Imus Ranch

The Imus Ranch is a working cattle ranch of nearly 4,000 acres (16 km²) located in Ribera, New Mexico, 50 miles southeast of Santa Fe. It was founded in 1999 by long-time radio personality Don Imus and his wife Deirdre as a charitable organization that seeks to ensure the continuity of the lives of children who are afflicted with cancer. The charity’s goal is to provide children with an experience of living life on a functioning cattle ranch, to build up the child's self-confidence and sense of accomplishment, in the company of similar children facing serious illness. More recently, it has been opened to siblings of SIDS victims. It is incorporated in the State of New York and registered under subsection 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code as a non-profit organization.

A portion of the historic Santa Fe Trail passes through the ranch.

Facilities

The ranch consists of a village constructed to emulate an Old West town, with a general store, "marshal's office", and a "saloon". The main ranch house is a 14,000 sq. ft. adobe hacienda with American Indian rugs and rustic chandeliers in the great room. It has five bedrooms for the children, a library, and a dining hall serving all vegetarian meals. The design was largely under the direction of Deirdre Imus at a cost of construction placed at more than $20 million. [Robert Frank, "Don Imus's Ranch for Sick Children Draws Scrutiny", "Wall Street Journal", March 24, 2005.]

There are bunk houses for doctors, other medical staff and ranch hands. The Hackensack University Medical Center provides physicians, nurses, and guidance counselors who attend the ranch sessions.

Activities

For seven days, each child is expected to perform chores and tasks as if they were a cowboy, such as caring for all the needs of a horse to gain self-esteem. The ranch operates all year but hosts children only when school is not in session. Nearly half the children are from minority groups and 10% are black. [cite news | first=Deborah | last=Baker | coauthors= | title=Radio Host's Firing May Be A Death Knell for His Charity | date= April 16, 2007 | work= The New York Sun | url =http://www.nysun.com/article/52499 | pages = | accessdate = 2007-04-20 | language = ]

The days begin at 6:15 a.m., when the children begin their round of chores, such as feeding the various animals scattered around the ranch. After breakfast, half of the children do ranch chores, including planting, watering and gathering eggs, while the others proceed to the barn, where they begin the process of muck removal before grooming, bridling and saddling the horses for a two-hour ride. After lunch and an hour break for swimming or napping, the children switch projects. After dinner, they have about 90 minutes to play board games or pool before lights out at 9 p.m. [cite news | first=Beverly | last=Keel | coauthors= | title=The Imus Ranch | date= August 21, 2005 | publisher= AmericanProfile.com | url = http://www.americanprofile.com/article/4870.html | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2007-06-26 | language = ]

During the summer months, Imus broadcasts his nationally syndicated radio program, "Imus in the Morning", from a studio at the Ranch. Occasionally, children attending the Ranch appear on the program along with his wife Deirdre and son.

Controversies

In March 2005, "Wall Street Journal" reporter Robert Frank authored an article that was critical of the Ranch and the amount of money that it spends on each child. In 2006 the ranch spent $2.5 million on 90 children who visited the ranch, or $28,000 per child. [cite news | first=Deborah | last=Baker | coauthors= | title=Future of Imus Charity Ranch Questioned | date= | publisher= | url =http://590klbj.com/news/article.aspx?id=1100370 | work =Associated Press | pages = | accessdate = 2007-04-15 | language = ] Accusations of accounting irregularities and personal use of the charity’s assets were investigated by New Mexico Attorney General Patricia Madrid and New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer. [cite news | first=Tom | last=Sharpe | coauthors= | title=Imus queried about ranch | date= March 25, 2005 | publisher= The New Mexican | url =http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/11897.html | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2007-04-15 | language = ] No charges were filed in New Mexico. New York closed its investigation on March 24, 2005. [cite news | first=Robert | last=Frank | coauthors= | title=Spitzer's Office Closes Its Inquiry Into Imus Ranch for Sick Children | date= March 25, 2005 | publisher= The Wall Street Journal | url =http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB111171835547389539-UgcQktPKRNLWMxml2UD2TkieI5o_20050425.html?mod=tff_article | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2007-04-15 | language = ]

Fundraising sources

Corporate sponsors

Numerous large corporations donate significantly to the Ranch. Major donors have included "Reader's Digest", for which the Ranch’s “locale” has been named, Unilever, and Wrangler Jeans, among others. General Motors donates vehicles for use on the ranch. [cite news | first=Deborah | last=Baker | coauthors= | title=Future of Imus Charity Ranch Questioned | date= | publisher= | url =http://590klbj.com/news/article.aspx?id=1100370 | work =Associated Press | pages = | accessdate = 2007-04-15 | language = ] Buildings at the Ranch have been named for major corporate donors.

WFAN Radiothon

Each spring beginning in 1990, WFAN has conducted the WFAN Radiothon to benefit the Ranch along with Tomorrows Children's Fund and The CJ Foundation for SIDS. As of 2005, the Radiothon has raised more than $30 million for the charities.

Imus Ranch Foods

Organic food items and cleaning products are sold in large markets and online under the “Imus Ranch Foods” label. All after-tax profits from the sale of these products are donated to the Ranch.

Books

In 2004, Deirdre Imus wrote a book entitled "The Imus Ranch: Cooking for Kids and Cowboys", published by Rodale Press (ISBN 0-87596-919-4). All after-tax profits from the sale of the book have been donated to the Ranch.

On April 10 2007, a second book by Deirdre Imus, entitled "Greening Your Cleaning", was released by Simon & Schuster (ISBN 1-4165-4055-5).

Records

In September 2008 the Imus Ranch Record was released.

References

External links

* [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3359675/ "Introduction to the Imus Ranch"] , MSNBC.com
* [http://www.imusranchfoods.com/index.aspx?lobid=978 "About Imus Ranch Foods"] Imus Ranch Foods official website