December 6th marks the 15th Anniversary of Sunridge Ranch. It’s hard to believe how far we’ve come and how far our sons have matured in this period. From the humble beginnings of the original Sunridge Ranch to the addition of (2) more homes and the Trellis Center.

Sandy and I couldn’t be happier with the lives our guys enjoy and look forward to the next 15 years.

- Joe and Sandy

Joe & Sandy,

It’s taken me a little while to write this, because I wanted to take my time and express it in a way that truly reflects how much you all mean to me.
As Sunridge celebrates your 15th anniversary, I want to share something that is difficult to put into words without tearing up.

You have changed McCrea's life and changed mine and the lives of everyone in our family.
For so many years, I carried a picture in my mind of the world I wished my son could live in, somewhere where he would be understood, supported, included, and surrounded by people who truly saw him and how wonderful he is. Somewhere he could be happy in the most genuine, everyday sense of the word ... laughing, thriving, belonging, living a life that felt full and meaningful.

I wished for this for most of his life and somehow, impossibly, it came true, because of you.
Since moving to Sunridge Ranch, McCrea has become one of the happiest people I know. His confidence, his joy, his stability, his sense of home, are gifts beyond measure. To see him living in a community designed with such care and intention, is something I will never stop being grateful for. The changes in the last year have been amazing. He came home for Thanksgiving having full conversations with me and expressing his happiness clearly.

All of your dedication has given him a life I didn’t know how to hope for. And you’ve given me something I never expected either, peace and true hope for his future. The kind of peace that comes from knowing your child is safe, supported, and truly thriving. It has changed my life, and it has profoundly touched the lives of his siblings as well. We all feel it every time we see him smile.
Thank you for building this extraordinary place 15 years ago. Thank you for every effort, every moment of vision, every ounce of love that went into this very special environment. I can't name all the many people I am grateful for at Sunridge/Trellis, it's such an amazing group.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Happy 15th anniversary!

With immense gratitude and love,
- Connie

Hello Joe & Sandy,

It is wonderful to recognize this important date; thank you for reminding us. It is worthy of remembrance and celebration. This is an incredible milestone for the Sunridge community. Our family and Steve, most importantly, have benefitted immeasurably from your vision for a better model of life for our sons. We are so grateful to both of you for your determination to bring this concept into reality and most of all your continued hard work to adapt and grow and make our sons best lives possible.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

- Trish & Al

Joe & Sandy,

I remember when we sat in a restaurant in Mukilteo and you laid out the plan for Sunridge 1 and Trellis Center. It was a remarkable dream that came true for all of us on this email chain. I am extremely proud to be a part of this dream and feel blessed that you and Sandy had the vision, desire, guts to move forward. What you have built in the last 15 years is remarkable. I thank you for all of your hard work that you provide every day even after 15 years of this vision.

I cannot express enough my gratitude of what you have built of our boys and us as parents. You truly are two very special people.

Thank you!

Cory

Joe and Sandy,

First, congratulations. 15 years is amazing at any job. To have the stamina with this population is much greater than that. It's phenomenal.

We at SR2 are grateful for the ability to be part of this community. Not a day goes by that we don't realize what a gift this is.

Your sacrifice daily is noticed. We are so grateful. Both of you work on behalf of this community seven days a week. Not only on the floor supporting our sons but constantly improving, repairing, investing, learning and supporting more. None of us can fully understand what you've given us.

Thank you is not enough.

Congratulations and thank you for your endless sacrifice.

♥️ Deanna

Thanks for the great summary of the last 15 years. We were late comers to the party, but we appreciate the vision and hard work both you and Sandy put into Sunridge and Trellis. As Joanne and I used to say, we felt we won the lottery the day we were able to send Scott there. It has given him the opportunity to live his best life, and honestly the same for me.

Thanks to the two of you for all your hard work and dedication to making it successful.

- Bill

Joe & Sandy -

Thanks Joe for this great summary of our journey (I’m going to forward it to Tyler’s siblings). It’s truly amazing how far we've come when we look back to the beginning. Becky and I often talk about the early days when Trellis was in the basement with grow boxes and a picnic table outside. We’re continually amazed at how far it’s all progressed. When we fast forward to today, its hard to imagine a finer facility and program for our guys. Thanks to the two of you for your vision and drive in making this all happen!

- Jon & Becky

Joe & Sandy -

Thank you for stepping back and remembering how far we have all come from those early days. Of course, this could never have happend without the dedication, foresight and hard work of you two. It is truly an inspiration. I remember the neighbors, including a State legislator, joining forces to oppose the very concept and construction of Sunridge. Then there was the challenge of getting the State to even support and pay for any of our Houseparents. Your choice of Ellensburg turned out to be brilliant. Having access to student employees and volunteers is vital to Trellis’s mission.

I agree that Trellis is ultimately the heart of our Sunridge community. Hard to believe they were once in the basement of Sunridge 1. Ultimately, the labor issues are larger than at least I ever envisioned and will continue to be so in the future. But I think of how much our boys are benefited every single Trellis Day and I wouldn’t want Jake anywhere else.

You two have created a model that other parents of disabled adults are following now and in the future. I can’t thank you enough for all you have done for Jake and his family. Every visit home, Jake’s first question is when he is going back to the ranch and Trellis. Hard to believe he had been there for all those 15 years.

- John

Joe & Sandy -

Awesome we’ve been around for 15 years! Nice recap, Joe! You and Sandy are true visionaries and we feel so grateful to have been part of it all.

Thank you,

- Alison

Joe & Sandy -

What you, Sandy and the pioneers before us have created is unique and amazing. I’ll speak for myself that John has blossomed like a flower. He knows Sunridge 3 is his home. He feels safe and his confidence continues to grow.
Thank you for sharing this and congratulations on your (our 😊) anniversary. We are truly grateful for the way God has blessed us all through your calling. We look forward to supporting the continued growth and lasting legacy of Sunridge Ranch and The Trellis Center for years to come.

With gratitude,

- Annie