Since Boys Republic’s founding in1907, its graduates have postedconsistently positive outcomes. Morethan 30,000 troubled youthhave gone through theagency’s programs to acquirethe qualities of educationalcompetence, personalaccountability, and self-control. This record ofaccomplishment wouldnot have been possibleexcept for a goodcentury’s worth of caringsupport by volunteerindividuals, civic groupsand support organizations.

This year, multi-facetedactress and musical recordingartist Vanessa Williams has leanther support to Boys Republic’sDella Robbia wreath campaign, astudent work experience project fordisadvantaged teenagers. Ms. Williams joinsa long line of prominent Americans from thefields of the performing arts, public service,

Chino Hills, California:Historic student work experienceprogram enters its 90th year.

Vanessa Williams is Honorary Chairof 2013 Della Robbia Wreath Campaign

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PAGE 2 BOYS REPUBLIC REPORT

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Annual Della RobbiaWreath Campaign ProvidesWork Experience forDisadvantaged Teens

ADDING VALUE: For many — if not most— of Boys Republic’s students, the annualDella Robbia wreath project is their firstexperience working in a productionenvironment. On the job, they experience thesatisfaction of adding value to naturalmaterials, while also helping to earn part oftheir way. professional sports and industry who have

assisted the Della Robbia program by servingas its honorary chairperson over the years.

Ms. Williams’ critically acclaimed workin film, television, recordings and theBroadway stage has been recognized by everymajor industry award affiliation including 4Emmy nominations, 17 Grammynominations, a Tony nomination, 3 SAGaward nominations, 6 NAACP Image Awards,3 Satellite Awards and ultimately a GoldenGlobe, Grammy and an Oscar for BestOriginal Song for her platinum single“Colors of the Wind,” from the Disney filmPocahontas.

Her autobiography, “You Have No Idea,”co-written with her mother Helen Williams,was a New York Times Best Seller in 2012.

Ms. Williams has also built a resumé inphilanthropy that is almost as impressive asher performing credits. A strong advocate forequal rights, Vanessa recently received theHuman Rights Campaign “Ally for Equality”Award for her humanitarian contributions.

A work experience project fordisadvantaged teenagers

The annual Della Robbia wreathproject is first and foremost a workexperience program. Troubled teens learn,perhaps for the first time in their lives, toshow up for work on-time, to attend to thetask at-hand, to cooperate with co-workers,and take direction from a supervisor — allgood work habits that prepare teens for theworld of responsible and productiveadulthood.

It starts in January. Weekend work partiesof boys and staff go into fields, forests andorchards to collect numerous varieties of seedpods, nuts, cones and other natural, driedmaterials. Then during the week, eachsackful is sorted, cleaned, drilled and wired.The cones and pods are then wired togetherinto decorative arrays and stored in boxes andbins in an old gymnasium transformed into awreath barn on the agency's Chino Hillscampus. Because of the fresh materials theycontain, the final hand-assembly, packagingand shipment of the finished wreaths islimited to a period of only a few weeks at thestart of the holiday season. Yet each DellaRobbia wreath represents a full year of effortby Boys Republic students and theprofessional wreath staff that works withthem.

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HAND ASSEMBLY: Built one at a time, adultworkers from the community help to assembleforty-thousand Della Robbia wreaths in athirteen-day period beginning just afterThanksgiving.

FLORIST FRESH: Students ship as many as4,000 wreaths the same day as they areproduced.

FALL 2013

PAGE 4 BOYS REPUBLIC REPORT

I remember AntonioRobinson at age 17 in1991 like it wasyesterday. Why? Becausehe was one of the firstfour students I everworked with as acaseworker in theIndependent LivingProgram at BoysRepublic. Antonio wasan outgoing young man.

He had already accomplished much in the programwhen I showed up for my first day of work,including having been elected Mayor of the StudentGovernment.

We got along just fine until he noticed that Ihad only an introductory grasp of the rules andstructures of the program. While the training fornew employees at Boys Republic was and isconsidered top notch in the business, it isimpossible to train a new employee in every aspectof the program in a short period of time. You see,Tony thrived on that foundation of rules andstructure, and it was extremely difficult for him totolerate a new staff person who had yet to masterall of the ins and outs of the program.

So we did what students and staff do at BoysRepublic – We agreed to help each other out. Hewould bring me up to speed on everything BoysRepublic, and I would help him learn about livingon his own, and how to maintain his footballuniform and equipment, since he was the first BoysRepublic student to ever play Varsity football atanother high school away from our main campus.The arrangement worked for both of us, and I carrythe memory of mutual respect and help between

staff and students forward with me to this day. Fast forward to June 2013, almost 22 years to

the day after Antonio and I met. I had the immenseprivilege of sitting next to Antonio’s family,including his 16 year old son Marquis, and

watching Antonio receivehis Masters in BusinessAdministration fromCalifornia State

University Chico. It was the first time we had seeneach other since he was 18 and had returned toBoys Republic briefly to receive a scholarship. Itwas one of the most reflective and emotionalmoments in my 2 decades plus of working here.Antonio still had that easy way with people,although at age 39, now went from professor toadvisor, and friend to family member interacting asa polished, accomplished man. He manages theoptical department at Costco now, and has designs

Help is a Two-Way Street

In which our Northern counties aftercareworker explains how he learned that, atBoys Republic . . .

by Mark Hardwick

Mark Hardwick

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HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS:Antonio Robinson earned the Masters inBusiness Administration degree fromCalifornia State University, Chico.

form can be faxed to (909) 628-9688 or mailed toBoys Republic at 1907 Boys Republic Drive,Chino Hills, CA 91709.

Della Robbia wreaths can alsobe ordered by computer, using theInternet. Orders can be placed viaBoys Republic’s home page at:www.boysrepublic.org.

Early ordering is encouraged.If past years’ experience again holds true thisseason, every wreath the students and their adulthelpers can assemble from the stores of pine

cones and pods will be purchased by mid-December and late orders will have to bereturned unfilled.

Originally created as a work-experiencevehicle for students in residence, over the years

the Boys Republic Della Robbiawreath campaign became as

well a supplementalsource of fundsfor the agency’s

non-profitprograms ofcounselingandeducation. Itcontinues to

serve thatdual

purpose today,providingmeaningful

after-school and

When the first Della Robbia Christmas wreathof 2013 travels by conveyor from the hand-assembly area to the shipping dock in the BoysRepublic wreath barn late this November, it willsignal the beginning of the 90th season of one ofthe oldest and largest self-help enterprisesundertaken by any child-care program in thenation. It is an enterprise as rich in history andtradition as it is essential to the school’s work withhundreds of troubled teens every year.

As they have every year since 1923, thestudents of Boys Republic will greet theholidays with the crackle of dried pinecones and seed pods, the scent of freshCalifornia evergreen foliage and thesight of piles of greenery, boxes of freshapples and lemons and stacks ofshipping cartons.

Della Robbias come in two sizes.A 22-inch diameter wreath sellsfor $46.95 complete withapplicable taxes, shippingand handling. A 28-inchdiameter wreath is pricedat $69.95, taxes,shipping and handlingincluded. Wreaths canbe bought by check,money order, MasterCard, Visa orDiscover Card.

Last-minuteorders can be placed bytelephone at 1-(800) 833-7769. Wreaths canalso be ordered using theenclosed form. The completed

Della Robbia News®

OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE BOYS REPUBLIC DELLA ROBBIA WREATH PROGRAM FALL, 2013

Historic Wreath Program Will Again Help BR Teens Earn Their Own Way

(Please turn to back page ofthis special section)

They have been called “the very image of holidaycelebrating” and “Christmas cheer in a box.” Theyare Boys Republic’s world-famous Della RobbiaChristmas wreaths, distinctive, all-natural decorationsthat have been an important part of Christmas tofamilies throughout the nation and elsewhere for 90years.

Hefty rings of fresh California evergreen boughsencrusted with pine cones, seed pods and burrs and

then highlighted with fresh apples and lemons, DellaRobbia wreaths look and smell like Christmas, itself.

Because of the fresh materials they contain, thefinal hand-assembly, packaging and shipment of thefinished wreaths is limited to a period of only a fewweeks at the start of the holiday season. Yet eachDella Robbia wreath represents a full year of effortby Boys Republic and Girls Republic students and

Distinctive Della Robbia Wreaths AreNatural Symbols of the Holiday Season

(Please turn to back page of this special section)

Anatomy of a Della RobbiaPINE CONESCones from a variety of pine and fir trees areused in every wreath, some gathered ataltitudes of up to 10,000 feet in the SierraNevada Mountains.

COTTON BURRThese delicate star-shaped pods are gleanedfrom the fields of the San Joaquin Valley afterthe cotton crop has been picked.

EVERGREEN BOUGHSSupple noble fir evergreens are harvestedfresh in the forests Northern California andOregon. No trees are harmed in the pruning process.

LIQUIDAMBARA member of the witch hazel family,liquidambar trees grow in great profusionthroughout Southern California. These spinyseed casings are gathered early in the year.

PLUMOSUMNamed for their feather-like plumes, thesenovel cones are native to Israel and SouthAfrica.

WINESAP APPLES & FRESH LEMONSHand-rubbed in alcohol and then lacquered tokeep them colorful and plump.

LOTUS PODThis distinctive water lily seedcasing with many of the seeds stillintact is gathered in the fall fromlocal lakes and ponds.

BOTTLE TREE PODThis pod is from a tree native toAustralia and now grows in SanFernando Valley, California.

Note: The number, selection and placement of cones andseedpods upon the Della Robbia Wreath may vary each year,depending upon the availability of these natural materials.

TO S

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D B

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Phone, Fax, Modem or Mail In Your

Last-Minute Wreath Orders

WREATHSIZE

SHIP TO:(PRINT NAMES AND FULL ADDRESSES INCLUDING ZIP CODES)

WREATHS PRICES*

______ 22” WREATHS @ $46.95, COMPLETE $_______

______ 28” WREATHS @ $69.95, COMPLETE $_______

TOTAL ORDER $_______

* PRICES INCLUDE APPLICABLE TAXES, SHIPPING, AND HANDLING.

* Shipments outside of U.S. Continental limits must go Air Parcel Post or UPS at customer’sexpense.

CREDIT CARD PURCHASES[ ] VISA [ ]M/C [ ] DISCOVER [ ]AMX Exp. Date: ______

Cardholder: _______________________

PERSONAL & BUSINESS CHECK PURCHASESPlease make checks payable to Boys RepublicSENDER INFORMATION

Name: ______________________________

Address: ____________________________City/State/Zip:__________________________

Phone No.: _________________

Phone: (800) 833-7769 Fax: (909) 628-9688Internet: http://www.boysrepublic.orgMail: Boys Republic, 1907 Boys Republic Dr., Chino Hills, CA 91709

WREATH ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS – PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

1. PLEASE FILL OUT FORM COMPLETELY,INCLUDE FULL ADDRESSES WITH ZIP CODES.

2. WREATH ORDERS ARE PROCESSED AND SHIPPED INTHE ORDER RECEIVED..

3. WREATHS SHIPPED TO ARIZONA CONTAIN NO FRUIT;HOWEVER, THEY INCLUDE ADDITIONAL PODS AND ARED BOW.

4. ONLY 22-INCH WREATHS WILL BE SHIPPED TOADDRESSES OUTSIDE CONTINENTAL U.S. ANDTHEY GO UPS OR AIR PARCEL POST ATADDITIONAL CUSTOMER EXPENSE.

5. NOTE: DELLA ROBBIA WREATHS CANNOT BESHIPPED TO P.O. BOXES.

6. AVOID DUPLICATION. IF YOU TELEPHONE OR FAXYOUR ORDER, PLEASE DO NOT ALSO MAIL IT.

the professional wreath staff that works with them.Beginning each January, weekend work parties of

boys and staff go into selected fields, forests andorchards to collect numerous varieties of seed pods,nuts, cones and other natural, dried materials. Thenduring the week,each sackful issorted, cleaned,drilled and wired.The cones and podsare then wiredtogether intodecorative arraysand then stored inboxes and bins inan old gymnasiumtransformed into awreath barn on theagency’s ChinoHills campus.

Altogether,more than threemillion individualpods and conesfrom as many as adozen varieties oftrees and plants are collected, prepared and storedeach year to await the holiday season.

The distinctive design of the cone, pod and fruit-studded Della Robbia wreath was inspired by theceramic wreath sculptures of the Della Robbia familyof artisans in 16th century Florence, Italy. MargaretFowler, a founder of Boys Republic, happened to seean original Della Robbia ceramic while vacationingin Europe in the early 1920’s, just at a time when shewas searching for a craft project that would teach thechildren in her care the value of honest labor. Shebrought the idea home with her and, in 1923, the firstfew dozen Della Robbia wreaths were made and solddoor-to-door for $2.50 each.

So successful was the project that the followingyear wreath production was increased to 107. It wasincreased again for the third year and again for thefourth. Wreath sales quickly grew to 500 per season,then 1,000, then 1,500.

In the early 1950’s, Boys Republic Board of

weekend work for hundreds of students a year andhelping Boys Republic raise nearly one-quarter ofits own annual operating budget. Proceeds fromwreath sales and other self-help activities anddonations represent a savings to taxpayers ofnearly $4 million a year.

Historic Campaign Enters 90th Season

Directors formalized the Della Robbia program,expanding it to serve as a key component in students’work experience activities and as a primary source ofsupplemental funding for the agency’s non-profitoperations. They converted an old, red brick

gymnasium on themain campus into apermanent wreathbarn and installedan automatedconveyer system tospeed the wreathsfrom each hand-assembly stage tothe next. By 1955,production hadswelled to 30,000wreaths per season.

Today, nearly40,000 DellaRobbias areproduced in a 13-day period betweenThanksgiving andmid-Decembereach year. But

despite that large volume, the wreaths are made asthey have always been made, carefully hand-tied, oneat a time.

Each wreath is packaged and ready to ship withinminutes of being completed. Most wreaths areshipped within 24 hours of manufacture. Thosehaving to wait an extra day are stored in a cooler tokeep them florist-fresh.

Della Robbias Evoke Holiday Charm and Joy(Continued from page 2 of “Della Robbia News”)

(Continued from front page of “Della Robbia News”)

WREATH MEDIA DAY: Last year, Boys Republic invited local media to view,first hand, the Della Robbia wreath production at the agency’s main campus inChino Hills, California. Boys Republic students, staff and local civic leadersraised a gigantic door mounted with a five-foot diameter Della Robbia.

Teaching BakeryDraws GenerousLead Gift

Chino Hills, CA: BooneFamily Foundation to name foodservices training facility after formerexecutive director, Max L. Scott.

FALL 2013 PAGE 5

STUDENT POWER: A masonry classwork crew digs footings to support thebakery’s new walk-in refrigerator.

PHILANTHROPIC FRIENDS: (from left)Max Scott, Mrs. Mary Lou Boone, NickBoone, Executive Director Chris Burns.

July 23, 2013 was an important day in the life ofBoys Republic’s evolving food services program.For, it was on this day that Mrs. Mary Lou Booneand her son Nick, of the Boone Family Foundation,toured the future home of the agency’s newestvocational training site — the Teaching Bakery.

Nutritional consultant Frank Frobisher walkedthe Boones and a group of administrators throughthe existing cafeteria space that will be convertedto a full-fledged bakery. Frobisher conveyed hisvision, “This will nearly double the enrollmentcapacity of our Food Services Class. Students willreceive school credit learning fundamentals of thebakery trade, while working on the samecommercial appliances they would encounter in thejob market. We serve three meals per day, here,and our bakery students will provide all of thebaked goods, actually lowering our overall foodcost!”

Frobisher’s excitement was apparentlycontagious. The Boones generously offeredsupport in the amount of $200,000 to fund one-halfthe project cost. They will name the new facilityafter their good friend, former Boys RepublicExecutive Director Max L. Scott.

“The Boone family has contributed generouslyto Boys Republic over the years,” said executivedirector Chris Burns, “not only financially, but withtheir time and knowledge, as well.”

Mary Lou Boone served as a member of BoysRepublic’s Board of Directors from 1984-1990.She continues as Director Emeritus and, in 2007took a leadership role in planning Boys Republic’s100th Anniversary event.

PAGE 6 BOYS REPUBLIC REPORT

Jay Davis Miles PetroffJoe Mendoza

The primary governing body of Boys Republic is a Board of Directors which, by tradition, ismade up entirely of volunteer citizens from communities served by the agency. The Board isself-perpetuating, electing its members from the ranks of Southern California’s leaders inbusiness, professional and civic life. Three recently elected Directors bring the panel’smembership to nineteem members.

Boys Republic Welcomes New Volunteer Leadership

Deputy Director, Los AngelesCounty Department of Parks andRecreation Joe Mendoza has morethan 35 years of experience in thefield of recreation services. Hiswork in building and maintainingcommunity recreational resourcesbrings him into frequent contactwith the same diverse populationthat Boys Republic serves —disadvantaged teenagers and theirfamilies. Mr. Mendoza serves uponBoys Republic’s Progam Planningand Development Committees.

Mr. Mendoza enjoys leisure-time activities with church andfamily. He resides in Whittier withhis wife, Pam. They have threechildren.

Community volunteer MilesPetroff retired from a 33-year careeras a data technician with Verizon.He devotes his abundant energy to alife-long pursuit of serving others,currently as District Governor(District 5300) of RotaryInternational. Through his Rotaryinvolvement, Petroff developed andimplemented a reading program inChino-area elementary schools,which was recognized by the SanBernardino County School Districtwith a Medal of Honor ExcellenceAward. He serves upon BoysRepublic’s Progam Planning andDevelopment Committees.

Miles and his wife Teresa enjoycamping. They live in Chino.

Attorney Jay Davis comes toBoys Republic with a careerbackground in banking and finance.Among several posts, he served asgeneral counsel for ManufacturersBank and, later, as partner at Bakerand McKenzie. In a nutsehll, Mr.Davis represented lenders andborrowers in commercialtransactions, acquiring a wealth ofexperience in finance. He isalready putting his knowledge toproductive use as Chairman of theFinance Committee on BoysRepublic’s Board of Directors.

Davis is an avid golfer. He andhis wife, Christine, live inPasadena. They have a son, Byron,and two grandchildren.

FALL 2013 PAGE 7

A memorial contribution toBoys Republic and GirlsRepublic is a meaningful way tohonor a special person, a specialevent or the memory of a friendor loved one. Your gift will reapa second benefit as well bycontributing directly to theprograms of Boys and GirlsRepublic. In this way, the honorpaid the designee will live onperpetually in the lives of thedeserving young people youhave helped.

The following are memorialand commemorativecontributions made from January1, 2013 through September 30,2013.

Memorials HonorSpecial People,Events, Through theLives of Children

Donor / In Memory of:Mrs. Mary R. Fuller /

Dr. Jene AitchisonMrs. Beverly Daugherty /

Sara ClarkPasadena Auxiliary of Boys

Republic / Betty BradyMr. & Mrs. Raoul J. Buron /

Dr. Theresa Jean BuronMrs. Louise Laub /

Eileen DonohoeMrs. Philippe Hammerness /

John EvansMrs. Louise M. Laub /

Eleanor FosterMax L. Scott /

Marianne GravesFriends of Boys Republic Auxiliary

/ Joyce HartMrs. Louise M. Laub /

Dean Justice

Mr. Max L. Scott /Warren Kittell

Mrs. Pat Hanna /Frank McAuliffe

Mr. Richard K. Freshman / Terry McQueen

Mr. John M. Montgomery / Steve & Teri McQueen

Pasadena Auxiliary of BoysRepublic /Barbara Salines Norman

Mr. & Mrs. Richard Williams /Richard Meyer

Mr. & Mrs. Richard Williams / David Patterson

Mrs. Louise M. Laub / Frances Peabody

Mrs. Louise M. Laub /Carol Pearson

Mr. & Mrs. Yank Sefton /Bette Sefton

Mrs. Ruth E. Legg /Mr. Richard Shirley

Mr. Donald Henry Thomas /Vincent Thomas

Pasadena Auxiliary of BoysRepublic /Edna Mae Tolbert

Toomey & Associates, Inc. / Joan C. Toomey

Mrs. Nadine Bosen /Garry Hodge’s mother

Donor / In Honor of:Peter& Mary Ann Abate /

The Abate/Frazier WeddingMrs. Barbara Blackman /

Odette AndersonMr. Max L. Scott /

Marjorie ReesMr. Max L. Scott /

Wesie LaubMr. John M. Montgomery /

Chad McQueenMr. Max L. Scott /

Barbara KittellMr. Max L. Scott /

Marie EckstromMr. Max L. Scott /

Claude A. Gammel

Mr. Max L. Scott /Annette Merle-Smith

In Memory of John SpalenkaMr. & Mrs. Dick JohnsonMrs. Mary JohnsonMrs. Louise LaubPasadena Auxiliary of Boys

RepublicJ B D PartnershipMr. Chris BurnsMr. & Mrs. Steve Sollman

In Memory of Robert TanklageMr. Thomas F. ReedMr. & Mrs. Bradley S. PooreMr. Cris G. BrodockMrs. Lucinda FetchenhierMr. & Mrs. Peter KompaniezMrs. Irene BaezMr. & Mrs. Paul KralMr. Stephen RadosMr. & Mrs. William Rouse &

FamilyMs. Marlene Roberts and FamilyMrs. Patricia UhrmannMr. & Mrs. Tom ParrishMr. & Mrs. George ChumoMrs. Jeanie GibsonMr. Doug Wetton

In Memory of William TilleyMr. Chris BurnsMr. Stephen T. PettiseMontebello Class of 57The Whip’R SnappersMr. David G. ElmoreMr. David GeratyMr. Al BaldwinMr. & Mrs. Mark DeBernardiMs. Joanne LeeMr. Gary HolmesGelson’s Markets

PAGE 8 BOYS REPUBLIC REPORT

Boys Republic Report

Boys Republic Report is publishedthree times yearly by Boys Republic,1907 Boys Republic Drive, ChinoHills, CA 91709. (909) 628-1217.

Boys Republic and Girls Republicare private, non-profit, non-sectarianagencies helping troubled children aged13 to 18. Rules for acceptance andparticipation in these programs are thesame for everyone without regard forrace, color, national origin, age, sex orhandicap.

on the front office, and you can bet they haveidentified him as an important person in theirfuture.

I was asked by family and faculty if we weresurprised as staff members of Boys Republic atAntonio’s success? The answer was simple – notone bit surprised, we all saw the potential, andAntonio left Boys Republic and never looked back.We welcome him back to the family after all ofthese years, especially this old caseworker, whoonce was taught by an accomplished teenager thathelp was a two-way street at Boys Republic.

(Continued from page 4)

At Boys Republic, Help is a Two-Way Street