At The BOLO Project, we believe in building confident, resilient, purpose-driven teens—and this fall, they’re putting those values into action through a powerful service project supporting The Gentle Barn.

The Gentle Barn is a sanctuary for rescued animals who have experienced neglect, abuse, or abandonment. But it’s more than a farm—it’s a healing space where animals and people alike come to find peace, connection, and compassion. Through hands-on visits with animals, children and underserved youth learn empathy, kindness, and the value of all life. That’s a mission that speaks straight to the hearts of our BOLO students.

Why This Matters

Last summer, our teens raised $2,500 for Big Heart Ranch, and they’re back to do it again—$2,500 for The Gentle Barn. Every dollar raised will help fund life-saving care for animals and give more students the chance to visit the sanctuary, where the bond between animals, people, and the planet becomes deeply real.

The Gentle Barn’s founders, Ellie and Jay, created this magical place to help animals recover—and in turn, to help people heal too. Through stories and experiences, they’re reconnecting people to nature, to animals, and to themselves. Our BOLO teens are proud to stand alongside that mission.

Who Are The BOLO Project Teens?

BOLO students are high schoolers from diverse backgrounds with one shared goal: to grow into compassionate, purpose-driven leaders. In our program, they learn real-world skills like communication, financial literacy, leadership, and resilience—all through the unique perspective of the dog-human bond.

Now, they’re applying those lessons in a real-world campaign to support a cause they care deeply about.

Why The Gentle Barn?

Founded in 1999, The Gentle Barn has rescued thousands of animals and welcomed over 950,000 visitors—many of them children who come away transformed. Located on a six-acre sanctuary in Santa Clarita, California, the barn is home to nearly 200 animals, from cows to chickens, horses to goats. It’s a place of peace in a noisy world, where reverence for life is taught not through textbooks, but through touch, eye contact, and love.

Our students are inspired by The Gentle Barn’s belief that by healing animals, we help heal ourselves—and that every person has the power to make a difference.

Make a Difference: Donate Today

Help us raise $2,500 to support The Gentle Barn’s mission and give our students the experience of leading meaningful change. Your donation supports both rescued animals and the next generation of compassionate leaders.

Whether it’s $5 or $50, your gift matters. Be part of something powerful.

Donate now. Share the story. Change a life.

Together, we are stronger. Together, we make a difference.

Help Us Support The Gentle Barn this Summer!

Empowering Teens, Transforming Lives: Join Us in Supporting The Gentle Barn!

Team Members