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A View From the Trail!

by

Joel Dortch, Executive Director


 

IS THIS THE END?

            Have we finally come to the end of an era? Roy “Dusty” Rogers, Jr. has announced that the Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum in Branson, MO is closing their doors at the end of December 2009. High fuel prices, the economy, and the fact that fans who remember Roy and Dale are now seasoned citizens themselves have all been cited as reasons for declining attendance over the past couple of years.

            The Roy Rogers era began in 1938 with the release of his first film, Under Western Stars, an immediate hit, and he gained momentum throughout the 1940’s and beyond. After appearing with some of the most beautiful young starlets in Hollywood, Dale Evans joined him in the 1944 film, The Cowboy and the Senorita. Roy and Trigger, along with Dale, Gabby Hayes, and the Sons of the Pioneers, formed one of the greatest movie teams of all time!

            Roy’s screenplays were well written and always had a moral lesson for the throngs of boys and girls who saw his films. From1943 through 1954 (the last year the survey was made,) Roy was the number one ranked Cowboy Star, based on box office receipts. For a few years, he ranked in the top ten for all movie stars! His career was unparalleled by virtually any other entertainer. In addition to his movies being number one, his television shows were among the highest rated of their time, his records topped the charts, he had a thriving radio show, and he set personal appearance attendance records at fairs, rodeos and stage shows throughout the country. He was a one-man industry with his name and likeness on hundreds of products ranging from comic books to cookies, toys, clothes and much more.

            Off screen, he lived by the same high standards and moral life that he portrayed on screen. Roy 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. He was one of the most loved, honored and respected men of the 20th century. The name Roy Rogers personifies the values, tradition and spirit that are at the heart of our rich American Heritage. His name today is still synonymous with integrity, honesty, quality and family values. He was a genuine superstar, a legend in his own time, who consistently delivered a wholesome brand of honest entertainment suitable for the entire family.

            Roy Rogers and Dale Evans spent a lifetime devoted to children and they generously supported children’s causes through the years with their time, talent, and resources. Child abuse and neglect is a serious problem that was a major concern to them. It was their desire that all children would be able to find a Happy Trail in their lives. They were instrumental along with George Harold Cooper and other concerned citizens of the High Desert in getting the Happy Trails Children’s Foundation and Cooper Home established. The grand opening was held in March 1997 and the first children arrived in June. Since that time, residential care and treatment services have been provided to hundreds of children from throughout Southern California. With your help, the Happy Trails Children’s Foundation is proud to carry on the work with abused children who were so important to Roy and Dale.

            Your donations are helping change the lives of children-in-crisis. Through the years your contributions have provided many improvements such as a paved road more than a half mile long into the property; a cafeteria building; an athletic field; a park area adjacent to the athletic field; a much needed addition of 3,000 square feet to the cafeteria building; parking and other outdoor security lighting; a multi-purpose building; an improved water system and much more. None of this would have been possible without your help. THANK YOU!

            People are asking, now that the museum is closing, what is going to happen to the foundation? The answer is, with your help, we plan to continue the legacy of Roy and Dale. For us and hopefully for you too, the Roy Rogers era has not ended. The children still need your help – and through your contributions, the foundation will continue to serve these kids-in-crisis for many years to come in the tradition set by Roy and Dale.

Year-End Gift Ideas

 

There are several ways to make a year-end gift to the foundation that can help continue the important work with children and reduce your personal tax burden. The following is a partial list of suggestions:


1. A gift of cash. There is no easier way to make a year-end gift than by making a contribution to the foundation by cash, check, money order, or credit card. We accept American Express, Discover, MASTERCARD, and VISA. Using your credit card to make a donation could earn you valuable points.
2. Gifts of stock or mutual funds.
3. Gifts of real estate.
4. Gifts of valuable assets such as collections: art; coins; guns; stamps, and jewelry, etc.
5. Gifts of life insurance.
6. Bequests. We invite you to remember Happy Trails Children’s Foundation in your will or trust.

 

Please check with your personal accountant, attorney or tax advisor for advice on ways your year-end gift may benefit your personal tax situation.

 

To obtain more information about the Happy Trails Children's Foundation and how you may make tax-deductible contributions, please call, fax or write:

 

Joel Dortch, Executive Director

Happy Trails Children’s Foundation

10755 Apple Valley Road

Apple Valley, CA 92308

(760) 240-3330

(760) 240-1458 Fax

Director@happytrails.org

 

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Copyright ©1999-2009 Roy Rogers. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Roy Rogers is prohibited. 

Trigger, Bullet, Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Roy Rogers Jr., Happy Trails Children's Foundation and RogersDale U.S.A. logo are trademarks of Roy Rogers.

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The Happy Trails Children's Foundation is a nonprofit/public benefit corporation, and it is organized under the nonprofit public benefit corporation law

for charitable purposes.  All donations are fully tax deductible!  The tax exempt status for the foundation (a 501c(3)) California public benefit corporation.

The employer tax identification number for this foundation is 95-3872257.

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