Rescued Hearts Ranch

Playing for a Place to Belong

This year, Dr. Bob Rutner is taking the course at the L5 Investments Capital Cup in Sacramento, CA with a purpose far bigger than golf: he's playing for Rescued Hearts Ranch.

Rescued Hearts Ranch is a nonprofit serving the youth of the Tahoe Basin and Carson Valley. RHR is dedicated to empowering youth with hands-on experiences through community care-farming. At the Ranch, children step away from the pressures and distractions of everyday life and into an environment where they can slow down, get their hands dirty, care for animals, work alongside others, and discover just how capable they are.

Our programs are intentionally built around experiences that foster confidence, connection, empathy, responsibility, leadership, teamwork, a sense of belonging, and respect for the animals, each other and themselves. A child may arrive thinking they are simply feeding an animal, building something, planting a garden, or completing a ranch chore - but along the way, they are learning that others can depend on them. They are solving problems, trying things that may initially feel intimidating, communicating with their peers, and experiencing the pride that comes from contributing to something bigger than themselves. 

The Ranch also creates space for children with different personalities, strengths, and needs to succeed. There isn't just one way to "successful" at the Ranch. The child who is quiet may form a special connection with an animal. The child with endless energy may thrive while working with their hands. A child who struggles in a traditional environment may discover confidence through accomplishing a real task and seeing that their connection matters.

Those seemingly simple moments can have a lasting impact. When a child feels capable, needed, connected, and accepted, they begin to see themselves differently. That is what Rescued Hearts Ranch is ultimately about.

As we look toward our next chapter, the funds raised though the Capital Cup will help us continue creating meaningful experiences for local children free of charge while helping Rescued Hearts Ranch grow toward a permanent home where our programs - and the youth and animals we serve - can put down deeper roots.

Every birdie, every hole, every donation helps move that vision forward. Dr. Rutner is playing for Rescued Hearts Ranch. Together, we're playing for a place where belonging blooms, connections heal, and hope takes root.