• Rotary Year: 2018-2019
  • Application Date: 5/17/2018
  • Club Name: Hillsville
  • Project Name: Joy Ranch, A Christian Home for Children; Educational Resource Center
  • Project Total Expenditures: $4,000.00
  • Grant Amount Requested: $2,000.00
  • Describe the Project, its location and its objectives: Joy Ranch, A Christian Home for Children was incorporated on May 2, 1957. Joy Ranch began as a seed planted into the hearts of the Rev. Richard and Mary McHenry; who saw a need in the area around Hillsville, VA for children without a home to call their own. Now over 60 years later, Joy Ranch still cares for children separated from their parents no matter what the reason. The McHenry’s felt called by God to provide the best care possible for these children, to tell them about Jesus, and not turn anyone away for financial reasons. Most of the children are privately placed by their guardians and Joy Ranch receives no money toward the expenses of the child, other than through community donations. Joy Ranch is privileged to continue living out the McHenry’s calling and strives to create programs to last for many years to come.

    The requested grant funds will go towards remodeling part of the Joy Ranch campus to be used as an Educational Resource Center, or ERC. Years ago this room was used as a place to hold chapel services and meetings. This room is located in a building which is in the middle of the children’s cottages providing a convenient venue for residents to go to after school. The grant monies would provide the funds to strip the current wallpaper, add new lighting, paint, and also provide desks for tutoring; and two computers.

    Additionally, these monies would go towards the purchase of a screen and projector for presentations such as college exam prep, resume writing workshops, mock job interviews, and computer skills development. Once the Educational Resource Center is up and running, Joy Ranch hopes to offer GED and other classes for the community as well.

    With an Educational Resource Center Joy Ranch will be able to better utilize their volunteers who wish to help in this area. Currently this is difficult to do within the resident homes, as homework is done at the kitchen table at the same time dinner is being made, which can make for a crowded and chaotic environment not well suited to learning.
  • This is the Club’s: Primary Project Application
  • Expected Start Date: 9/1/2018
  • Expected End Date: 5/7/2019
  • Expected Number of Beneficiaries: 30
  • Describe how the project will benefit the community and/or improve the lives of the less fortunate: The majority of the children who come to Joy Ranch need educational assistance. Joy Ranch strives to spotlight the importance of education, including secondary education, and want to provide their kids with the resources they will need to be successful in school. Many of these kids come to Joy Ranch not knowing what it means to do homework, or how to organize a backpack. They need an environment conducive to learning. The goal of the Educational Resource Center is to provide the tools a child needs to be successful. There will be no lack of resources, leaving it up to the resident to do the hard work necessary to be successful. School is a testing ground for what future employers expect from their employees so Joy Ranch aspires to teach them success in the classroom
  • Estimated Total Project Volunteer Hours: 160
  • Describe the Rotarian hands-on activities in the project (i.e. non-financial participation): Club members will establish a committee of at least three Rotarians to oversee the expenditure of grant funds, implement the project, coordinate Rotary volunteers, and report results.

    Rotarians and others helping to fund the project will participate in stripping wall paper, adding new lighting, adding blinds, providing and setting up furniture and supplies for the project. Rotarians and Mayberry Presbyterian will participate in a grand opening and Rotarians and others in the Community will have the opportunity to volunteer on a regular basis in the Educational Resource Center.
  • Describe the publicity plan to inform the general public that this is a Rotary sponsored project: The Hillsville Rotary Club’s media chairperson will put this project on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/hillsvillerotaryclub) and social media outlets as well as sending an article to the district. We will also be contacting the local newspapers in our area to cover the project before and after completion. There will be a plaque in the Educational Resource Center showing the support of Rotary and others who supported this project.
  • Cooperating Organizations – Please list each cooperating organization, if any: Mayberry Presbyterian Church is one of the six rock walled historic churches on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Their statement is “A Little Church Doing Big Things”. Mayberry has been a generous supporter of Joy Ranch financially and in hands-on ministry and is excited to be partnering with Rotary on this project. https://mayberrychurch.org/
  • Letter(s) of Participation: Joy Ranch letter for Rotary District Grant.pdf, letter for Rotary Grant.docx
  • Project Expenditure Budget – list detail uses of funds for the project, or use the Budget Upload: Uploaded
  • Project Funding Budget – list detail sources of funds for the project, or use the Budget Upload: Uploaded
  • Budget Upload:E- DG2015-Budget-Template-3 (1).xls
  • Primary Contact Name: Susan Huxster
  • Primary Contact Rotary Position: President-Elect
  • Primary Contact Email: Director@joyranch.org
  • Primary Contact Phone: 276-236-5578
  • Financial Contact Name: Brian Spencer
  • Financial Contact Rotary Position: Treasurer
  • Financial Contact Address: 
    PO Box 1027
    Hillsville, VA 24343
    United States View on Map
  • Financial Contact Email: shobospencer@gmail.com
  • Financial Contact Phone: 276-728-4977
  • District Grant Project Authorization LetterProject Authorization Letter - signed.PDF
  • Grant Number: 1819-14
  • Grant Award: $2,000.00