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18th Annual Sky Ranch Hall of Fame Dinner - Honors "The Class of 2009"!
(L-R) Sky Ranch Hall of Fame participants included: William Slone (accepting for Ralph Levine), Mike Donohoe, Larry Ruvo (honoree), Paul Houston (honoree), Dori Bryant (honoree), Jodi Duttenhefer (Exec. Director of Sky Ranch), Ralph Aguera.
Barry Becton proudly displays his Mentor of the Year award while being congratulated by (L-R) Ralph Aguera (Sky Ranch Foundation President), Jason Glasser (Beverage Media Group), Jody Slone (Beverage Media Group), Mike Donohoe (Sky Ranch Foundation Chairman) and Duncan Cameron (Sky Ranch Foundation Treasurer).
Larry Ruvo - Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada. 2009 Sky Ranch Honoree.
Ralph Levine - Metro NY Package Stores Association. 2009 Sky Ranch Honoree.
Dori Bryant - The Polished Palate. 2009 Sky Ranch Honoree.
Paul Houston - Beam Global Spirits & Wine. 2009 Sky Ranch Honoree.
The Sky Ranch Foundation held its 18th annual Hall of Fame dinner on Sunday, March 1, 2009 at the Monte Carlo Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event was held in conjunction with the 7th annual convention of American Beverage Licensees (ABL), and the very popular Nightclub & Bar Show. Joining 81 distinguished beverage industry leaders previously named, the Hall of Fame “Class of 2009” is an especially strong group noted for their generosity, leadership and endurance as champions for Sky Ranch.
Their personal and business achievements have made an important contribution to the united efforts of the alcohol beverage industry since 1960 to provide quality care for the troubled teens at Sky Ranch for Boys.
The members of the Class of 2009 of the Sky Ranch Hall of Fame are:
Larry Ruvo – Southern Wines & Spirits of Nevada. Despite leading the largest wine, spirits and beer distributorship in Las Vegas, Larry Ruvo finds time to give tremendous support to many worthy causes, most importantly, the building of the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute, which will open soon in Las Vegas. Ruvo helped develop Vino Las Vegas, the largest annual wine segment event for Sky Ranch (held this year on March 3 in Las Vegas raising $10,000!). Ralph Levine – Metro NY Package Stores Association. An industry icon,Ralph has been a leader of the retail tier of the industry since the 1950s, and has been on the Sky Ranch team since day 1. Ralph served many years on the Sky Ranch Foundation board and has helped maintain strong support among his fellow retailers. Paul Houston - Beam Global Spirits & Wine. Paul has been the manager of Jim Beam’s Cincinnati plant since 2000. The 3rd generation of his family to work in the liquor industry, Paul helps the industry and Sky Ranch also by his leadership (National Vice President) of WAABI (World Association of the Alcohol Beverage Industries, Inc), the largest single organization raising money for Sky Ranch (over $200,000 in the past 12 months!). Dori Bryant – The Polished Palate. Based in Tarpon Springs, Florida, Dori has been organizing outstanding spirits tasting events from coast to coast for several years. She has probably done more than anyone to introduce Sky Ranch to consumers and new, smaller companies in the industry and has helped raise over $20,000 through silent auctions for Sky Ranch at her tasting events. Sky Ranch Foundation Chairman, Mike Donohoe (retired President of Future Brands LLC), and President, Ralph Aguera (Vice President for Trade Relations at Brown-Forman) introduced the honorees to a “sell out” crowd of nearly 150 people. William Slone of the Beverage Media Group accepted the honor for Ralph Levine, who was unable to attend.
In addition to the large live audience, the honorees were saluted in print by more than a dozen beverage makers, distributors, media organizations, trade associations and others who sponsored ads in the evening’s program book. At the same event, Jason Glasser of the Beverage Media Group presented the 2009 Mentor of the Year Award to Sky Ranch Foundation Secretary, Barry Becton, Senior Director of State Government Relations for Diageo.Becton, who also serves as National President of WAABI,has travelled to Sky Ranch almost every year since becoming a mentor and worked especially hard to encourage and guide the boys who have been assigned to him over the years. Sky Ranch for Boys is a unique 3,000-acre facility on the South Dakota/Montana border where troubled kids from all parts of America get a second chance and a fresh start. Sky Ranch has built an enviable record over the years as it focuses on teaching kids to respect themselves and others and take responsibility for their actions. Through sports, arts, working with animals and even learning to fly a small plane, Sky Ranch helps kids find their natural gifts and take pride in them. Most boys advance at least 2 years in the grade level of their academic work during a one-year stay at Sky Ranch. For more info visit www.skyranchforboys.com. Nearly 50 years ago, members and friends of the alcohol beverage industry at all levels agreed to support the development of Sky Ranch. They formed the Sky Ranch Foundation, which has purchased the land, built the buildings, and provided annual cash support equal to 25 percent or more of the Sky Ranch budget. This wonderful tradition has earned Sky Ranch the nickname, “the adopted charity of the alcohol beverage industry.” For more details please call 540-891-7201. The fax number is 540-891-7203. The 19th Annual Hall of Fame dinner is currently set for June 6, 2010 at a location to be announced soon in South Dakota. This will be an extremely special event celebrating Sky Ranch for Boys’ 50th anniversary! Please watch for further announcements!
Since 1960, Sky Ranch for Boys has been giving troubled kids a second chance! With the financial backing of the Sky Ranch Foundation and its network of contributors, Sky Ranch today is a 3,000 acre working ranch, a licensed special education school and an inspiration to those who know and understand its special work! Please look through this site to learn more about the program and the people who make it possible! Click the photo above to visit the NEW Sky Ranch for Boys web site!
"Our most precious possesion is with you now, and the care and concern that you have shown for him is remarkable. Thank you for being so kind and courteous." - L. Jenkins, mother of Sky Ranch boy, February, 2006.
The Sky Ranch Program
Through organized athletics, computers, arts & crafts, working with ranch animals, and the unique flight training program, Sky Ranch helps boys find what they are good at. More than 90 percent of the boys sent to Sky Ranch successfully complete the program requirements, most within a year of placement.
Incorporated in 1960, Sky Ranch for Boys is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt organization. Contributions are tax-deductible. Sky Ranch accepts boys between the ages of 12 and 17 without regard to race, religion, or national origin.
Sky Ranch for Boys is a residential treatment facility located on 3,000 acres in Harding County South Dakota and Carter County Montana. With a staff of 38, Sky Ranch cares for approximately 40 boys at a time.
Most of the boys have been referred by courts or social service agencies and suffer from a variety of emotional, behavioral, learning, and social adaptation problems.
Sky Ranch is a licensed Special Education facility and places great emphasis on helping the boys improve their basic skill levels in reading, math and science. Sky Ranch has a staff of counselors, case workers, therapists, teachers and other professionals who help the boys improve their learning and behavior skills, as well as overcome the effects of abuse, family disintegration, contact with criminal elements, and other social trauma.
Upcoming Sky Ranch Related Events!
The following are some of the events which will raise money for Sky Ranch in the coming months. Additional details will be posted as available:
You can now make contributions, purchase greeting cards, purchase event tickets and even make memorials using any of these credit cards. Call 540-891-7201 for details.
NOW You can use your credit card to speed processing of your Memorial Tree or Regular Memorial gift!
The Tavern League of Wisconsin (TLW) renewed their strong support of Sky Ranch by presenting a donation of more than $6.700 for Sky Ranch Foundation at their Spring Conference on March 26, 2009 in Appleton. Participating (L-R) were Joyce Bartelt (TLW Sky Ranch Chairman), Rob Swearingen (TLW President), and Duncan Cameron (Sky Ranch Foundation Treasurer/Administrator).
Sky Ranch Foundation presented its prestigious MVP Award to Jennifer Robinson at an event October 13 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Among those participating were (L-R) baseball great Frank Howard, Foundation President Ralph Aguera, Jennifer Robinson, and Foundation Chairman Mike Donohoe. Jennifer received a bat (shown) that was handmade and autographed by the boys being helped at Sky Ranch. 2008 was the 4th year for this event held in conjunction with the East Coast Edition of the Nightclub & Bar Show.
