Rodeheaver Foundation received a grant to create a military-style obstacle course to benefit the boys at Rodeheaver Boys Ranch and honor the fallen soldier Sgt. Timothy Officer. They’ve also recently built a learning center on our grounds with the funds from a St. Johns County and Palatka Rotary Club Grant. Rodeheaver Boys Ranch, located in Palatka, FL, has been providing complete care for up to 50 disadvantaged boys for the past 68 years. Children make their way to the Rodeheaver Boys Ranch because they have no home of their own due to parental death, desertion, divorce, disability, or dysfunction.
One of the greatest success stories from the Ranch was Tech Sgt. Timothy A. Officer, who was a Tactical Air Control Party Airman. After staying at the Ranch as a child, he later served 14 years in the Air Force, during which he deployed several times in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was awarded the Bronze Star twice, once with the “V” device for valor, and over 20 medals and ribbons. Sadly, he was killed in 2015 after a parachute-training incident during a military freefall training at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Tim visited the Ranch right before the accident, showing interest in building an obstacle course at the Ranch similar to ones he would use for military training and exercise. He was appreciative of the time he was able to spend at the Ranch as a child while his own father served in the military. They have been recently awarded a grant from Lastinger Family Foundation and have completed building this military-style obstacle course for the boys, while helping to honor Tim’s legacy.
The Ranch sits on 800 acres of land in Palatka. We have our very own Boy Scout Camp, Vehicle Program, Pool, Learning and Tutoring Center, Equestrian Program, garden, and now a military-style Obstacle Course. The boys continue to stay on the Ranch when school is out during the summer, so finding new and different outdoor activities for the boys at Rodeheaver Boys Ranch is always beneficial.
Rodeheaver Foundation was also recently awarded a grant from the Quad Club Rotary Collaboration of St. Johns County and the Rotary Club of Palatka to build a Learning Center at the Ranch, replicating a modern library or student center and used as a Learning Center, where the boys can be tutored with their homework, SAT prep, or other academic endeavors. The grants allowed them to build a classroom at the Ranch with almost 20 new computers and laptops.
They are now trying to fundraise for a part-time tutor to make great use of our new Learning Center at the Ranch. Having a funded tutor in the past has lead to the Ranch boys consistently maintaining an overall grade point average of 3.00 or better. Rodeheaver Boys Ranch and Rodeheaver Foundation do not receive any government funding and rely solely on grants, events and private donations.
Rodeheaver Foundation is also hosting its third annual fundraising tournament benefitting Rodeheaver Boys Ranch. Rodeheaver Boys Ranch Benefit Bass Tournament will be held on March 10, 2018 at the Palatka City Docks in Palatka, FL. This event draws registrants and boats from all over Northeast Florida, including St. Augustine, Palm Coast, Ponte Vedra, Palatka, Gainesville, and Jacksonville.
Feel free to contact Director of Development Krista Purcell at (386) 983-0658 or KPurcell@RodeheaverFoundation.org. You can also visit The Ranch online at www.rodeheaverfoundation.org.
Molly Wilson is the Managing Editor at St. Augustine Social. She is a Tallahassee, Florida native who came to St. Augustine in 2014 to attend Flagler College for her undergraduate. She has degrees in English Literature and Philosophy/Religion and is working on her master's degree in Liberal Arts. When not working or studying, she spends her very limited free time baking, reading, and exploring St. Augustine with her dog Reg.
