Wrangler 2023 Fall

Serving Up Success

Tori was removed from her mother’s care at the age of two due to neglect and abuse. Her grandpa and grandma, who took her in, quickly learned that stories were the best way to get the child back to sleep when she was upset, so taking her to the bookstore for a new book every week became a tradition. “I loved that time with Grandpa. It was the best part of the week,” recalls Tori.

But that all changed in a heartbeat. One morning, as Tori and her grandfather were on their way to the bookstore for their weekly visit, an overtired driver fell asleep at the wheel and crossed the center line, plowing head-on into their vehicle. Tori’s grandpa was killed instantly. She sustained minor injuries and spent a few days in the hospital, but the trauma from the accident would last much, much longer than the physical injuries.

At sixteen, Tori dropped out of school to work full-time. She struggled at home with her grandma and younger sister. Tori attempted to end her life on two occasions and often self-medicated to try and manage her pain and anger. “My mom couldn’t be bothered to take care of me, my grandfather was gone, and things were so strained with my grandma and sister that I felt hopeless and unworthy of love. I was bullied at

school, and everything just felt like too much.”

Things came to a head when a fight at home got violent. Tori slapped her sister for not listening to her warnings about taking risks online. Afterward, Tori was inconsolable and her grandma, Sue, was afraid of her and for her. “I wanted so much to give Tori a good life, but I felt like I was failing at every turn and that Tori was going to hurt herself or her sister again. I drove her to the hospital, and she was admitted to the psychiatric facility. They recommended a residential treatment facility. I didn’t like the thought of sending her even further away, but I knew that it was for the best,” said Sue.

YBGR accepted Tori in the late fall, and she and Sue made the long drive across Montana. “I was nervous and excited. Grandma had me watch the virtual tour on the website, and it looked like what I imagined a summer camp would be. I didn’t want to be so far away. I wanted to be there for my sister, to be a role model for her. We had already lost our mother and grandfather, so we needed each other. I know that I hurt my sister when I slapped her,

Goins, Goins, GONE!

Big Timber, Montana, the county seat of Sweet Grass County, is located at the confluence of the Yellowstone and Boulder Rivers in south-central Montana, beneath the shimmering Crazy Mountains. The name is a nod to the large cottonwood trees growing along the riverbanks.

The surname “Goins” was derived from the Old English word GODWINE, meaning a good friend and protector. That’s a pretty good description of our donor friends, Dick and Stacy McComb-Goins.

Stacy’s family roots in Big Timber, Montana run deep. Her great-grandparents began ranching in the valley in the late 1800s. Her grandpa acquired additional pasture lands over the years which were passed on to Stacy’s father, and ultimately to Stacy. Stacy has enjoyed a 43-year career in the medical field, first in nursing and the last 28 years as a Physician Assistant. Most of Stacy’s career was in family medicine, although she did spend two years in behavioral health treating hurting youth at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch – which she calls the most rewarding professional experience of her life. Dick (a career pipeline welder) and Stacy leased out the 320 acres of inherited pastureland for many years, with only a nominal rate of return on the asset. As retirement age approached, Dick and Stacy began thinking it was time to sell the land, which they knew would trigger significant taxes.

More importantly to Dick and Stacy, the transaction leaves them with the deep satisfaction of knowing that when they are gone, the earning power of the trust funds will live on in perpetuity in Yellowstone Foundation’s Endowment Fund, spinning off income to support at-risk youth at the Ranch far into the future.

Lastly, the transaction wiped out their Montana state income tax for the year and generated a hefty charitable deduction to reduce their federal income taxes over the next five years. Dick quips, “I’d sooner leave the money to charity than to the government – at least I know it will go toward something we both believe in.” Stacy nods in agreement and says, “I think my great grandpa would approve.”

The Goins’ CRT represents another win-win solution for a common tax problem, facilitated by Yellowstone Foundation without charge. We’re always on standby to help you and your advisors evaluate your tax issues and determine if a charitable planned gift of one type or another might be a fit.

With the encouragement of their financial advisor, Dick and Stacy sat down with Yellowstone Foundation’s planned giving specialists, Sara Hofer and Jim Soft. Right away, the concept of a Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) came to mind. With Yellowstone’s help, Dick and Stacy set up a CRT, deeded the property to the CRT, then sold it tax-free, avoiding the upfront capital gain tax and preserving the full earning power of the asset. The CRT turned a tax-laden, “lazy asset” into a lifetime income stream to supplement Dick’s and Stacy’s retirement plans.

The McComb-Goins property east of Big Timber, MT with the “Crazies” in the background.

Dick Goins & Stacy McComb-Goins

The CRT turned a tax-laden, “lazy asset” into a lifetime income stream to supplement Dick’s and Stacy’s retirement plans.

Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch Foundation

Flooding Challenges Met with Care and Generosity

It’s hard to believe that summer has come and gone. It seems like yesterday that we were looking forward to the long hot summer days, and now fall is upon us. Summer had a slow start for us at YBGR, as historic rainfall in early June caused flooding on our main campus, especially for the Tom & Joan Scott Clinic. I am grateful for the staff who rallied, responded, and adapted. Thankfully, due to their efforts, services to youth weren’t disrupted. Through it all, they embodied our Mission: Caring People, Preparing Youth for Life.

I am also grateful for you, our donors. Not only was there costly damage due to the flood itself, but the cost associated with keeping the flooding from disrupting services to youth was high. Thank you to those who generously gave to support the response and the cleanup.

We couldn’t have done it without you.

Moving forward, we know we can’t control the weather. We can, however, improve our ability to deal with rainfall. Grandpa had it right, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Our next steps will be to improve water diversion at the ranch. Thanks in advance for your support on these projects as well.

These efforts haven’t distracted us from our core services to youth. We are still healing hearts and building lives, throughout the challenges. Your support, not only with these projects, but your thoughts and prayers make an impact. As Franklin Robbie said, “It sure makes a difference when you know somebody cares.”

Fun & Faith

Despite temperatures soaring into the 90s, Summer YoungLife Camp was celebrated at YBGR the last weekend in July. YoungLife, a Christian-based ministry, partners with YBGR to offer camp twice a year to youth in the Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility, once in the summer and once in the winter, as part of YBGR’s voluntary Spiritual Life Program.

YoungLife Camp is a chance for kids to have fun and just be kids with activities like water zorbs, carnival games, arrow tag, and movies during the day, and discussion sessions in the Chapel in the evening with Chaplain John Boeder. According to John, the fun and games during the day help build trust and break down barriers which leads to more candid and meaningful discussions in the evening.

It is because of the generous support from donors like you that YBGR is able to offer a variety of treatments and therapies including the voluntary Spiritual Life Program that has been an integral part of the Ranch since the beginning.

The Carl Holler Bridge on the walking path over Canyon Creek that connects East and West Campus during the height of the flood and after the waters receded and fallen trees were removed.

Water + Giant Zorb Balls = Fun!!

Heading into the Chapel for the evening Bible studies. Games like softball during the day help break down barriers.

From Summer to Fall S

ummer session for students at Yellowstone Academy is equal parts fun and learning, with field trips and activities to keep the youth busy and engaged. “School is year-round because our youth and their families need the consistency and services that the school offers them. Summer doesn’t make problems go away, so we have two breaks at either end of the summer. Kids do need that downtime as well. We strive to keep them active and learning about their community, so we get the kids off campus to learn as much as possible with trips to the Audubon Society, Norms Island, Cooney Dam, and more,” says school psychologist Dwight Von Schriltz.

Now that school is back in session for the regular school year, the youth are spending more time in the classroom and taking advantage of the new desks that were purchased to help facilitate a more collaborative learning environment. “The new desks are shaped like fish making them easier to move into rows or pods depending on what we are doing. They also do not have chairs attached so we are able to provide kids with a seating option that meets their needs. Some kids need a chair that rocks so they can focus on learning, while another one might need a stationary chair and a third needs a wobble chair for side-to-side movement. We can create an environment that meets everyone’s needs, so they can learn and grow,” says Melissa Garcia, a teacher in the K-5 Heptner Education Center.

The students are also getting ready to harvest the “fruits of their labor” as the fruits and veggies planted in the greenhouse in the late winter and moved to their garden beds in late spring are starting to ripen. “The students have had a great time getting into the greenhouse and learning about gardening. We had a few missteps with over and underwatering, but that is all part of the learning process and now they are getting to taste the spoils of their hard work and dedication. They are already looking forward to what they want to plant next year,” reports paraeducator Alissa Brady.

A recent safety assessment of YBGR’s campus revealed the need for increased security measures at a cost of $622,278 for the 19 buildings used by the youth. Phase 1 of the project will upgrade security to the four most at-risk buildings on campus: Heptner & Casper Education Centers, the Nutter Dining Hall, and the Uihlein Recreation Center. Thanks to our generous donors, work commenced in mid-June and is nearing completion.

A special thanks to our top donors to this essential project:

Alice Lee Lund Charitable Trust

Chakkera Family

Darlene & Marvin Hartze

Dorothy Bracken

David A. Marta Memorial Trust

Oscar Meyer Family Foundation

Northern Industrial Hygiene

NorthWestern Energy

Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch Foundation

Kids head back to classes in the Casper Education Center.

The flowers and vegetables grown in the greenhouse are flourishing in the Heptner Gardens.

The new desks and chairs allow for more collaborative learning and individual learning styles.

YBGR Serves Up Success for Youth

Continued from page 1

and I also really scared myself that I couldn’t control my anger better.”

Tori was admitted to Fortin West Lodge and dove into her treatment but still struggled in school. She hadn’t attended classes in a year. After about a month, she was used to the routine and, through the credit recovery program, started to make up her freshman classes and even started taking sophomorelevel classes. “I had always liked school and learning. It was the peer interactions that were hard for me. Everyone else around me seemed to have these pictureperfect lives, but at YBGR I was surrounded by kids just like me and that helped.”

Tori quickly became a positive peer leader in her lodge. She worked on her treatment, engaged in chemical dependency services, and worked hard at school. In January, she tried out for the volleyball team and fell in love with the sport. She was a natural and became the team captain. She even helped lead the team to a third-place victory in the YBGR tournament, the first time YBGR’s team had placed in the tournament’s 20-year history.

Tori was discharged at the end of the 2023 volleyball season and went home with her sister and grandma.

Four months later, Tori reached out to the YBGR team to let them know how well she was doing. She had caught up at school, was taking CNA classes, and had a job. She was working on her treatment and had stayed clean and sober since returning home. She was excited about her future and was looking forward to being a junior. Later that same week, Sue reached out to Tori’s therapist to share the same news. Sue is overjoyed with the progress that Tori made during her nearly six-month stay at the Ranch and is so glad that she made the difficult decision to trust YBGR with her granddaughter.

I Finding a Forever Home

n early 2022, YBGR received grant funding through the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption’s Wendy’s Wonderful Kids® (WWK) program to support the hiring of an adoption recruiter who is dedicated to finding permanent families for Montana’s longest-waiting children in foster care. While traditional recruitment tactics focus on finding the right child for an adoptive family, WWK recruiters use an evidence-based, child-focused model that seeks to find the right family for each child. These recruiters begin their search within a child’s familiar circles of family, friends and neighbors and then reach out to the communities in which they live.

James Frierson, YBGR’s WWK recruiter, is based out of our Livingston office but serves children across the entire state of Montana. YBGR received the first referral to our program in April of 2022, with James serving another fifteen children to date. Currently, he has helped to achieve permanency for one youth with at least four adoptions expected to finalize in the next year.

Thank you to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and Wendy’s Wonderful Kids for their partnership!

Thank you, Stockman Bank, for the $5,000 Challenge Grant for back-to-school supplies for Yellowstone Academy students! Businesses and individuals alike not only met but exceeded the amount needed to match Stockman’s gift, raising a total of over $11,000 for school supplies for children from low-income families. This is the third straight year that Stockman Bank has provided the Challenge Grant.

A special thanks to our top donors to the fund: Stockman Bank, John & Win Gillis, Dr. Kenneth & Barbara Kem, AgWest Farm Credit Services, and Bruce & Pam Lay.

YBGR WWK Recruiter James Frierson

A Fond Farewell and Warm Welcomes!

Yellowstone Foundation wants to extend our sincere and immeasurable gratitude to Laurie Perrodin (right, standing) who retired from the Foundation at the end of August. For over 24 years, Laurie provided administrative support to the Planned Giving team in addition to managing the Foundation’s website, overseeing PG marketing efforts, and providing other support services to the staff as needed. Although we are saddened by Laurie’s departure, we are so grateful for her commitment and dedication to Yellowstone and are excited for her to begin her next chapter.

A warm welcome to Marti Burroughs (left) and Kella Murphy (right, seated). Marti Burroughs is the Foundation’s new Chief Financial Officer and started her new position with the Foundation on June 6th. Marti graduated from Portland State University with a degree in Business Administration: Accounting and is a Certified Public Accountant. She and her husband Matt lived, worked, and raised their children in Oregon. When both of their adult children moved to Billings, Marti and her husband followed, relocating to Billings in May 2020 to be with their children and now grandchildren. In her spare time, you will find Marti hiking, jogging, rollerblading, and cross-country skiing.

Kella Murphy has taken over for Laurie as the Planned Giving Executive Assistant. Kella, a Missoula native, moved to Billings just recently with her husband and two boys. She brings to the Foundation experience in insurance claims and issues, human resources, customer service, record-keeping, and, from a stint at the Metals Sports Bar & Grill in Butte, mixes a mean cosmo. In her spare time, Kella enjoys gardening, reading, hiking, fishing, yoga, and playing rec softball. Kella’s first day on the job was Monday, July 24th, and she spent the summer training with Laurie.

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Electric Storm Gallery

Philippians 4:13

On the cusp of the industrial district in downtown Billings sits an unassuming office building, home to the Electric Storm Gallery. Owner and Artist-in-Residence Taylor Evans has created a unique space that is a melting pot with something for everyone.

It is no coincidence that her studio and gallery space are less than a block from Tumbleweed, a shelter for homeless youth. “This space provides me a way to give back and help those who need a hand up and a way to express themselves. When I was at YBGR during my freshman year of high school, I found the experience humbling and developed a strong sense of gratitude. I struggled with depression, but I had a good home life and a great family. I met so many other kids that didn’t have that, and that has stuck with me,” recalls Taylor. Taylor’s vision is to provide up-and-coming artists, as well as established artists, a place to show their work and express themselves. “Behind every piece of art is an emotion for the artist as well as what the viewer feels when they look at it. I was always a creative kid and liked drawing. My time in the YBGR Art Barn in Mr. O’Leary’s class was a saving grace and transformative for me. Everyone there was going through something and was able to use art to express those emotions and heal.”

Taylor also enjoyed the Spiritual Life Program during her stay at the Ranch. She has a strong sense of spirituality and remembers well the seeds of faith that were planted and nurtured by Chaplin John Jamison. She carries those lessons and the stone from her Rock Ceremony (done when a youth discharges) with her everywhere she goes. “That touchstone has gone all over the world with me, a tangible reminder of what I have learned and overcome.”

Congratulations, Taylor, on your gallery! We look forward to watching it grow and serve the Billings community and beyond!

Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch Foundation

Remember Us in Your Will and Leave a Lasting Legacy

By naming Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch Foundation in your will, you can guarantee that your legacy of caring for troubled and abused children will continue for generations to come.

FIXED AMOUNT: I give the sum of $ to Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch Foundation.

SPECIFIC PROPERTY: I give my to Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch Foundation.

PERCENTAGE OF REMAINDER: I give % of the remainder of my estate to Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch Foundation.

CONTINGENCY: In the event does not survive me, I give to Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch Foundation. These samples are suggestions only. Legal documents should always be prepared by your attorney.

Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch Foundation’s legal address is 2050 Overland Avenue, P.O. Box 80807, Billings, Montana 59108.

Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization. Gifts are tax deductible.

We’ve Got You Covered!

Thanks to our generous donors, the YBGR Bill and Anita Jones Equestrian Center will have a whole new covering by the time the snow flies. The structure, first completed in 2003, has a fabric covering that was showing significant wear and tear. The three panels on each end were replaced in 2017 due to tearing, and now, the remaining middle 20 panels and two end caps will be replaced to ensure that Equine Therapy, recreational riding, and other events continue year-round.

A special thanks to our top donors:

Dan & Jeanne Scott Foundation

Charles M. Bair Family Trust

Memorial and Honor Gifts Form

Gertrude Kamps Memorial Foundation

Dorothy Bracken

David A. Marta

Memorial Trust

David & Charlene Hamilton

Sigma DG Corporation

Anderson, Hedge, Wagner, Kienitz, Zwemke, & Assoc.

William H. & Margerat M. Wallace Foundation

Darlene & Marvin Hartze

Miller Caborn Family Trust

Phillip Zietlow

John Pool

MDU Resources Foundation

Garnet & Jeannine Keefer

McDaniel Family Foundation

Kids in the residential treatment program enjoying recreational riding.

Native American Services –New Name, New Coordinator

YBGR is pleased to introduce the new Native American Services (NAS) Coordinator, Josie Brady

The goals of the NAS program (formerly known as RAPP, Reservation Affiliate Pilot Project) are to 1) educate YBGR staff about Native American culture and traditions to better assist Native American youth, 2) provide programs and activities for Native American youth in the residential treatment program to celebrate their culture and heritage, and 3) arrange aftercare for Native American youth when they discharge from YBGR for care and support in their home community. Josie, an enrolled Northern Cheyenne tribal member, started at YBGR in April. Prior to joining the YBGR family, she spent over a decade working in Billings’ School District 2 as an Indian Education Home to School Coordinator. Josie and her eight co-workers worked with K-12 youth in the area’s public schools, focusing on Native American youth’s attendance, academics, and school engagement. Josie herself was raised in a traditional Northern Cheyenne home where mindfulness, respect, and the drive to help others was instilled from an early age.

Josie has been getting to know the residential Native American youth and their treatment teams since arriving. She offers weekly smudging, a traditional form of prayer used for cleansing, to youth and staff, and recently started the Mustang Nation Club, a chance to incorporate the teachings of Native American culture, wisdom, history, traditions, and hope for the future. Going forward, Josie is also looking to offer non-Native youth the chance to learn about Native American culture and traditions and expand aftercare and outpatient services for Native American youth.

Native American Traditional Games Training

Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch staff had an amazing opportunity this past summer to join Rocky Mountain College’s Occupational Training department in learning Native American Traditional Games. The training was facilitated by the International Traditional Game Society. YBGR lodge leadership and therapists attended along with YBGR’s Native American Services Coordinator, Josie Brady.

Staff learned the importance and history of traditional games and how they differ among Native American tribes. These games included String game, Tie Up game, Guessing Sticks, Stone People games, Ring the Stick, Hoop Toss, Y Arrow, Shinny, Double Ball, Family Lacrosse, and Rock & Fist. Staff learned where to harvest and how to craft essential game equipment. The traditional games learned will be used to help youth socialize and build important skills, such as teamwork, conflict resolution, hand-eye-coordination, observation, and patience all while having fun.

“The instructors spoke of the importance of gameplay, its uses for survival and relating stories. They spoke on such things as Smudging, family dynamics, and harvesting” Josie says.

The new Mustang Nation Club has its own logo.

Smudging is offered to youth and staff weekly.

NAS Coordinator Josie Brady