PromiseLand Ranch Kicks Off Fund-raising Effort With Inaugural Dinner
New Facility Will Provide Love, Comprehensive Children’s Services

   SAN DIEGO — The newest arm of St. Vincent de Paul Village, PromiseLand Ranch, will hold its first charity event Thursday, November 9, at La Bruschetta in La Jolla, located at 2151 Avenida De La Playa, at 6:30 p.m.

   The ranch, modeled after Nebraska’s BoysTown, will be developed on 627 acres of land in Campo, which was donated by businessman Tom Dyke, and will serve as an alternative to San Diego County’s over-burdened foster care system, which currently houses 7,000 children.

   "PromiseLand will provide our children who have fallen through society’s cracks the foundation of love that is crucial, but surprisingly absent in the lives of so many young people," says Father Bill Metzdorf, executive director of the ranch. "It is through this gift that we hope to reach those children and offer them the opportunity to live and grow in an environment where compassion and guidance will be a mainstay."

   At the ranch, more than 30 residential units will provide a home-like living environment to groups of eight youths supervised by a married couple who will be life coaches, says Father Bill. An on-site school, counseling, life-skills training, substance-abuse education, recreational programs and employment opportunities will enable 250 youngsters to lay solid foundations upon which they can build successful lives.

   PromiseLand officials are currently administering a series of environmental impact studies, which, upon completion, will enable ranch officials to apply for a major-use permit with San Diego County. Father Bill says construction will begin once the permit is obtained and expects the ranch to open in September of 2002.

   More than 70 guests are expected to attend Thursday’s charity event, among them Village president Father Joe Carroll.

   For more information on the dinner or PromiseLand Ranch, please call (619) 687-1315.

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