St. Vincent's School for Boys
St. Vincent's School for Boys was founded in 1855 to house, clothe, feed, educate and care for the orphans of California's Gold Rush. It is the oldest institution west of the Mississippi dedicated exclusively to the care of boys. Over the decades, St. Vincent's has helped restore a sense of home and belonging to thousands of severely neglected children.
What makes St. Vincent’s Special?
Under the umbrella of Catholic Charities CYO, St. Vincent's School for Boys provides treatment, counseling, and a supportive and caring environment for dozens of youth each year. Many of the boys who come to St. Vincent's have never had a safe place to live, a home-cooked meal, a birthday cake or a caring parent to tell them 'I love you.' These children have lived with physical and emotional abuse, neglect and uncertainty, drug and alcohol abuse and poverty from birth to the time they reach the program.
St. Vincent’s is the only Northern Californian treatment center that offers a therapeutic Equestrian Program, allowing boys in the program to engage in a remarkably effective form of recreational therapy with impressive results. In addition to mastering new confidence-building skills, the boys learn to express care and devotion to the horses, and nurture bonds of love and trust that will aid them in their transition into adulthood.
What happens if we don’t raise the money?
These boys deserve better than what they've received in the past, and with the proper care and treatment, they can lead productive and enriched lives. But it takes money. With California State budget cuts, St. Vincent's operates on an annual deficit of $300,000. Now more than ever, it is important to raise the funds to ensure the future of this vital programs.
