[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 69 (Friday, May 9, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E896]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    THE GREEN ISLE CHILDREN'S RANCH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GINNY BROWN-WAITE

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 8, 2003

  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor 
the Green Isle Children's Ranch in my Fifth Congressional District of 
Florida. At this center, a group of dedicated, hard-working, caring 
individuals has been working for more than 15 years to better the lives 
of at-risk children.
  The Green Isle Children's Ranch was founded in 1987 by men and women 
who had worked within the prison system and had seen the great need to 
prevent children from entering the vicious cycle of detention home, 
jail, and prison.
  The Ranch is an interfaith outreach center that helps at-risk 
children and troubled families. It houses, counsels, educates and 
spiritually nurtures troubled and at-risk children from ages 6-15. Most 
are emotionally handicapped; some suffer from such conditions as 
attention deficit disorder, and fetal alcohol syndrome. Most have been 
verbally abused and some physically or sexually abused. All have 
considerable inner emotional turmoil and anger and almost all are the 
products of broken homes.
  The Mission of the Green Isle Children's Ranch is a noble one. It 
seeks to provide a residential program for at-risk children; to 
counsel, educate, and spiritually nurture them, and to provide 
parenting classes and guidance for each child's family. The ranch 
serves as a resource for troubled families, providing advice, 
counseling and a sympathetic ear. In addition, the Green Isle 
Children's Ranch networks with community organizations, such as local 
churches, Big Brothers, YMCA, other children's facilities, civic clubs, 
and community organizations, to expand upon the resources available to 
them as they strive to better the lives of children.
  Green Isle uses a caring approach to help at-risk children, which was 
developed by Dr. Jack Lynd at the Edgewood Children's Ranch in Orlando. 
Counselors at the center work with each child's family, without regard 
to race, creed, national origin, or ability to pay-and they do it all 
without accepting tax money.
  Mr. Speaker I am proud of the work done by the Green Isle Foundation. 
I'm proud to have such a facility in my district and I'm proud to say 
that because of this organization, so many children in my Fifth 
District of Florida have been positively affected. Their work is to be 
commended and their cause is so very honorable. I salute, the 
dedication and care with which Florida's at-risk children are being 
treated and I salute the Green Isle Children's Ranch.

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