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Our goal here is to introduce you to Happy
Trails Children's Foundation, who we are,
what we do, and how you can take part in
helping children-in-crisis. Feel free to
mosey around a bit and get acquainted. If
you have any questions or comments, please
contact us. Thanks for stopping by.
Our Heritage
 Legendary
western entertainers Roy Rogers and Dale
Evans, stars of radio, film, records,
television and personal appearances, were
heroes to millions of fans from the Saturday
matinee era throughout the television era.
The names of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans
personify the values, tradition and spirit
that are at the heart of our rich American
Heritage. Their names are synonymous with
integrity, honesty, quality and family
values. They were superstars who
consistently delivered a wholesome brand of
entertainment suitable for the entire
family.
Roy’s films and TV shows
were based on a formula that included
action, romance, music and comedy. They had
something for everyone.
His pictures contained some of the
most innovative action sequences ever
recorded on film. None of the major studios
at that time could even come close to
capturing on film the exciting action that
was a part of every Rogers film. The musical production numbers in
some of his films rivaled those of MGM.
Roy’s screenplays
were well written and always had a moral
lesson for the legions of boys and girls who
saw his films.
Off screen,
Roy
lived by the same high standards and moral
code he portrayed on screen.
He
had a more positive influence on the lives
of boys and girls growing up in America in the 40’s and 50’s than
any other single individual.
Roy and Dale loved children and spent
a lifetime devoted to children and
children’s charities, including the Happy
Trails Children’s Foundation for abused and
neglected children.
Our History
The Victor Valley Child
Abuse Task Force was formed in 1982 with the
mission of stemming a rising tide of child
abuse, neglect, abandonment and death in the
High Desert of San Bernardino County in
Southern California.
In 1992, the name was changed to the
Happy Trails Children’s Foundation, to
reflect the participation and support of Roy
Rogers and Dale Evans,
King
of the Cowboys and Queen of the West.
The Happy Trails
Children’s Foundation built the
Cooper Home in Apple
Valley, CA,
the long-time home of Roy and Dale, to
provide a safe haven for children-at-risk
who have been severely abused and/or
neglected. A generous bequest from the
estate of George Harold Cooper provided the
financial base for the home and a house
donated by Dr. and Mrs. Philip Marsden was
moved to a 40 acre Apple Valley site donated
by Tom and Lynn Hrubik.
The house was remodeled to become the
Foundation office and two cottages, a
cafeteria building and two support services
buildings were constructed to house and
provide services to the children
Today, the Cooper Home
serves as a long-term residential care and
treatment center for severely abused boys.
The day to day operations of the Cooper Home
are provided by Trinity Youth Services, a
national non-profit child care organization
with more than 40 years experience operating
children’s programs in 14 group homes and
foster family agencies. Happy Trails
Children’s Foundation in partnership with
Trinity Youth Services continually operates
the Cooper
Home
at maximum capacity with 44 boys between the
ages of 10 and 16, plus we have a lengthy
waiting list!
These are boys who have been so
severely abused, Child Protective Services
has removed them from their homes and the
courts send them to us for a very intensive
treatment program of group and individual
therapy.
Since the
Cooper
Home opened in 1997, more
than 850 children have received shelter,
care and treatment services.
Situated on 40 acres of land in the
High Desert, the Cooper Home
is surrounded by panoramic vistas of
snow-capped mountains and natural desert
terrain under healthy, smog-free skies.
Our pleasant cottages and
well-manicured outdoor play areas provide a
peaceful, serene environment in which
children can begin the healing process.
Child Abuse
The problem of
child abuse is a very serious problem that
is growing in epidemic proportions.
Throughout the past few months,
newspapers and news broadcasts have been
filled with tragic stories of child abuse,
molestation, kidnappings, beatings, and
death. The number of severe cases of child
abuse appears to be increasing at an
alarming rate.
There is an urgent need for the
services provided by the
Cooper
Home.
Research has shown that
children who are abused often become abusers
as adults.
They tend to repeat behaviors they
learn as children.
Our primary goal is to break that
chain of abuse!
We believe that every child should be
able to grow up in a loving and caring
environment, free from fear and abuse.
We need your
help!
No matter how
successful our fund raising efforts, we are
never able to raise enough money to meet all
the needs of the children in our care. There
are numerous ways that you can help support
the work of the foundation. One of the
easiest ways is by making a gift by cash,
check or credit card.
By using your credit card, you may
gain valuable points or airline miles. We
also accept gifts of real estate. If you
have owned your home, land, investment
property, farm or ranch for many years, a
charitable gift of that real estate to the
foundation can be particularly advantageous
tax wise. If donated, you avoid capital
gains tax and realize a charitable deduction
for the full fair market value of the real
estate. The foundation also accepts gifts of
stocks and bonds, art, jewelry, firearms,
coins, and other collectibles. You receive a
charitable deduction for the full fair
market value of these assets at the time of
the gift. Also, we invite you to remember
Happy Trails Children's Foundation with a
charitable bequest in your will or trust.
Contact your accountant, attorney or tax
advisor for more information about the tax
advantages of charitable giving. We are most
grateful for your support!
The Happy Trails Children’s
Foundation is a charitable non-profit
organization under Section 501 (c)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code. All donations are
fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed
by law. Our tax ID number is: 95-3872257.
For more information about the foundation
and how you can help, please contact us.
Joel
Dortch, Executive Director
10755 Apple Valley Road
Apple Valley, CA
92308
(760)
240-3330
(760)
240-1458 Fax
E-mail:
Director@happytrails.org
Web
site:
www.happytrails.org
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