"My mom picked her crazy boyfriend," Kate Lynn stated.  When Kate Lynn was in 7th grade, her mother relinquished custody of her three children, including Kate Lynn who was the oldest.

Kate Lynn had finally confided in her school counselor about the violent abuse she and her brother had experienced at the hands of her mother's boyfriend.

"He had uncontrolled rages but was a good manipulator with my mom," Kate Lynn said. She ran away a few times before she decided to go to a responsible adult. Every time she ran away, the police would bring her back home where the violence continued.

The state's Child Protective Services intervened after the school reported the abuse. They gave Kate Lynn's mother an ultimatum - the boyfriend takes anger management classes or she would have to give up custody.  Her mother chose to keep the boyfriend.

Kate Lynn was angry and rebellious when her mother signed away her custody.  She resented the structure provided by her first foster family where she lived for several months.  "I got involved with the wrong kids during that time," Kate Lynn said.

Kate Lynn's brother was sent to a group home and Kate Lynn eventally was placed in the same group home.  That placement was following by yet another foster home arrangement.

Forturnately, Kate Lynn was placed in a new Yellowstone foster family just before Christmas.  The Yellowstone family immediately welcomed her to their home as if she was one of their own.  "It took me awhile to accept that I was accepted," Kate Lynn said.

Today, two years later, Kate Lynn says she's changed and grown a lot with her new family. "I'm an entirely different person than I was before," she says.

Kate Lynn holds two jobs, one as a housekeeper at a motel and another as a hostess at a restaurant.  That's allowed her to purchase a car, insurance and gas.  "I'm not afraid of hard work," says Kate Lynn. "I like knowing that I can pay for things I want and need.  It gives me a great feeling of being more independent."

For more of Kate Lynn's story, including her successful community project, add your name to our GuestBook and receive the full 12-page color print edition of the Wrangler newsletter.

James C. Soft, President

A Message from the President Multiplying a Humble Bounty into a Greater Abundance In May of this year, I had the privilege of delivering a Yellowstone trust check to Montana State University in Bozeman.  This was a significant financial gift from a Charitable Trust which Yellowstone Foundation had managed for many years.  While the final distribution of this trust created a substantial endowment at YBGR, it also established an important scholarship fund at the MSU School of Agriculture. You may be surprised to learn that in this decade (2000-2010) Yellowstone Foundation has to-date distributed over $4,500,000 to charities other than Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch. That's because Yellowstone Foundation's planned giving programs serve our donor' charitable and estate planning needs in total. Yellowstone donors want to help YBGR kids.  Sometimes they also wish to assist other charitable causes that are important to them.  These worthwhile charities benefit from Yellowstone Foundation's expertise in charitable estate planning and fund management. Yellowstone Foundation has originated Lead Trusts, Remainder Trusts, Donor Advised Funds, Life Estates, and Testamentary Estate Plans that generated income and tax benefits to donors and their families while making possible significant charitable gifts to Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch and others. Recently, our Vice President of Development, John Eastman, had the honor of handing a Yellowstone trust check to the Assemblies of God local district for the benefit of AOG's youth programs in Montana. Like the miracle of the loaves and fishes, Yellowstone's charitable gift programs can multiply a humble bounty into a greater abundance. Yellowstone Foundation has the utmost respect for our donor's needs and desires.  We take great pride in the management and administration of charitable planned gifts in accordance with the donor's wishes and for the benefit of charity. From a thoughtful Memorial Gift to a thrifty Yellowstone Gift Annuity to the multi-layered charitable estate plan, Yellowstone Foundation is always in your service. - Jim Soft John Eastman presents a Yellowstone Foundation Trust check to Alan Warneke of Montana District Council of Assemblies of God

YELLOWSTONE ADVENTURE Boys who are showing significant progress in reaching personal and academic goals were rewarded with a three day camping trip to Yellowstone National Park this spring.  The boys camped in tents and even got to go on a Wild West rafting trip.  Thanks to our donor friends who make these special rewards possible!

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