Changing Lives … One Boy at a Time
In 2022, Cherokee Creek Boys School (CCBS) became a proud member of Choose Mental Health, a national non-profit addressing the needs of adolescent mental health. Their mission closely aligns with ours … focusing on access to appropriate care for teens and equipping parents and caregivers with tools to help their children.
That same year, we launched the Fire Keepers Scholarship Fund (managed by Choose Mental Health) to support students needing additional financial help to complete their time at CCBS. The scholarship was introduced alongside our 20th Anniversary Celebration in spring 2023.
A generous CCBS family stepped forward as our Founding Major Gift Donors, offering a remarkable $200,000 matching gift! Thanks to the generosity of 166 friends from around the globe, we met that $200,000 goal.
To date, seven families have received support through the Fire Keepers Scholarship Fund via Choose Mental Health!
Why Mental Health Support Matters for Boys
Today’s teens face extraordinary pressures. According to the CDC, nearly 1 in 3 adolescents report feeling persistently sad or hopeless, and suicide is the second leading cause of death for ages 10 – 14. Boys are particularly at risk, as cultural stigmas often discourage them from seeking help.
Therapeutic boarding schools like CCBS provide a safe, structured environment where boys ages 10 – 15 receive academic, emotional and social support. Families often tell us that the combination of therapy, outdoor adventure, strong academics and mentorship has been life-changing … not just for their son, but for the entire family.
As mental health advocate Patrick J. Kennedy once said: “No one should suffer in silence. Mental health needs a great deal of attention … it’s the final frontier of social justice.”
At CCBS, we are proud to be part of that important work.
BOTO the Bear, Our Mascot and Reminder
The inspiration for our fundraising ride comes from our school mascot, BOTO the Bear.
BOTO stands for “Be Open To Outcome” … an important reminder we share with boys and families every day at CCBS.
BOTO’s motto encourages resilience, flexibility and a willingness to embrace growth … even when the path forward looks different than expected.
BOTO’s Big Ride 2025: Raising Awareness and Funds
In 2024, we launched BOTO’s Big Ride, a 350-mile cycling journey from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C., led by Executive Director, David LePere.
Friends of CCBS and supporters of teen mental health followed the team’s progress and donated along the way, helping us meet our scholarship goals.
2024 Team’s Ride to Cross the Finish Line in D.C.
And now, we have BIG news to share!
This September, David will again lead a team of cyclists in BOTO’s Big Ride 2025 … a 265-mile journey from Kansas City, MO, to St. Louis, MO.
Their Goal
To raise both awareness and funds for adolescent mental health!
BOTO will share updates as the ride approaches and we invite you to be part of this exciting journey with us.
Message from David LePere, Executive Director
“Every mile we ride in BOTO’s Big Ride is a reminder that no boy or family should walk through mental health struggles alone.
At CCBS, we see the difference that hope, support and community can make. This ride is about raising awareness, but more importantly, it’s about changing lives … one boy at a time.”
Every Mile Matters, Every Dollar Counts!
HOW YOU CAN HELP*
Online Donation —
- Either click the blue ‘Donate!’ button or scan the QR code to be redirected to our Choose Mental Health donation page.
- Once you’re on our Choose Mental Health donation page, click one of the yellow ‘Donate’ buttons at the top of their page to make your donation.
Donation via Check —
- Make Check Out to: Choose Mental Health
- Add to Memo Field: ‘Cherokee Creek Boys School’ (earmarks donation for CCBS)
- Mail Check to: Choose Mental Health; 870 W Center Street; Orem UT 84057
*Choose Mental Health is a 501(c)3 nonprofit and will supply donors with appropriate tax documentation.
NOTE: Choose Mental Health is the 501(c)3 that manages this Scholarship Account. Cherokee Creek Educational Programs is a 501(c)3 we are affiliated with, but it does not permit scholarships and does not have a doubling opportunity.
Together, we can support teen mental health.
One mile … and one boy … at a time.
Teen Mental Health Snapshot
- 1 in 3 teens report feeling persistently sad or hopeless (CDC, 2023).
- Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for ages 10–14.
- Boys are less likely than girls to seek help for emotional struggles.
- Therapeutic boarding schools like CCBS provide academic, emotional and social support in a safe, structured setting … helping boys and families heal together.
“Be Open To Outcome” is more than a motto.
It’s a path to hope and healing.
Think your son can benefit from our CCBS therapeutic boarding school?
Call to request more information about admissions.