Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with Christy Vastenhout, Chief Development Officer of McCrossan Boys Ranch about their upcoming fundraiser. from their website: April 3, 2025 McCrossan Banquet Auction Join us for an unforgettable evening filled with mesmerizing cirque acts, jaw-dropping magic, and a show-stopping performance by “Elvis” himself. Guests will enjoy spectacular photo opportunities, a fabulous meal, and the chance to bid on exclusive items and experiences through our live and silent auctions. Event Details5:30 PM Sioux Falls Arena  The McCrossan Beginning In 1948, Melinda Bell McCrossan, the founder of the Ranch, directed that a trust be established in memory of her husband, a pioneer Sioux Falls businessman. From the onset, her declared intent was to create “a home where boys find New Hope for a Better Life.”   In 1953, Mrs. McCrossan appointed a Board of Directors who would help her purchase four military buildings from the former Sioux Falls Air Force Base. The buildings were then moved to the current location and were prepared to be a home to the boys who would soon move to the Ranch. The original trustees were Adolph Lodmell, Roy Hobson, M.T. Woods, Wayne Sutherland  and Francis Regan, all Sioux Falls business and professional men. With the housing work completed, the Board of Directors employed on June 4, 1955, Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Mayer as the first administrators of the Ranch. Mr. Mayer was a prominent Sioux Falls businessman and a state senator  About Our Sioux Falls Nonprofit OrganizationMcCrossan Boys Ranch For almost 70 years, McCrossan Boys Ranch has changed the lives of many young boys. It is our goal to continue providing New Hope for a Better Life for many, many years to come.   About Our Sioux Falls Nonprofit for At-Risk Youth Sioux Falls Nonprofit McCrossan Boys Ranch is a private nonprofit 501 (c) 3 charity organization in Sioux Falls dedicated to providing New Hope for a Better Life. We reach out to boys between the ages of 11 to 20 who have experienced conflict in their lives. At McCrossan Boys Ranch we are fortunate to have our boys  surrounded with dedicated and caring individuals that are living examples to the life the boys are striving for. Through values, goals, education and skills we prepare our boys to live a balanced life outside the Ranch. We also provide the boys with one-on-one counseling as well as specialized educational services so they can heal and grow intellectually. Through ranch activities such as horsemanship, 4-H, Boy Scouts and Fellowship of Christian Athletes, each boy is given the  opportunity to learn and expand their horizons. Sioux Falls Nonprofit Campus Information McCrossan Boys Ranch is located Northwest of Sioux Falls,  South Dakota. It is just off of Interstate 90 on Marion Road. The 90-acre campus provides a real Ranch atmosphere. Residents are housed in  cottages and there is an on-campus school, gymnasium, chapel, outdoor  recreation field, riding arena and livestock barn located on the campus.  Several staff are also housed on campus. Mission Statement McCrossan Boys Ranch: Providing New Hope for a Better Life. Licensing, Accreditation, & Professional Memberships McCrossan Boys Ranch is licensed by the South Dakota Department of Social Services and adheres to Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP) standards. Since 2018, McCrossan Boys Ranch has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). Our school also holds accreditation from the South Dakota Department of Education. We are members of the National Fellowship of Child Care Executives (NFCCE) and the South Dakota Association of Youth Care Providers (SDAYCP).ted. McCrossan Boys Ranch is dedicated to providing a place for boys to grow into men. We reach out to boys between the ages of 9 and 20 who have experienced conflict in their lives. At the Ranch we are fortunate to have our boys surrounded with dedicated and caring individuals that are living examples to the life the boys are striving for. Through values, goals, education and skills we prepare our boys to live a balanced life outside the Ranch.     Raising a child can be difficult. Each day there are teenage boys who are struggling. Struggling with behavioral and emotional difficulties, problems at home and school, dealing with depression and suicidal thoughts, coping with ADD/ADHD or trying to overcome substance abuse or other addictive behaviors. Boys who are failing in school and need academic help.   Other boys at the Ranch come from broken homes. They have experienced more abuse, violence or neglect than many of us could ever imagine. Absent parents. Boys born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome -some with birth defects. They have been denied medical care. Boys who have faced physical, mental and even sexual abuse. Boys growing up in poverty and even on the streets.   Here are some of the main issues we see at McCrossan Boys Ranch:   At-Risk Youth:  When a teen engages in dangerous behavior (for example, substance abuse or bullying), these acts are usually warning signs of larger problems. These are youth in need of an intervention.  Juvenile Delinquency: Boys who have had run ins with authority or the law. Types of common delinquency we see are theft/shoplifting, larceny, assault, gang involvement, vandalism, disorderly conduct, possession of illegal substances and curfew violations or truancy. Self-Injurious Behavior/Self-Mutilization: When children harm themselves (for example, by cutting or burning the skin), it’s important to act quickly. Self-injurious behavior is a growing trend among teens and can be a warning sign of larger problems. Substance Abuse: At McCrossan’s, we recognize the seriousness of teenage drug and alcohol use. We also know it is important to look past the usage and focus on the cause. McCrossan Boys Ranch has working relationships with local institutions specializing in outpatient and inpatient substance abuse along with working with local AA/NA groups. Adolescent Depression: Many teenage behavior problems mask depression. Even mild depression can lead to self-abusive behavior. We work closely with our youth to address personal issues and find the optimal treatment. ADD/ADHD:  Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can have a profound impact on a child’s behavior. The extent to which these conditions affect a child with an ADD or ADHD diagnosis will vary; therefore, we customize the therapeutic program for each child to meet his needs. Our accredited on-campus school specializes in working with kids with this diagnosis.Behavioral Problems: Behavioral problems can be outward symptoms of greater struggles a child is dealing with. Acting out, fits of anger or rage, inappropriate conversations, lying, bullying, manipulation, lack of motivation, difficulties managing emotions, destructive behaviors, starting arguments and not responding to discipline are all common issues we work with at McCrossan’s. These can be signs of deeper issues such as Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), Conduct Disorder (CD) or other problems.Sexual Promiscuity: Children who sexually act out are often using this behavior to mask other serious issues. The key to understanding sexual promiscuity is to look beneath the behavior and try to understand the root cause.Academic Problems:McCrossan Boys Ranch has a special program designed to help get kids caught up in school. They work with youth on some of the autism spectrum disorders or those who have had issues with truancy. The Ranch school has teachers who are trained to handle a number of different kinds of behaviors and provide excellent educational opportunities so each youth can reach their full potential and earn a high school diploma.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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