Dear RYF friends and family,
Much has changed in the 60 years gone since Rutledge Youth Foundation was
founded as Boy’s Farm. Take a few moments to relect upon some of those changes.
1952…2012
VS
VS

NEW CAR
1952 FORD FAIRLANE
BEST PICTURE
2012 FORD FUSION
SUPERHERO TEAM

Notable Births: Liam Neeson, N Ireland, actor
Robin Williams, Chicago, comedian
John Goodman, St Louis Mo, actor
Vladimir Putin, Russian politician
David Petraeus, Commanding General of Multinational Force Iraq
Notable Deaths: María Eva Duarte de Perón – Evita – died of cancer in Argentina, age 33
Karen Horney - German/US neo Freudian psycho analyst, dies at 67
Charles Lightoller - English second officer on the Titanic (b. 1874)
George Santayana Spanish philosopher, essayist, poet, and novelist, age 88
 Korean conflict continues as truce attempts fail
 Princess Elizabeth of Britain coronated queen upon the death of her father, King George VI
 U.S. begins construction of first nuclear submarine, the Nautilus
 U.S. detonates world’s first hydrogen bomb
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Republican Vice-Presidential candidate Richard Nixon defends himself against charges of maintaining a secret slush fund in his "Checkers" speech, broadcast on national television
Violent protests erupt in Egypt
First contraceptive pill developed
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Dr. Jonas Salk develops polio vaccine
World Series: New York Yankees over Brooklyn, 4-3
 Olympics held in Helsinki, Finland
 Movies: Limelight, High Noon, The Greatest Show on Earth
 Songs: It Takes Two to Tango, Your Cheatin’ Heart, Wheel of Fortune
 TV Shows: Our Miss Brooks, Jackie Gleason Show, I Love Lucy, Dina Shore, Adventures of Ozzie and
Harriet, George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
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Today Show begins with Dave Garroway o
I Love Lucy is watched by 10.6 million homes, setting a new record
Books: The Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemmingway; East of Eden, John Steinbeck; The Grass Harp,
Truman Capote; The Power of Positive Thinking, Norman Vincent Peale o
In June 1952, Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl was published in the United States and featured an introduction by Eleanor Roosevelt o
Revised Standard Version of the Bible published
1952 presidential campaigns are the first to be broadcast on television
Microwave ovens made available for domestic use; first models are the size of refrigerators and cost over $1,200

The Quote"
"Lucy, I'm home!"
- Ricky Ricardo, played by Dezi Arnez
"They’re gr-r-r-eat! "
Tony The Tiger, voiced by Thurl Ravenscroft
Finger-lickin’ good!
- Kentucky Fried Chicken
1st appearances &
1952's Most Popular
Christmas gifts, toys and presents:
Mr. Potato Head (Mr PH was the first toy advertised on
American TV) , Slinky Dog, PEZ candy dispensers
Rutledge has changed as well as we have grown in services, staff, locations, reputation, and lives impacted. From our origins as a residential program for teenage boys only we have evolved to serve more than 212 youth and families in the past year. Our programs of Transitional Living, Foster Care, Independent Living, Differential Response, System of Care, Achieving Academic Success, Youth Counseling & Advocacy, and Reunification now serve young men and women, ages 0 – 21 in variety of settings.
A few things that haven’t changed:
The commitment of our Board of Directors and Staff to delivering needed, supportive, and productive services to the abused/neglected youth of our community.
The support of our donors, vendors, families, and collateral is critical to our mission and the continued development of our Agency.
Thanks all of you who helped us facilitate this success since 1952.
They turn to us…….we turn to you.
In service,
Martin L. Michelson
Executive Director

2011 Annual Meeting
The RYF 2011 annual meeting was held on October 19, 2011 at the RYF administration building, 931 North Rutledge
Street in Springfield. The meeting included the election of these 2011-12 officers.
President—Dan Rayhill
First Vice President—Casey Ryan
Second Vice President—Joshua Becker
Secretary/Treasurer—Joe Ludtke
Asst. Secretary/Treasurer—Cheryl McKnelly
In addition to introduction of guests, Board Members, and Staff, the 2011 Annual Report was presented.
Board Changes in FY 2012
Several new members joined the Board this year: Mary Keen, Department of Veterans’ Affairs; and Michelle
Sorenson, Community Volunteer.
We also regretfully said farewell to the following Board Member: Susan Wallace of Wells Fargo.
Community Gifts
UNITED WAY: The 2011 United Way Campaign was again successful. The Youth Counseling and Advocacy program was funded again for $54,260 via the Essential Services of the Community Fund. We were also funded
$40,000 for our Achieving Academic Success program for the second year via the Lifelong Learning Initiative.
The United Way Day of Action again sent crews throughout the city to work on projects with various agencies.
Volunteers spent a day at RYF cleaning and painting bedrooms and hallways at the Miller Street Group Home.
United Community Bank in Chatham hosted a Casual for a Cause day and we were the beneficiary. Special thanks to Board member Janelle Kirby for facilitating this.
Capitol Strategies Inc.
held a Casino Night in November and presented us with the proceeds and several gifts.
Lincolnland Community College’s annual Chickfest benefited several charities, including RYF.
Walmart # 1602 continued to support us in many ways including: in kind donations for the Halloween and Holiday parties, supplies and door prizes for the Nightcrawler 5K, and a Gold Harley sponsorship. They also honored us as special guests at the Grand Opening of their remodeled store at Parkway Pointe.
The Central Illinois Community Blood Center twice “adopted” us for a day to allow us to promote our programs and events. Special thanks to former Board member Amy Friedman for coordinating this.

The Rotary Club of Springfield again supported us with funds from their annual citrus sale. They also sponsored our annual Angel tree which assured that each child received a Christmas gift from Santa. Pictured above: Citrus
Chairman Harry Mitchell of Horace Mann and other Rotarians present Executive Director Michelson with proceeds.
RYF Foster Parent List
Traditional/Specialized/Relative
Gloria Brown
Dawn Leverton
Appollonia Mackey
Sue & Rick Petrone
Dawn & Michael Scott
Kokela Slaughter
Carol & Lyndell Holmes
Teri Hayes
Starr Knoles
Mary Mullen
Valerie Flowers
Alice Mackey
Bambi & Robert Moser
Tanya & Larry Robertson Odessa Rolfe
Rhonda Steiner
Sharon Willhoit
Marilyn & Charles Kholian
Christina Knowles
Pam & David Parrish
James Rowland
Cynthia & Terry Simmons Richard & Lara Vollmer
Laura & Kenneth Acree Penny Hardwick

Hayrack ride and Wiener Roast at the Bensons
(Mike and Donna Benson pictured)
FALL / WINTER
Halloween Party with costume contest and mask making Haunted House and Haunted Hayride
Holiday Party featuring a visit from Santa
Swimming Parties
Sledding
SPRING / SUMMER
Knights Action Park State Fair
St Louis Cardinals Baseball game

FY 2012 Fund Raising
Last fall we again held the Nightcrawler 5K as a fundraiser, this time at The CREEK PUB & GRILL in Chatham. We enjoyed good weather and terrific support from the venue, the Chatham Police Department, and the community. The event was successful and grew considerably from the first year.
We also continued the Harley Davidson raffle with a 2011 HERITAGE SOFTAIL CLASSIC and drew for the winners at the CORNER PUB in November. The 2012 Harley Davidson Raffle is in full swing with about a month left until the drawing. We’ll be drawing the winner at 10 pm on Saturday, November 17 at the Corner Pub on
West Iles in Springfield while enjoying another evening of blues with Tombstone Bullet.
Please patronize our sponsors (see flyer) and thank them for their continued support of the youth of RYF.

STAFF
In FY 2012 their hard work and dedication provided services for more than 200 children:
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Martin Michelson
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE MANAGER Ginny Harmon
CLINICAL SERVICES MANAGER Mollie Buchanan
RESIDENCY COORDINATOR Megan Poole
FOSTER CARE COORDINATOR Shanelle Letcher
SOC COORDINATOR Amy Dumonceaux
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE MANAGER Trainee Gayle Freeman
BOOKKEEPER Joan Vogel
SECRETARY Carol Slack
CASE MANAGER Carrie Pratt
CASE MANAGER Christina McCaffrey
CASE MANAGER Ayjana Lewis
CASE MANAGER Brittany Schwien
CASE MANAGER Pete Norell
CASE MANAGER John Dunlap
CASE MANAGER Tyler Stults
CASE MANAGER Darlene Cockayne
SOC WORKER Marcia Matich
DR WORKER
AAS WORKER
Evan McKean
Lisa Bracco-Tabora
HOUSEPARENT Bruce Jones
HOUSEPARENT Karen Norris
HOUSEPARENT
HOUSEPARENT
HOUSEPARENT
HOUSEPARENT
HOUSEPARENT
MAINTENANCE WORKER
Mike Fuiten
James Bice
Jermar Tyler
Demarco Ousley
Orlando Connor
Patrick Cynar
Programs
DCFS Transitional Living Program
DCFS Transition to Independent Living
DOC Transition to Independent Living
DCFS Specialized Foster Care
DCFS Traditional/Home of Relative Foster Care
DCFS Reunification
UW Achieving Academic Success
UW Youth Counseling & Advocacy
XX Residency
System of Care (SOC)
Flex DCFS
Case Management

2011 – 2012
OFFICERS
President – Dan Rayhill (Hanson Professional Services)
First Vice President – Casey Ryan (Community Volunteer)
Second Vice President – Joshua Becker (Edwards Group LLC)
Secretary/Treasurer – Joe Ludtke (R.W. Troxell & Co.)
Asst. Secretary/Treasurer – Cheryl McKnelly (Horace Mann)
DIRECTORS
Vince Salvo (Central Management Services)
Tracy Crowley (Family Video)
Susan Wallace (Wells Fargo)
Michael Rapier (Michael E Rapier Surveying, Inc.)
Tom Wetzler ( IDOT)
Tim Reynolds (Wal-Mart #1602)
Janelle Kirby (United Community Bank )
Mary Keen (Veterans Affairs)
Michelle Sorenson (Community Volunteer)
COMMITTEES
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Dan Rayhill
Casey Ryan
Joe Ludtke
Joshua Becker
Cheryl McKnelly
Chair – Joshua Becker
Casey Ryan
Cheryl McKnelly
Susan Wallace
Mike Rapier
Susan Wallace
Tom Wetzler
FUND RAISING COMMITTEE
Chair – Casey Ryan
Mike Rapier
Tracy Crowley
Joe Ludtke
Cheryl McKnelly
Janelle Kirby
Mary Keen
Michelle Sorenson
SUB – COMMITTEES
COMMUNICATIONS NIGHTCRAWLER HARLEY