10/20/2005

Lives Under Construction Boys' Ranch Wins 2005 Acton Institute Samaritan Award

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Oct. 20 /Christian Wire Service/ -- Lives Under Construction Boys' Ranch in rural Missouri is the winner of the Acton Institute's 2005 Samaritan Award for outstanding private, voluntary charitable service. The winner's mission of changing the lives of troubled youth – one at a time -- underscores the value of charities that are local, personal, and accountable. The Samaritan Award includes a $10,000 cash prize that will be awarded by Acton's Center for Effective Compassion.

The Boys' Ranch residential treatment program in Lampe, Mo., serves mostly teenagers who have been in trouble with the law and have serious behavioral disorders. Ken Ortman, who founded the program in 1982 with his wife Sheila, said the boys under treatment learn that "decisions have consequences." At the Boys' Ranch, these consequences range from doing pushups (for cursing) to shoveling manure (for major offenses). Hard work, Ortman said, provides the necessary physical activity to improve each boy's academic performance, work ethic, vocational skills, self discipline and, most importantly, sense of self-worth.

This approach has achieved excellent results. Ninety two percent of Boys' Ranch participants have had no more trouble with the law. Development director Melissa Ortman points to an even greater indicator of success. "Most boys in a treatment setting just want to finish, leave, and never look back," she said. "But the Ranch's graduates frequently come back or contact us after they leave."

Ms. Ortman said the Samaritan Award will help the Boys' Ranch raise resources to expand the program, currently serving 17 boys but with the goal of serving 24 by the end of 2005. The $10,000 Samaritan prize will enable Boys' Ranch to consider adding staff, as well as computers and books for their home-schooled students. "The recognition of the Samaritan Award and the Ranch's high profile on the Samaritan Guide as the 2005 winner should really help people find us and see what great changes these boys make in their lives," Ms. Ortman said.

The Samaritan Guide is the Acton Institute's online directory of more than 600 private charities. Users of the guide can access detailed information about each of them at www.acton.org/cec/guide/

The Boys' Ranch was joined by nine other honorees in the 2005 Samaritan Award program: Washington City Mission, Washington, Pa.; Panama City Rescue Mission, Panama City, Fla.; Promise of Hope, Inc., Dudley, Ga.; Hearts of Christ Youth Outreach Ministry, Memphis, Tenn.; Citizens for Community Values of Memphis, Memphis, Tenn.; Good Shepherd Shelter of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Calif.; Samaritan Inns, Inc., Washington, D.C.; Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities, St. Paul, Minn.; and Knox County Christian Women's Job Corps, Knoxville, Tenn.

Honorees will be awarded various consultation services to assist them in the delivery of effective programming. Samaritan partners providing services include Calvin Edwards & Co., Atlanta; Capital Strategy and Development, Alexandria, Va.; NPower Michigan, Detroit and Grand Rapids, Mich.; CMS Development, Inc., Indianapolis; and Performance Results Inc., Laytonsville, Md.

Formal presentation of the 2005 Samaritan Awards will be made to the Boys' Ranch and other Honorees in Washington in early 2006. National policy makers, nonprofit leaders, foundation supporters, and effective compassion program graduates will join together and celebrate privately supported effective compassion programming.

The Samaritan Award is based on several criteria, including financial stewardship, evaluation of results, and the incorporation of faith into programming. The evaluation of Samaritan Award candidates draws its overall philosophy from the seven principles of effective compassion formulated by Dr. Marvin Olasky, senior fellow at the Acton Institute and author of The Tragedy of American Compassion. The Acton Institute is a nonprofit, ecumenical think tank located in Grand Rapids, Mich. The Institute works internationally to "promote a free and virtuous society characterized by individual liberty and sustained by religious principles." For more on the Acton Institute, please visit www.acton.org