Joyce Sterkel has facilitated adoptions of children from orphanages in Russia and has helped create successful experiences with US based families for many years. When there were cases where families had difficulties, they would contact her out of frustration or desperation and she began to try to be of assistance to them. She offered respite to the family struggling with a child who had adaptive challenges and took on the kids to help them ease into their new circumstances more easily.

Joyce opened Ranch for Kids after recognizing the needs were greater than she personally had capacity for. She, her husband and older children became the staff and caregivers for children who, due to abusive or traumatic childhood histories, often accompanied by issues related to fetal alcohol syndrome, were violent and rebellious in their adoptive families.

Joyce is an angel on earth. She has been able to help hundreds of children to adapt successfully to their new life and new family. She has helped parents to realize their dream of having a loving family life with the children they have adopted. But in some instances, when families bring their children to Joyce, they never come back. Joyce has not abandoned these kids yet again, but instead, taken them in and given them the family experience they need. We are honored to bestow the Humanitarian of the Year Award upon Joyce Sterkel!