Michael’s* start in life wasn’t ideal. His 16-year-old mother knew she couldn’t provide for him, so she gave him up for adoption. That’s when Michael’s new parents found him, trying desperately to make up for his rough beginning.

“I was a spoiled little brat. I wanted everything and I got everything I wanted,” he said. “As I got older, money got tighter. Stuff I wanted couldn’t be bought. I guess that’s kind of why I started not listening.”

That’s when the problems arose.

“I was running away. I was doing any drug I could get my hands on,” he said. “(I was) constantly at my girlfriend’s house. I didn’t listen to anyone at all.”

Michael and his girlfriend used methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and marijuana.

“(My parents tried to) stop me and save me, but I didn’t want to listen because I was so focused on my next fix.”

Drugs led Michael to dangerous situations.

“I was in a bad drug deal and I had a gun to my head,” he said. “(My parents) always say, ‘If we lose you, that would be the end of us.’ I always think, ‘What if they lost me right then and there?’”

Although Michael knew he was on the wrong path, he couldn’t stop his destructive decisions. One day, he was punching the wall, and his father tried to stop him. That’s when Michael kicked his father in the face.

“I was high on meth,” Michael said. “I felt so bad and I still feel bad about it. I was tearing the family apart.”

Then Michael ran away.

“I was scared of myself because I never thought I would ever hurt my father, ever.”

Soon after, he went to a treatment center. But he ran away from the facility with another resident.

“We ended up in the ghetto of LA,” he said.

They were doing drugs and stealing cars. He remembered hot wiring a black Mercedes-Benz.

“The dude had left his license in there and he looked like me, so I took his license, too,” Michael said. “I drove it for like five blocks and then I got out because it was a stick shift and I really couldn’t drive it.”

Days later, he returned to the treatment center, enraged.

“I started breaking stuff,” he said. “I kicked the door down. I punched a hole through the door and a couple holes through the wall. I hit and hurt so many people and myself. I think I gave myself a concussion (because) I hit my head on the wall so hard.”

Michael was then transferred to another treatment facility. He was becoming accustomed to being locked up.

“I had gotten used to it, almost too used to it. It was scary. It didn’t bother me at all.”

But then, he arrived on the campus of Yellowstone.

“Every time I got tired of a place, I would just try to do something so crazy, so stupid that they wouldn’t want me here,” he said. “But they made me stick it out and this place wouldn’t let me leave. They didn’t send me away. And that’s when I started shaping up, honestly, because I knew they wouldn’t give up on me.”

Michael also knew that after Yellowstone, his next stop would be jail. So he tried to make a home for himself in Fortin Lodge. But his first months at Yellowstone weren’t without struggles.

“I was always on consequence.”

He had chores, writing exercises, workout regimens, and limited privileges. But over time, he started developing relationships with staff and earning their trust. That’s when he began to work with animals, and he even formed a special connection with a horse named “Lina”.

“I honestly love this horse,” he said. “Whenever I got mad, I would talk to her like she was a regular human being. If I’m upset, she’ll lean her head in and give me a big fat hug. If I’m happy, she’ll lean in and give me a big fat hug.”

Soon, Michael was helping Yellowstone’s farm and ranch director, Gary Adams.

“He taught me how to brand and tag. I wanted to do it by myself right away, but he wanted it done right. It took a year before I could brand on my own.”

But his time with Gary wasn’t just about working with cattle.

“He’s also taught me some life lessons. He’s said a lot of wise things,” Michael said. “He pulls me aside after we’re done working and we talk for a little bit, whether it be about God or just how good we did.”

Michael started to become a leader on campus. He mentored younger residents and worked several jobs on campus. He participated in individual, group, and family therapy sessions. After a year and a half at Yellowstone, he feels ready to return home.

“I’m going to tackle my brother when I first see him and give my mom a big hug; my dad, too.”

As a graduate of Yellowstone Academy, Michael plans to move directly toward his career goals. He wants to earn a scholarship to go to a fire academy and then become a fire fighter. Although his goals are set, he said he knows temptations will follow him.

“I’m always going to have problems. The drugs are always going to be there. Old friends are always going to be there,” he said. “What I do and what choices I make are going to determine how I am and the person I’m going to be.”

But he said the lessons he has learned at the Ranch will guide him. And he won’t forget that Yellowstone saved him when he couldn’t save himself.

“It feels so good to know that I can go home and be a sane person and have a normal life.”

*Name changed to protect client’s confidentiality

The Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch will be a little brighter, a little louder, and a lot busier on April 10. The Muscle Car Club of Billings and Magic City Street Cars will be displaying about 20 cars and one tow truck for the youth who live on campus.

“We enjoy any opportunity to share our cars with young people,” said Rick Boyce, the vice president of the Muscle Car Club of Billings and president of Magic City Street Cars. “We have a great time visiting with them, too.”

The clubs aren’t only showing off their wheels. Some members feel a direct connection with YBGR’s kids due to their childhood experiences, and they’ll be offering their advice.

“This is an opportunity to help our youth grow and learn about possibilities,” said Gillette Vaira, the director of public relations at YBGR. “We’re thankful that these groups want to share their time and their beautiful cars.”

Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, a nonprofit organization, is trusted locally and nationally as a leader in the field of mental health care for children and their families. YBGR has impacted more than 10,000 youth and their families since 1957 through Residential Services in Billings, Community Based Services throughout Montana, and the Yellowstone Academy in Billings.

About 15 youth from Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch are delivering meals to those in need on Easter Sunday as a part of the Montana Rescue Mission’s meal delivery program.

“We try to get the kids out there to see that there are people less fortunate than they are and give back to the community,” said John O’Dea, a mental health worker at YBGR. “Oftentimes, the kids are a little humbled and happy that they could help somebody.”

O’Dea has made it possible for YBGR youth to deliver Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter meals for close to 10 years. The youth involved are between the ages of 12 and 17.

“We enjoy having the young people of Yellowstone get involved with our program,” said Denise Smith, the public relations manager at Montana Rescue Mission. “With the help of volunteers, we are able to provide a happier Easter to folks in need throughout Billings.”

The Montana Rescue Mission was organized in 1955 for the poor and homeless in Billings and throughout the greater Yellowstone County area. The MRM provides emergency, temporary care, and rehabilitative services to those seeking help and solutions. Learn more at http://montanarescuemission.org/.

As Dr. Seuss said, “The more that you read, the more things you will know.” That’s why students at Yellowstone Academy are looking forward to reading with volunteers from Phillips 66 to celebrate National Read Across America Day on March 2.

“Our students love meeting people from the community,” said Prudence Lybeck, Yellowstone Academy’s teacher for kindergarten through third grades. “They’ll be reading Dr. Seuss books and engaging in a variety of activities as they develop language and social skills.”

“Our employees jump at the opportunity to get involved with youth in the community,” said Bonnie Burks, the public relations coordinator for Phillips 66 Billings Refinery. “We enjoy partnering with Yellowstone to help kids.”

In addition to the Dr. Seuss festivities, the Texas Roadhouse will be serving a free lunch for the students, staff, and volunteers involved in the event.

“We’re thankful to have such strong community support,” said Gillette Vaira, Yellowstone’s director of public relations. “Phillips 66 and the Texas Roadhouse have gone out of their way to create a positive experience for these students, and we’re grateful for their time and energy.”

Close to 40 students in kindergarten through 12th grades participate in Yellowstone Academy’s day school program. The youth travel to and from YBGR’s 410-acre campus each day from their homes. YBGR, a nonprofit organization, is trusted locally and nationally as a leader in the field of mental health care for children and their families.

Shopping for clothes can sometimes become an unpleasant experience for young people. But for some of the youth served by Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, it may feel like an unattainable feat.

“Some youth arrive at Yellowstone with just the clothes on their backs or maybe a plastic bag full of belongings,” said Megan Olszewski, the marketing coordinator at YBGR. “Many of the youth we serve come from families who do not have the resources to help them meet basic needs.”

YBGR depends on volunteers to sort donated clothing in its clothing rooms, where youth can shop for clothes for free. Students from Montana State University Billings are sorting the clothing rooms on February 25 at 3 p.m.

“Organizing the clothing and shoes at Yellowstone is a direct way for us to help kids,” said Kristen Wederski, one of four resident assistants at MSUB who has helped to organize the volunteer event. “It’s the perfect service project for our students.”

About 65 children between the ages of 10 and 18 live on the 410-acre working ranch west of Billings. The youth live on campus year-round to receive mental health treatment. The clothing room is available to youth enrolled in YBGR’s mental health programs who may not have adequate clothing, who are preparing for job interviews, or who lose a significant amount of weight with effective medication management.

Five psychiatric providers from Montana Psychiatry are joining the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch’s medical team as independent contractors, effective January 6.

Erin Amato, MD, a child psychiatrist, will serve as the Ranch’s medical director. She has double board certification in general psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Deborah Malters, MD, and Belinda Hartley, MD, will also be practicing at the Ranch. The three psychiatrists are replacing Dr. Stephen Mandler, who left YBGR as the medical director on January 5.

“I’m looking forward to leading such a dynamic psychiatric team at YBGR,” said Amato, a Billings native. “Early diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders is essential in promoting healthy development. That’s what we’ll strive to do for the youth of YBGR.”

The Ranch is also welcoming Kelli Begley, a family psychiatric nurse practitioner, as well as Pat Francisco, a psychiatric physician’s assistant. Both Begley and Francisco are members of the Montana Psychiatry group.

“We are excited to bring on board such highly qualified, caring medical staff,” said Kevin Miller, the interim CEO of YBGR. “Families send their children to YBGR from all across the United States. We will continue to provide nothing but the best psychiatric treatment for them.”

Montana State Fund is presenting Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch with a dividend of $95,279.68. The check is being presented to YBGR as a result of proven results by implementing a successful culture of safety during the 2013-14 policy year.

“The safety of youth and employees at YBGR is our utmost priority,” said Sally Venard, the safety director at YBGR. “Reflective care and regular training in de-escalation techniques are major contributing factors to fewer injuries on our campus.”

Montana State Fund, the largest workers’ compensation insurance carrier in Montana, declared a record $35 million dividend in November. The dividend returns a portion of premiums back to those policyholders who have made a commitment to provide a safe workplace for their employees and, in turn, lower injury rates. Since 1999, MSF has returned more than $141 million to policyholders through the dividend process.

Seven-year-old Jacob Studer isn’t just an entrepreneur; he’s also a philanthropist.

“I started my own business,” Jacob said. “Too young for it? Doesn’t matter.”

Jacob, a second grade student at Elder Grove School, raised $121.50 for Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch by selling artwork and raking his grandpa’s yard.

“I said $1 per pile of leaves, and I did five piles of leaves,” he said. “He made me do some other chores that got me $5.”

His grandma and aunt also made donations. The money went to Elder Grove students enrolled in YBGR’s Comprehensive School and Community Treatment program, a division of YBGR’s Community Based Services in Billings.

“We plan on taking a group of clients to the Festival of Trees, and we’ll use the rest of the money for art supplies and snacks for our kids,” said Lauren Poss, the YBGR behavior specialist at Elder Grove. “We are so thankful for Jacob’s compassion for the youth of our program.”

Jacob modestly described his efforts as a way to “help some kids that need it.” He added, “I just think it’s a good cause.”

Some friends recommended he spend his earnings on toys. But Jacob isn’t one to be swayed easily.

“He loved the idea of helping kids,” his dad, Luke Studer, said.

One of Jacob’s classmates lives on the YBGR campus, as his father works at the ranch. Jacob told him about his fundraiser.

“(He) was amazed because it went right to his neighborhood,” Jacob said.

Now that Jacob has donated to YBGR, he is onto his next campaign, Billings Best Hiking Sticks.

“He has his business plan,” said his mom, Anna Studer. “He hasn’t decided who to give it to.”

Jacob has made 14 hand-decorated walking sticks. For “grownups”, the walking sticks sell for $7 apiece. Youth can purchase them for $5 each.

His five-year-old sister, Delaney, is involved, too.

“I just hired her to hold up a sign that just said what my business was about,” he said.

His parents and grandpa help with the business, as well, but he’s keeping his costs low.

“I think they’re just being volunteers,” Jacob said.

“(There is) no family discount here,” his dad said. “He tells us we don’t get these for free.”

Jacob sells the sticks every Friday afternoon in his driveway.

“I know how to be a salesman,” he said.

Jacob’s charity-minded work didn’t just begin this year. In preschool, he donated money from his piggy bank to the Montana Rescue Mission.

“He’s always had a big heart for giving,” his dad said. “(We’re) just so proud. It’s all driven by him. He really does most of this on his own.”

Meanwhile, the Studer parents continue to talk with their children about helping those in need.

“We encourage it,” his dad said. “Whenever we can give, we give.”

Read about former youth Kristen Kroonenberg in the Foundation’s latest letter.

Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch is welcoming their new chief financial officer, Dick Reich. His appointment became effective September 9, 2015.

“We are delighted Dick Reich will be joining the YBGR executive leadership team,” said Shawn Byrne, the chief operating officer of YBGR’s Community Based Services division. “His professional knowledge of financial analysis, strategic planning, accounting, budget development, and cost-effective management of resources will serve us well.”

Prior to joining YBGR, Reich was the president of Reich Accounting Services, a professional firm that provided consulting and direct services in various financial areas to Billings-area public school districts. Reich was also previously the executive director of finance for Billings Public Schools.

“I look forward to joining a team of professionals who have dedicated their careers to providing help, hope, and healing to children, youth, and their families,” Reich said. “I am eager to be part of the team that will continue moving YBGR forward as we strive to provide the best mental health care to children and youth.”

Reich has a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Eastern Montana College.

YBGR is a nonprofit organization trusted locally and nationally as a leader in the field of mental health care for children and their families. YBGR staff impact approximately 650 youth each day through the residential psychiatric treatment facility in Billings and Community Based Services throughout Montana.