The Poet and The Pilot
Anne and Hank Moller left everything behind to be where God wanted them to be.
So many times during our first twenty-five years in Mexico, we have come to places where, like the children of Israel by the Red Sea, there was no way – no way out; no way back, no way through. Yet God...
Anne L. Moller, Founder, April 1979
The History of Rancho del Rey
The Story of Anne and Hank Moller
When prayer becomes a calling
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A work built by faith
From the start, Rancho del Rey depended on God's provision rather than its own resources. When the time came to buy the property, the mission had nothing for the down payment, and an unexpected gift of $2,000 arrived in time. That moment remains a testament to God's faithfulness, and the same dependence on Him and sacrificial service has guided the ministry ever since.
In 1954, missionaries Hank and Anne Moller answered God's call to serve the most vulnerable children and families of northern Mexico. After a season of preparation and prayer, they founded Rancho del Rey with a purpose that has not changed in seventy years: to rescue, restore, and transform the lives of vulnerable children and adolescents.
The work began on San Nicolás, an old adobe hacienda of about 45 acres in Santiago, Nuevo León. The founders renamed it Rancho del Rey, because the work belonged to the King of Kings, Jesus Christ, and would exist to honor Him.
The people who carried the vision
As the need grew, so did the vision. An airplane carried supplies and Christian literature to remote communities, and volunteers from the United States came to build dormitories and a dining room so that more children could be cared for at once. Many gave their lives to the mission. Among them was Benjamin, who joined in its first year and whose care in daily operations and spiritual guidance shaped generations of children and staff.
Continuity of the legacy
After Anne Moller's passing in 2010, her son Daniel Moller took on the executive leadership. He continues to guide the mission by the same principles of faith, service, compassion, and dependence on God on which it was founded. Today Rancho del Rey remains committed to its original purpose: to rescue, restore, and reintegrate children and adolescents in a safe, family-like, Christ-centered home where each one can discover their worth, develop their potential, and live with hope.
The milestones along the way, from the arrival of the first children to the programs of today, are told in our timeline.
A legacy of transformation
For seven decades, children and teenagers from Monterrey and across Mexico have found at Rancho del Rey a home, a family, and the chance to build a different future. Many are now parents, professionals, spiritual leaders, and active members of their communities: living proof of the restorative power of love, faith, and faithful accompaniment.
The story of Rancho del Rey is not just the story of an institution. It is the story of restored lives, transformed families, and generations touched by the grace of God.
From A Dream To A Reality
Every story begins somewhere. Ours began with a belief that every child deserves dignity, opportunity, and a community that fights for their future.
Today
A Home Built for Healing
Rancho del Rey is situated in the dramatic Huajuco Valle between two ranges of the Sierra Madre Mountains, in the northern state of Nuevo Leon, Mexico (about 45 minutes outside Monterrey). The campus was once an orange plantation, which now provides a spacious setting for boys to grow, learn, play, and find new beginnings.
Why Rancho del Rey
Why We Are Different
Offering A Home To Boys Without One
The ranch provides a home to boys when their own family life becomes untenable for whatever reason. It doesn't replace their family; it is a safe haven for boys, aged 6-16, who need a stable place to call home for a period of their lives.
Our Vision
“To see every hurting child grow into wholeness and abundant life.”
Our Mission
Rescue.Restore.Reintegrate.
To rescue poor, abused, orphaned, and abandoned children; to rescue them from the vicious generational cycle into which they were born; to restore them to full health and reintegrate them into a healthier, more stable family environment.
Our children
Rancho Del Rey values, above all, our children, who are the "stars" of the story of Rancho Del Rey, the survivors, the conquerors, and the achievers. We love them through thick and thin.
Our team
Rancho Del Rey values its hard-working, skillful, and passionate team and is committed to providing excellent working conditions and resources, fair pay, and a rewarding, collegial environment.
Our community
Rancho Del Rey values its community and has a long-standing commitment to local partnerships and collegial relationships with neighbors and local businesses.
Our government partners
Rancho Del Rey values its governmental counterparts and works closely with Child Protection Services to provide excellent care and transparent reporting.
Our children's caregivers
Rancho Del Rey values our children's biological caregivers, whose hearts need healing, too.
Lasting relationships
Rancho Del Rey values the power of long-term relationships, of connections to heal and support growth. Once family, always family.
Once family, always family.
Our ministry advocates
Rancho Del Rey values its ministry advocates — donors, volunteers, professional colleagues, and prayer partners from all over the world. You are family, too.
A Foot In The U.S. A Foot In Mexico
Working together to make support easy from either country
We are supported by families and organizations in both the United States and Mexico. We are aligned so that anyone, no matter where they are, can support our mission. If you want to contribute in US Dollars, we operate as Mission Del Rey from Texas. If you want to contribute in Mexican Pesos, we operate as El Rancho Del Rey from Nuevo Leon. Both organizations operate solely with a focus on the success of Rancho del Rey.
How Your Money Is Used
87% 87% Goes Directly to the Boys
Your gift becomes meals, medicine, education, and the steady presence of people who care. Join the story that has been changing lives since 1956.
- Programs for the Boys87%
- Support Costs8%
- Fund Raising5%
Screening Process
How Families Find the Ranch
We don't advertise. People find us.
We Aren't The Right Solution For Everyone
Getting it right keeps everyone safe
Everyone Is Part Of The Solution
Caregivers are needed more than ever in the next steps
What Success Looks Like
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Welcome to RDR
Welcoming a New Child
A boy's first days are gentle and unhurried — safety, rest, and reassurance so he knows he has arrived somewhere he can trust.
Selecting A House Family
Every boy is thoughtfully matched to a house family suited to his age and needs, so he grows up with consistent parents and housemates who become his home.
Life Begins Anew
Once settled, each boy is introduced to daily life at the ranch — his house family, his routines, and the people who walk with him from day one.
Measuring Progress By Benchmarks
Growth is tracked against clear, individual benchmarks across health, learning, and relationships — so every next step is intentional.
Integrated Support
Health & Integrated Care
On-site medical, dental, and mental-health care so every boy arrives, heals, and grows in good health — the whole child, from first check-up to ongoing therapy.
Nutrition
Balanced, nourishing meals shared around a family table — restoring growing bodies and turning mealtimes into moments of belonging.
Academics
Individualized education that meets each boy where he is — closing learning gaps, building study habits, and opening a future he can choose.
Physical Fitness
Sports, play, and daily movement that rebuild strength, discipline, and confidence, while teaching teamwork and healthy routines.
Mentoring
Caring mentors walk alongside every boy — modeling character, celebrating milestones, and reminding him he is known and valued.
Home Support
Every boy lives with a dedicated house family in a real home, not an institution — steady adults, shared chores, and the rhythms that make a house feel safe.
RDR Family Labs
Hands-on labs where boys and their families practice the skills of healthy family life so progress at the ranch takes root at home.
New Beginnings
A Fresh Start
With stability restored, each boy steps into new opportunity — new confidence, new skills, and a new sense of what his life can become.
Mentorship
Long-term mentorship covers every part of a boy's journey home, from life-skills training to encouragement that lasts beyond his time at the ranch.
Family Celebration Days
Weekend events built just for families keep the bond alive — food, milestones, and shared joy that remind every boy he belongs to a family.
Social & Emotional Growth
Guided by counselors and house parents, boys learn to name their feelings, resolve conflict, and build friendships that carry them forward.