Joanie Consolver watched as Edgewood Children\u2019s Ranch children lifted a green canvas to unveil the new sign for the Family Care Center.<\/p>\n
She held back tears as she saw her name on the sign for the center where she spent a large part of her time while serving as the executive director of Edgewood Children\u2019s Ranch from 1989 to 2011.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Consolver had served at Edgewood for 43 years, joining the ranch as a school coordinator for the Edgewood Boys Ranch in 1966.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cColossians 3:23 says, \u2018Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord \u2026\u2019 and that\u2019s exactly how Joanie lived her work here at the ranch,\u201d current Executive Director Jeff Fitzgerald said before the sign was unveiled Wednesday, Feb. 18. \u201cMicah 6:8 tells us to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God, and I believe that\u2019s the kind of example that she set for all of us, including myself. \u2026 Through her leadership, so many kids got a fresh start and a chance to thrive. \u2026 So Joanie, we honor you, we celebrate you. We\u2019re grateful for the legacy that you built here. Thank you for everything you gave to this mission, to the kids, to all of us who carry it forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Consolver said it was humbling to have the Family Care Center renamed in her honor.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt warms your heart to see what God has done and continues to do,\u201d she said. \u201c(Edgewood Children\u2019s Ranch founders) Dr. (John W. \u2018Jack\u2019) Lynd and Judge (Arthur) Yergey\u2019s vision is going on.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said Edgewood Children\u2019s Ranch was a place God gave her \u201cto love, be loved and have a wonderful life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Yergey was present for the unveiling, giving Consolver and him time to reminisce on their years working together at Edgewood. They talked about when the ranch moved to its current location at 1451 Edgewood Ranch Road, envisioning a place where the children could enjoy nature and swim in the lakes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd then I found out about the alligators,\u201d Yergey joked, causing the dozens of people in attendance for the sign unveiling to laugh.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But more important, Yergey was thrilled to be able to honor Consolver\u2019s legacy to the ranch he created.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was everything to me when I was here,\u201d Yergey said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Knowing the legacy people such as Consolver, Lynd and Yergey left on Edgewood Children\u2019s Ranch, Fitzgerald said it\u2019s amazing and a huge honor to stand on their shoulders.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fitzgerald said Edgewood would not be what it is today without the service and dedication of Consolver, which is why the ranch\u2019s staff felt it appropriate to honor her with the naming of the building.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Edgewood Children\u2019s Ranch is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year and the impact it has made on thousands of children and families since its inception.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re talking thousands and thousands of families that have been restored, children that have been restored, their hearts have been restored, their lives have been restored and put back on track,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fitzgerald wants to see the ranch continue to make an impact on its students, transforming their lives in a short amount of time. He has seen children come in scared, nervous and quiet. By the time they leave, they\u2019re different people.<\/p>\n
\u201cComing from traumatic experiences is hard, and seeing them blossom and come to life, to actually see what their potential could be, for me, makes what I get to do every day worth it,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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