Candoris Nonprofit Partnership Feature: Seamark Ranch
“They say every kid at Seamark has a story. But they don’t ever talk about those stories.”
A ministry close to the heart of Candoris Co-Founder and District Manager Lucas Van Der Ploog is Seamark Ranch, a 568-acre home and transformational program for youth coming from incredibly difficult backgrounds. The 25 youth who call the working ranch home receive education and are taught work ethic founded on Christian principles. Equine therapy and sustainable farming are just two of the impactful programs the residents take part in, and ranch leadership foster a safe, loving community that encourages these youth to live and grow as normally as possible.
Candoris is proud to have developed a long-standing corporate partnership with Seamark Ranch and to be part of their story of extending love, healing, and a second chance to these youth.
“A lot of places are custodial by nature; we’re holistic; we’re looking at the development of the whole person. Work and life skills is critical… the concept of self-sufficiency that we can communicate through the farm and agricultural programs, and finally spiritual- a meaningful, purposeful life. Children that come here are brokenhearted. Social, emotional transformation is critical for those children.”
– Fred Meiners, Executive Director
Seamark MudRun
Key to the organization’s mission is the annual fundraiser – The Seamark MudRun – a 5k race for families to gather, get dirty, and raise awareness and funds for an incredible nonprofit. Lucas and his family travel to Florida each year and spearhead setting up a perfectly muddy course that’s both challenging and family-friendly for the participants. The fun doesn’t stop there on a busy ranch; Seamark Ranch has taught Lucas how to birth cows, milk goats, castrate pigs, wrangle cattle, and catch turkeys.
Learn more about how the Seamark Ranch homes, school, equine and agricultural programs, and abounding care and love give children who are victims of abuse, abandon, hurt, and neglect a second chance.
“Our family has been partnering with Seamark Ranch for the past 10 years because we believe in their mission to rescue children out of difficult situations. The ranch truly provides an ideal setting to foster healing and empowerment.”
— Lucas Van Der Ploog
Candoris Nonprofit Partnerships
At Candoris, our team what is the shared purpose of creating lasting value through skillful innovation. Philanthropic partnerships such as this one, the fruit of our work, is our team why. We’ve joined up with the global movement Pledge 1% in committing to integrate philanthropy into business.
Hear about uniting a team and a mission around the common goal of servant leadership from Co-Founder and President Stephan Van Der Ploog in this video.