Is Colorado Boys Ranch still the legal name?
Yes. You can still call us Colorado Boys Ranch, your contributions can still be written to Colorado Boys Ranch, and our address remains the same. Colorado Boys Ranch has not been sold or merged with any other organization.
Is CBR YouthConnect (Colorado Boys Ranch) still a tax-exempt charity?
Absolutely! CBR remains a 501 (C)(3) tax exempt organization and your contributions continue to be tax deductible according to the law. Be sure to consult your financial advisor if you have specific questions about your donation to CBR.
Can I still give my donation to a specific CBR program?
Yes, you will still be able to designate to individual programs to receive your financial gift.
Will I have to redo any paperwork pertaining to my estate planning or future donation to CBR YouthConnect?
Not at all. Because Colorado Boys Ranch is still our legal name, all current paperwork and estate planning from donors will continue to work just fine.
How will Colorado Boys Ranch benefit from the name and logo change?
The name change will give recognition to our progress and encourage others to support our Mission. Over the past decade, Colorado Boys Ranch (CBR) has been naturally evolving, growing and improving the number and quality of services we offer to boys from across the United States. This progress has accelerated at a particularly fast rate over the past three years, resulting in very high accreditation and performance ratings for CBR. With such success have come new opportunities to expand our vision and scope of services to include more youth and their families on an even greater scale. We have evolved beyond the boundaries of Colorado and beyond the definition of a 'ranch.' As CBR YouthConnect, we remain committed to our heritage, core values and leadership structure - we simply want our identity to better match who we have become.
That's why in 2003, CBR leadership felt confident that CBR was evolving into an organization that could extend its therapeutic connection to serve more communities across the nation. Out of this emerged an expanded vision and a new name that would better encompass our mission and scope: CBR YouthConnect.
There is another practical benefit to our name change. Because there are several hundred "Boys Ranches" throughout United States, donors, at times, have mistakenly given to another boys' ranch thinking it was CBR. Our new identity will help differentiate CBR from other boys' ranches across the nation.
Why was the name "YouthConnect" chosen?
The two words were chosen with great care. "Youth" is who we serve. "Connect" is what we do. The name YouthConnect more accurately reflects the purpose and identity of CBR: connecting youth and their families with the knowledge, relationships and resources they need to become hopeful, productive citizens. It also helps differentiate us from other "boys' ranches" throughout the nation. The word 'connect' was specially chosen because of the key role it plays in fostering relationships, understanding and insight - the ingredients that are necessary for providing healing, hope and positive change.
What does the new logo symbolize?
Each element of the new logo contributes to the YouthConnect identity. The oak tree, grown from a small acorn, symbolizes strength, growth and stability. The root system connects the organization - core values, knowledge base and heritage to relationships and understandings through people to people, people to animals and both to nature and the world. All of these elements, plus the logo's earth colors, reflect the organization's agricultural heritage. The youth look ahead with anticipation to their future with a blue sky overhead.
Will the new brand affect CBR's mission and philosophy?
Our 45-year mission and philosophy remains steadfast and solid. Through the funding and support of our umbrella organization, Colorado Boys Ranch Foundation, we are simply building upon our strong heritage to expand our vision and continue advancing our mission of "achieving excellence in providing troubled youth with the means to become hopeful and productive citizens" on an even greater scale.
The philosophy and approach to treatment and education at CBR YouthConnect also will remain the same. As CBR YouthConnect, we will continue our stance that there is no one-size-fits-all formula when it comes to the treatment of our youth. CBR YouthConnect will continue to emphasize a customized approach within the context of an ethical environment based on research, individual opportunity and choice. Our name may be new, but our mission and philosophy will remain unchanged.
What impact will the new brand have upon CBR's programs and services?
Our new logo emphasizes the importance of relationships, opportunity and youth being involved with animals. Helping boys develop personal responsibility for their behaviors and growth is still very important to us. The new YouthConnect brand and organizational structure will better facilitate the advancement of these programs and services by linking the future work and research of YouthConnect Institute and YouthConnect Alliance with the leading-edge treatment taking place at CBR YouthConnect. This will enable CBR to expand upon our current foundation to offer even more innovative programs and services to our youth.
What programs and services does CBR YouthConnect offer?
All of the current Colorado Boys Ranch programs will continue to be offered. These include more than 200 applied learning opportunities and non-traditional programs and therapies-each one designed to help youth enhance their skills, attitudes and relations with others. Programs and services range from animal-assisted programs to family therapy to an accredited school system. Each program and service offered by CBR YouthConnect is designed to contribute to a boy's overall treatment plan, helping him learn, grow and develop as an individual.
For a description of CBR YouthConnect programs and services, click here.
How many youth does CBR YouthConnect serve each year?
In 2005, CBR YouthConnect will serve approximately 165 youth, ages 10-21, from all ethnic, cultural, geographic and socio-economic backgrounds.
For more information about CBR YouthConnect contact Judy Heerschap, Senior Administrative Assistant, at 719-384-5981, or e-mail address info@cbryouthconnect.org.