A $20,000 gift from the Agnesian HealthCare Foundation is supporting the Cristo Rey Ranch’s mission to care for amazing animals for individuals and families to treasure, as well as therapeutic services that bolster life skills and opportunities so participants can reach their full potential.
The ranch’s team and volunteers also engage with area communities through its llama program, group tours, petting zoos, equine therapy, parades, and other easy-to-access activities. They also conduct numerous visits with animals to senior living facilities, hospice homes, and schools, spreading joy wherever they go.
Residents at SSM Health facilities – including St. Francis Home, Hospice Home of Hope, and more – especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, benefited from these visits as they were isolated from family and friends, and those visits continue to add great value yet today.
“This gift will help us continue our efforts to foster a safe, nurturing environment that promotes self-esteem, healthy relationships, responsibility, and spiritual growth,” according to Sister Stephen Bloesl, a member of the Congregation of Sister Servants of Christ the King and ranch manager. “Through holistic development, we guide children in learning and maturity through animal care, preparing them for responsible adulthood.”
The Cristo Rey Ranch’s goal so closely matches those of SSM Health and its efforts to support others through therapeutic services that bring healing and real-life skills to all who encounter more than 300 animals under care at the ranch.
“The Cristo Rey Ranch team sets a strong example by teaching people of all ages how to care for animals with compassion and respect – recognizing the value animals bring to our lives in return,” says Mason Gravelle, Agnesian HealthCare Foundation philanthropy development manager, Wisconsin Region. “Animals have a unique ability to bring out the best in us. Their unconditional presence can ease stress and offer comfort – key components of healing – even during life’s most difficult moments.”
“The Cristo Rey Ranch shares so many gems with those who visit,” Gravelle adds. “We are fortunate to have such a purposeful organization so close by with caring team members and volunteers, and a dynamic history with the Sister Servants of Christ the King.”
Sister Stephen Bloesl, a member of the Congregation of Sister Servants of Christ the King and Cristo Rey Ranch manager, recently spent time with Mason Gravelle, Agnesian HealthCare Foundation philanthropy development manager, Wisconsin Region, and Deb Winterhack, Agnesian HealthCare Foundation director of development.
Sister Stephen Bloesl, a member of the Congregation of Sister Servants of Christ the King and Cristo Rey Ranch manager, recently spent time with Mason Gravelle, Agnesian HealthCare Foundation philanthropy development manager, Wisconsin Region, and Deb Winterhack, Agnesian HealthCare Foundation director of development.
Mason Gravelle and Deb Winterhack
The Cristo Rey Ranch, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization owned by the Congregation of Sister Servants of Christ the King in Mt. Calvary since 1949, serves as a sanctuary for hundreds of animals, bringing joy to the sisters, staff, assisted living residents, and visitors.