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 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!