. Michael Walsh
Mr. & Mrs. John D. Weinbeck
Mr. Laurence J. Weisner
Mr. Keith Wieser
Ms. Mary White
Donna Clervi & Chip Wiseman
Mr. George Zaki