NEW LONDON, Wis. — For six decades the Rawhide organization has worked to transform the lives of Wisconsin youth and families
Founded in 1965 by John and Jan Gillespie with the help of Green Bay Packers legend Bart Starr and his wife Cherry, Rawhide began as a boys’ ranch offering a safe, structured environment for court-referred youth. Back then, the mission wasn’t labeled “mental health” — it was simply love, discipline, and dignity for every child.
Since then, Rawhide has grown into one of Wisconsin’s most trusted youth-serving organizations, with 10 locations offering:
- Outpatient mental health counseling for youth and families
- School-based and in-home services
- Equine-assisted therapy
- Residential care
- Behavioral job training in welding, culinary arts, and automotive repair — available to both
- Rawhide residents and local high school students
On Friday, August 15, 2025, Rawhide Youth Services is celebrating 60 years. They’re hosting an event on the Rawhide campus in New London from 2–7 p.m.
Kaleb Schad, Director of Strategy and Marketing joined Hayley Tenpas on Focus Fox Valley to talk about the event and the organization’s impact over the past 6 decades.
