05/29/2026
We are so happy to be able to share this great read with all of you! Last week we had John-Michael Lander out to visit. He was speaking at a conference in Bismarck and wanted to come out and see Home on the Range. Jodi and I visited with him the last two years at the Just Confrence in Arizona and Florida. John-Michael is a nationally known speaker, survivor and advocate for trafficked people. He was so taken with our compassion, relationships and commitment he wrote the following email to Velvet-
“I am not able to find the words to even begin to say thank you for the opportunity to visit Home On The Range. Please share my gratitude to everyone I had the chance to meet.
I felt so inspired that I wrote a Letter of Support. Please feel free to edit and use it in which you feel best. I included the letter in the body of the email, below.
On my way home, I kept thinking how my life could have been altered if I had such loving and supported people like your staff.”
Letter of Support for Home On The Range
To Whom It May Concern,
It is with deep respect, admiration, and gratitude that I offer my wholehearted support for Home On The Range and the extraordinary work they are doing to transform the lives of children and families who have experienced profound trauma and hardship.
I had the honor of visiting Home On The Range and sharing part of my personal story as a survivor. I can honestly say the experience changed me. What I witnessed on that campus was not simply a program or facility, it was healing in action. I saw compassion woven into every interaction with the use of horses and dogs, dignity restored through every act of care, and hope rekindled in young people who desperately needed to know they mattered.
Home On The Range does not treat children as cases to manage; they treat each child as a human being worthy of love, safety, healing, and opportunity. Their commitment to individualized care and emotional restoration is both inspiring and life changing.
Under the guidance of the Catholic Church, Home On The Range provides a safe home for youth who have experienced physical or emotional trauma, where every act is done with love to help them discover the dignity of the human person and learn the skills to manage life’s challenges. Their philosophy is rooted in service to children and families, leadership in childcare, and the conviction to help create a healthier and stronger world.
What deeply moved me was their unwavering belief that healing is possible. Through compassion, truth, justice, forgiveness, mercy, and faith, they help young people rebuild trust, develop self-worth, and prepare for a successful future. Their innovative therapeutic programs, commitment to professional excellence, and stewardship of every resource demonstrate an organization fully devoted to restoring lives.
Home On The Range also serves children and families regardless of race, color, creed, religion, or national origin, reflecting the belief that every child deserves dignity, protection, and the opportunity to heal.
Home On The Range is desperately needed in our world today. They are not simply changing individual lives; they are changing generations. But this vital work cannot continue without the support of compassionate donors, organizations, and communities willing to invest in healing and hope.
I wholeheartedly encourage individuals, businesses, faith communities, and organizations to support Home On The Range through donations, partnerships, and advocacy. Your support directly impacts children and helps provide the safety, care, and guidance they need to reclaim their future.
Home On The Range is a place where brokenness meets compassion, where wounded children rediscover hope, and where lives are forever changed. I am honored to stand in support of this remarkable organization and all those who make its mission possible.
With gratitude and highest regard,
John-Michael Lander
Survivor | Author | Speaker | Advocate
Founder, An Athlete’s Silence
