Liberty Youth Ranch Provides A Family For Children





Waiting for the school bus at Liberty Youth Ranch.

Waiting for the school bus at Liberty Youth Ranch.

Liberty Youth Ranch is Alan C. Dimmitt’s answer to providing a loving home and happy childhood for less fortunate children.

Dimmitt, Liberty Youth Ranch’s founder and CEO/ President, is fulfilling a dream from childhood. Having been raised in a group home environment in Texas that guided him to a successful life and career, he wanted to help others in the same way he was helped. Ten years ago, he was ready to give back.

Dimmitt considered building a home for children in Texas. After exploring several U.S. options, he felt Bonita Springs needed Liberty Youth Ranch and took a “leap of faith.” He began from scratch with his life savings to create a model that provides real homes to children as long as they need them. It is not a temporary shelter or a placement agency for adoptions.

Children at Liberty Youth Ranch find a family.

Children at Liberty Youth Ranch find a family.

Liberty Youth Ranch is home to children ages four to eighteen who call the resident house parents “Mom” and “Dad” and receive unconditional love. Children may be orphans, or children whose caretakers could no longer manage, referred from Florida Department of Children and Families, school counselors, churches and social agencies in the five-county 20th Judicial Circuit.

Liberty Youth Ranch helps children ages four to eighteen.

Liberty Youth Ranch helps children ages four to eighteen.

The 156-acre Bonita Springs ranch east of I-75 includes a 64-acre lake for kayaking and fishing and is surrounded east and north by preserved land. An equestrian program includes two horses.

“Our goal is to keep siblings together,” said Dimmitt. “The boys’ house and the girls’ house were finished at the same time. Most of our children have a sibling in residence, their last anchor before arrival.” Each home is for eight children who attend local schools and are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities.

Jasmin, a freshman at Florida Gulf Coast University, was a straight A student her senior year at Estero High School instead of the C’s and D’s before she arrived at the ranch. She plans to become a lawyer. Most children improve their academics shortly after arrival.

Built on private land, Liberty Youth Ranch is totally funded by private donors and businesses and is debt free, a goal from its inception. Today there are two homes however future development plans call for 12 homes for eight children each.

“Generous donors support us year after year,” said Dimmitt. “Hundreds of volunteers help maintain the ranch, tutor our children, attend to our equestrian program and run Liberty Youth Ranch Upscale Shop, opened on Old 41 at Bonita Beach Road in 2006.” The furniture store provides a steady income stream from high end donated and consigned furniture, an alternative to large fund-raising events. “We always need more volunteers,” adds Dimmitt.

The non-denominational, faith-based environment is supported by area churches. A network of physicians and dentists help meet medical needs.

According to Dimmit when a child comes to Liberty Youth Ranch, “It may be the first time a child hears, ‘I love you’, is tucked into bed at night and has a permanent home. We are a family.“

And just like any family, he says, “the children come home for the holidays after graduation.”


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