Annual Report 2010

Eagle Ranch provides a Christ-centered home for boys and girls

in crisis and in need of hope and healing. Partnering with
their families, we pursue restoration and reunification.

We seek to influence and equip others who share a similar calling

to impact children, families, and future generations.
 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DEE ANN TURNER, Chairman
Vice President of Human
Resources, Chick-fil-A
ERIC ANDERSON
Consultant,
A Foundation of Faith Egon Zehnder International
TIM AYRES
Partner,
Moore, Colson & Co.
This year, Eagle Ranch celebrates 25 years since BETH BRAGG
Vice President,
welcoming our first child, and now many of The DeMoss Group
MIKE CALLAHAN
those first children have families of their own. Executive Vice President and CFO,
Gypsum Management & Supply
When they return to the Ranch, it is always DAVID FARMER
Senior Director, Quality and
encouraging to find the lessons taught during Customer Experience, Chick-fil-A
their season here have taken root in their lives. TOM FULLER
Chief Financial Officer,
22squared, Inc.
ROY JONES
The Ranch’s mission to the children of this Managing Director,
Walton Opportunity Fund
Eddie Staub, area has evolved over the years as we’ve ROB KETTERER
Founder & Executive Director President,
added a girls’ program, an on-campus school, Visionworks Consulting
MICHAEL MOHR
and therapeutic involvement with the child’s family. Beyond our Managing Director,
Wilmington Trust
program, we’ve learned our own lessons even extending to our KIRBY THOMPSON
Senior Vice President,
financial philosophy, organizational structure and the leveraging of Government Affairs, SunTrust Bank
our Board of Directors so that the core of our business operations TRACY VARDEMAN
Vice President of Strategic Planning
and Marketing, Northeast Georgia
facilitates the services provided to our children. Health System
JIM WEBB
Chairman of the Board,
Triaxia Partners
The Christ-centered focus of our program remains foundational to
who we are. God’s faithfulness in bringing change to our children’s BOARD OF ADVISORS
lives, drawing committed staff to our mission, and providing financial VINCE DOOLEY, Emeritus
LOYD STRICKLAND, Emeritus
resources is humbling. And, in the midst of celebrating this important COURTNEY AMOS
milestone, we continue looking forward to what lies ahead as we strive DAN CATHY
NICK CHILIVIS
to be part of His redemptive plan for the children and families that are ELIZABETH HARRIS
brought our way. EARL LEONARD
DAVID RATCLIFFE
DAN REEVES
Thank you for sharing this important work with us—it’s enabling us to KATHARYN AND MARK RICHT
MIKE SMITH
make a difference. God’s blessings to you and your family. JOHN WIELAND
PHILIP WILHEIT

Sincerely, EAGLE RANCH FOUNDATION

BOARD OF TRUSTEES
DAVE POLSTRA, Chairman
TIM AYRES
JOE HAMILTON
Edwin J. Staub DEE ANN TURNER
Executive Director ROBERT WYNNE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
EDWIN J. STAUB
“The evidence of Eagle Ranch’s success is on the faces
of the boys and girls! The people and
the surroundings of Eagle Ranch are refreshing
and inspiring. The leadership and staff
demonstrate a strong commitment to
quality care that is individualized
for each child and family.”
Terence Johnson
Director of the Office of Provider
Utilization and Outcome Management,
Georgia Department of
Family and Children’s Services
Home to New
Beginnings
Since Eagle Ranch opened its first home in 1985, hundreds
of children have been given hope, healing and a new
beginning. Eagle Ranch supporters have sustained the Ranch
mission and helped it grow. The 270-acre campus in South Hall
County can now serve as many as 66 children – 42 boys and 24 girls.

The Year In Review

In 2009, Eagle Ranch provided a home for 75 children and counseling
services for 268 of their family members. This supports the goal of creating an
improved home environment and facilitates reuniting each child with his or her family.

Private donations supported 100 percent of the Ranch’s operational funding in 2009.

Hall, Gwinnett and Cobb counties ranked as the top service areas in 2009.

Nearly 82% of our children attended our on-campus

school for grades 6-9. Elementary and high school age
children attended public schools. 19% Gwinnett
County
The Ranch’s two new girls’ homes were completed,
increasing the girls’ program capacity to 24 girls. 27% Hall
County
Two new facilities were completed. The Wink
Wynne Lodge opened to host Ranch-wide
gatherings, group meals, movie nights and
community events. The Eagle Ranch School
9% Cobb
County
expanded its lower level to include new class-
rooms and an assembly room. EAGLE R ANCH
Key Service Area
 71%
SOURCES OF REVENUE
General Contributions
Endowment Revenue
Memorial & Honor Gifts
Program Service Revenue
Other
Special Events

10% 9%
4% 4% 2%

In 2010, Eagle Ranch’s budget for general

operational expenses is $3.2 million.

Retired Kroger Atlanta division President Paul

Smith and a group of dedicated volunteers over-
see the Eagle Ranch on-campus food storage
facility. More than $100,000 was saved in 2009
through the generous donations of companies
like Kroger, Publix, Dole, Entenmann’s, Frito Lay,
Pepperidge Farm, Crystal Farms and Rickitt/
Benkiser. The responsibility of feeding over 100
people who live on campus full-time makes this
expense the second largest in Eagle Ranch’s
annual operating budget.

The Eagle Ranch Foundation

The Eagle Ranch Foundation was established in 1994 to assist in providing operational support for
Eagle Ranch. Gifts to this foundation become part of an endowment to provide for the ongoing care of
Ranch children. For more information, contact Eddie Staub or Jan Ros at 770.967.8500.
 Be a good steward
of all resources
Our Financial Principles The decision to run a
Debt-free Philosophy debt-free organization
Eagle Ranch spends no money on new capital projects until all was made at the inception
funding is secured. Therefore, none of your contribution ever goes of Eagle Ranch and has
toward servicing debt. been a cornerstone of its
operations for 25 years.
A Generational Impact No loans or financing
Graduates return to us with healthy families, expressing a desire to have ever been used
show their own children where they spent a season of their youth. to acquire land, build
Like a mutual fund, your investment in Eagle Ranch grows with each facilities or pay for
child, to their children and beyond. program services–
enabling the Ranch to
Zero-based Budgeting
maximize the investment
Annually, Eagle Ranch begins its budgeting process from scratch and
of each dollar received to
evaluates every line-item expense prior to budget approval.
benefit the children.
Low Overhead
Children at Eagle Ranch always come first. Nearly 80 percent of your This value is based upon
gift goes directly to the care of our children and programs that 2 Corinthians 8:20-21:
benefit their overall development. This far exceeds the 65 percent “We want to avoid any
standard set forth under national ethics guidelines for U.S. charities. criticism of the way we
administer this liberal
Independent Oversight gift. For we are taking
Our financial records are audited by an independent pains to do what is right,
accounting firm, and we are in good standing with the not only in the eyes of the
Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. Also, the Finance Lord but also in the
Committee of the Eagle Ranch Board of Directors provides ongoing eyes of men.”
financial oversight.
13% General and
Administrative

9%
An emerging trend is monthlygiving, wheredonors give Fundraising

a set amount each month through onlinegiving or by mailing

78% Children’s
a gift to the Ranch on thesameschedule theypaybills. Programs
In 2009, more than half of
the children in our care were being
raised by single mothers and
almost ten percent were being raised
by grandparents or
great-grandparents.

Homelife
Transforming Lives
During their season at Eagle Ranch, children are provided a home,
education and counseling. Boys and girls receive help in every area
of their lives – spiritual, emotional, intellectual, social and physical.
The children live in a home with a houseparent couple who models a
healthy family atmosphere. They receive support from professional
counselors, assistant counselors and teachers.

Homelife at a Glance
Eagle Ranch houseparents serve an average of 4 years at the Ranch,
more than double the national average of 18 months.
No more than 7 boys live in each boys’ home, and no more than 6 girls
live in each girls’ home, providing a more traditional family setting
and greater individual attention and care.
Children return home every other weekend and on holidays to give
families an opportunity to implement the skills and principles learned “I’ve learned to
during the child’s time at the Ranch. take responsibility
and to change
Brandon’s Story
the way I think
At home, I was disrespectful to my mom and was bullying my
about things.”
brother. I wasn’t doing well in school either. I’ve learned a lot
from my Eagle Ranch houseparents, Mr. Bruce and Ms. Jody, and
the other guys in the house. I know how to be respectful, and that
it’s the right thing to do. Just being around the other guys, I realized
I wasn’t treating them badly, so I didn’t have to be so hard on
my brother.

I’m doing a lot better in school. The teachers recognize my effort,

and with the smaller class sizes, it’s a lot easier to get help. I’ve really
learned to take responsibility and to change the way I think about
things. I’m looking forward to graduating – my mom and dad are
ready for me to come home.

Brandon, age 12
Season at Eagle Ranch: 2008 - 2010
 “Counseling is another unique feature
at Eagle Ranch, with families receiving
therapy — not just the children.”
MainStreet Newspapers
Kerri Testement
September 26, 2007

Counselin g
 Reach out beyond
Serving Families the children
The definition of family continues to evolve. Today, 83 percent of No matter how difficult
the children at Eagle Ranch come from families disrupted by divorce, things may be at home,
single parenting or assumption of the parental role by other family children most often seek
members. An emerging trend is the increased parental role being to return to family.
assumed by grandparents, and in some cases great-grandparents.
To ensure long-term
Families often struggle because they lack community – the peers, success for the child
resources and assistance they need to work through difficult times. and his or her family,
When a child leaves home to come to Eagle Ranch, the goal is to Eagle Ranch provides
build a bridge back to a family that is restored and renewed with an counseling to children,
established community of support. their siblings and
adults who serve in a
Eagle Ranch partners with the entire family through counseling and parental role.
instruction so that children are able to return to an improved home
environment. This emphasis on healing the entire family is the Today’s family may look
greatest act of service for the children and the best strategy to different than decades
position them for long-term success. past, but a longing for
home remains constant.
What Kind of Child Comes to Eagle Ranch?
Children come to Eagle Ranch when circumstances make living at
home difficult or impossible. Sometimes this is due to changes in
family structure or custody, poor school performance, behavioral
issues, judicial requirements or other factors that affect the child and
his or her family. The goal is to identify and work on the sources of
crisis, helping the child heal and return to a restored family.

A Changed Perspective
Before coming to Eagle Ranch, I didn’t know what a true family was.
I was miserable, scared, and felt my life was coming to an end. I just
knew I was headed down the wrong road. Counseling has shown
me how to love myself, be my own person, and dig deep into my
thoughts. I actually know how to love my mom again and express my
love to her, not hiding everything like I did before. It is comforting
to know that I am loved by my family and there is now hope for us.

Jordon, age 14
Season at Eagle Ranch: 2009 - Present
Education

Students in the Eagle Ranch School are an

average of two grade levels behind upon enrollment.
Upon completion of their first year, these students have
advanced by two or more grade levels of achievement.
 Build confidence
and academics
Learning Through Confidence will follow
The Eagle Ranch School for grades 6-9 has significantly expanded While the desire of any
learning opportunities inside and outside the classroom. In the fall, school is to help its students
the basement of the school was finished to include new classrooms achieve academic success,
for art, home economics and a group area for worship and school- confidence is the first skill
wide events. that must be mastered.

Ninth graders are setting an example for their younger peers through While our SACS-
working with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources on lake accredited on-campus
ecology at the Ranch. These older students also take the lead in local school rivals the academic
elementary school field trips to Eagle Ranch’s new nature trail and achievements of any school
outdoor classroom area, assisting with lessons on topics such as the in the region, the main
food chain and native plant species. goal is to help each student
feel confident in any
All students have the opportunity to show leadership in the academic setting.
community through two days of service held annually at the local
Beyond resulting in higher
animal shelter, food pantry and area senior centers. Residents of the
grades, this enables the
Smoky Springs assisted living center in Gainesville look forward each
child to attempt and master
year to handmade ornaments, a holiday bell concert and group
new skills and individual
activities with the Eagle Ranch students.
levels of achievement.
Confidence is also generated through special projects and learning
opportunities, from a student-created school magazine to
exploratory classes in topics ranging from piano to photography.

“ We’ve found that standardized curriculum doesn’t work

because the students come to us with a variety of challenges,”
notes Director of Education Wade Pearce. “We meet each
child at their point of academic need and take them as far
as they can go. Building confidence and providing
leadership opportunities are keys to academic progress.”
 “By laying our groundwork based on the
blueprint of the Eagle Ranch model,
we were able to experience success as soon
as we opened our doors. It is an honor
that the government of El Salvador
considers La Casa de mi Padre
an exemplarymodel to be taught
nationally to other children’s homes.”

Gary Powell
Executive Director
La Casa de mi Padre
San Salvador, El Salvador

Win gs
 Growing to
empower others
Influencing Generations To extend its mission
The Wings Initiative is Eagle Ranch’s global program to export its and reach beyond
mission and model by helping new and existing children’s homes Georgia, Eagle Ranch
establish best practices. Nearly 500 people from around the world began the Wings
have participated in Wings seminars and individual mentoring. Initiative in 1997.
More than a dozen children’s homes throughout the country have
benefited from assistance and guidance from Eagle Ranch. The program is designed
to help new and existing
An International Model children’s homes
Since it opened its doors in 2002, La Casa de mi Padre in San Salvador, throughout the world
El Salvador, has helped hundreds of children in the poverty-stricken learn how they can
country. Eagle Ranch has maintained a close, ongoing relationship implement principles
with the home to help develop the program, which is challenged to and practices that have
maintain fragile bonds with children’s families, many of whom are proven successful for
forced to give up their child as an “orphan” to provide basic Eagle Ranch.
necessities and the hope of a better future. Through coaching and
assistance, Eagle Ranch
Today, El Salvador’s national childcare regulatory agency, the empowers others to
“Institute for the Integral Development of Children and Adolescents,” positively impact the
has recognized La Casa de mi Padre as the best children’s home in the lives of children well
country, noting it as a unique vanguard among childcare facilities. beyond its Chestnut
Mountain borders.
The national agency has asked La Casa de mi Padre to train other
children’s homes in the country based on the Eagle Ranch model.

“I’m truly grateful for the Wings
Initiative, as the knowledge
gained from it has been a great
resource for starting Soaring
Wings Ranch, and as a result
children are benefiting greatly.”
Andrew Watson
Founder and Executive Director
Soaring Wings Ranch
Conway, Arkansas
“Eagle Ranch has provided experienced
guidance and godly counsel. We’ve
received beneficial advice on staffing,
board development and our physical
structures. Unnecessary mistakes have
been avoided and our processes have
been expedited thanks to Wings.”
Jeff Hostetler
Chairman of the Board
Chestnut Mountain Ranch
Morgantown, West Virginia
Service

Residents from the Village at Deaton Creek deliver a meal to the Blessing Home.
More than 100 residents of Deaton Creek, a local community for
active adults, participate in a cooking ministry to give Eagle Ranch houseparents
a break from cooking duties at least one time each month.
Ways to Support Our Mission
Pray
We value your prayers for our
children and staff as our most
important resource.
Share
Schedule a speaking engagement
for one of our staff members at
your church or civic organization.
Serve
Individuals or groups may offer
monthly support to the children
and houseparents in one of the
boys’ or girls’ homes by helping
with cleaning, providing meals,
and assisting with home or
landscape projects.
Support
There are many ways to include
Eagle Ranch in your planned
giving and estate planning, such as
establishing “Eagle Ranch, Inc.,
Chestnut Mountain, Georgia” as
a beneficiary in your will.
Participate
The Eagle Ranch Memorial and
Honor Program offers a special
way for you to contribute in
someone’s memory or honor.
Specific Needs
The Ranch office provides a list
of specific items and projects to
be funded outside of our
operational budget.

A Gracious Community
The North Georgia community has graciously embraced
Eagle Ranch as the region’s primary resource for children in crisis.
In addition to the generous support of donors who provide the
funds vital to our operations, numerous neighborhoods, churches
and local businesses support the Eagle Ranch ministry.
From cooking meals to creating hand-stitched quilts to provide
comfort to the children, the embrace of a caring community has The Hall County Quilt Guild
had a tremendous impact on the success of Eagle Ranch since the provides handmade quilts to each
child at the Ranch to provide
“early days” of this ministry. comfort during their season at the
Ranch and beyond.
Today

“Eagle Ranch is a family of sacrificial,

compassionate caregivers who model what each
provider of out-of-home care for children and
youth should be about: Family-centered practice
built on a belief that every child deserves a safe and
loving home where they can thrive. Clearly, this is a
place that has the hand of God on it.”
Mark A. Washington
Assistant Commissioner, Department of Human Services
Division of Family and Children Services
Celebrating
Twenty-Five Years
2010 is a special year for Eagle Ranch. It marks the 25th anniversary of
opening the first boys’ home in Northeast Georgia. Today on the Eagle Ranch
campus, there are six boys’ homes – Faith, Hope, Love, Peace, Grace and Joy.
2011 marks the 10th anniversary of our girls’ program, and today, the Ranch
has four girls’ homes – Glory, Praise, Mercy and Blessing. Growth over the
years translates simply into the ability to reach more children in crisis.
Thank you for your interest and support in this effort.

Above: The two new girls’ homes,

the Blessing and Mercy Homes,
and the Wink Wynne Lodge.

A New Look for Eagle Ranch

Check out EagleRanch.org to see our
new website and become a friend of
Eagle Ranch on Facebook. A new online
donation tool makes giving easier than
ever before.

New Edition Takes Flight

The 25th Anniversary Edition of “On Eagle’s Wings” is now available. With new pictures
and an update on the Ranch, the latest printing of the compelling story of Eagle Ranch’s
founding is a wonderful gift. Even if you’ve already read this book, it’s a great story to
read again to be inspired by the events that have led to 25 years of serving hundreds of Georgia’s
children. Each copy is $25 (cost includes shipping), with all proceeds benefiting Eagle Ranch. Call
770-967-8500 or visit EagleRanch.org to order your copy today!
 NON-PROFIT

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