On a chilly day nearly 13 years ago in November, three young girls were brought to the doorstep of
St. Jude’s Ranch for Children. Their mother dropped them off and they never lived with her again.

Cathy was 10, Carrie was eight and little Sarah was only five years old. All were too young to understand that mom and dad were drug addicts and alcoholics, or why they traveled from motel room to motel room every night, or why their parents were constantly fighting and frequently being taken away by the police.  They just knew they never went back to the same place twice.

Cathy, Carrie and Sarah were welcomed by the staff at St. Jude’s Ranch with open arms.  These precious little girls had nowhere to go and we gave them what they were missing - a safe place to live, plenty of food to eat and, most importantly, kindness, nurturing and love.  We gave these little girls the opportunity to grow and flourish in a caring environment that allowed them to achieve their biggest dreams.

Over time, the girls began to trust and started to share painful and traumatic pieces of their lives that were forgotten for years… and they began to heal. 

Through the unwavering dedication and support of the trained staff at the Ranch, all three girls caught up in their studies after being nearly two years behind academically.  High school graduation with their peers was an exciting day for all three girls.

Sarah graduated this year from high school and lives in the Transitional Living Program on the Boulder City campus. 

She aspires to become a physician and plans for a life she never knew possible.  Sarah just started college and was awarded three scholarships totalling over $20,000!

Carrie, now 21, is beginning life on her own with life skills and advantages she once thought impossible.  Well educated and bright, she often visits the campus to chat with her sister, her friends and others in the St. Jude’s Ranch family.

Cathy, now 23, just graduated from college. She works as a Pharmacy Technician and hopes to own her own daycare someday.  She visits Sarah on the Ranch whenever possible and sees Carrie off campus nearly everyday.  With her own apartment and new profession you would never know this young lady's parents once forgot to send her to school.

St. Jude’s Ranch embodies hope and new lives for these girls.  We gave them a safe place to thrive and a place to create happy childhood memories.  If these girls did not live with us, it is sad to imagine where they might be today.  Cathy put it most frighteningly when she said,” “If it wasn’t for this place I would be beaten and pregnant with lots of kids.  I would be just like my mother.” 

Fortunately, neither Cathy nor her sisters will ever be in that situation. St. Jude’s Ranch taught them how to break that vicious cycle of abuse, gave them a safe place to grow and dream, and provided the life skills required to be productive citizens in the community. All three have enthusiastically embraced their new lives.