After about an hour of steady drizzling, the late-afternoon sun broke through the clouds, and the Sally Hughes Church Amphitheater came alive with music and heartfelt sentiments as Rancho Cielo celebrated its 25th Anniversary on Saturday, October 25, 2025. The milestone event honored not just a nonprofit’s longevity but also its legacy of transformation, which has changed the course of thousands of young lives across Monterey County.
Founded in 2000 by former Monterey County Superior Court Judge John Phillips, Rancho Cielo started as a bold experiment on a 100-acre site of the former Natividad Boys Ranch. At that time, Judge Phillips had grown tired of seeing the same young people circulate through his courtroom. “If only we could reach these kids earlier,” he recalled, “they might have gone to college or started their careers. After years of sending young people to prison, I decided to try something different. That decision became Rancho Cielo.”
What began as a few classrooms has grown into a comprehensive educational and vocational campus serving over 2,250 students in the past 25 years. Today, every graduate leaves with a high school diploma, practical skills, and a plan for their future, whether that means entering the workforce, an apprenticeship or pursuing higher education.
Rancho Cielo’s success is built on deep community partnerships. Over the past 25 years, local businesses, civic organizations and volunteers have joined forces to create a model that blends education, counseling, mentorship and workforce development.
“This celebration is about more than our anniversary—it’s about the community that made Rancho Cielo possible,” said Chris Devers, CEO of Rancho Cielo. “We are honoring the belief that every young person has potential, and that belief has changed countless lives.”
In addition to honoring founders John and Patti Phillips, this special day also recognized Rancho Cielo’s longstanding advocates and champions, including Ted Balesteri, Susie Brusa, Bert Cutino, Bill Hayward and several others.
“25 years ago, [Rancho Cielo] was nothing,” said longtime supporter Joanne Taylor, whose generosity helped fund the construction of our Ted Taylor Vocational Center. “Look at [Rancho Cielo] now; it’s helped thousands of lives, and it keeps growing.”
“[Judge Phillips] merged vocation, education, purpose and self-worth to get these kids where they need to go. History shows what the success rate has been,” added honoree and board chair Pete Scudder.
The event’s award ceremony mirrored similar sentiments. Alumnus speaker Rudy Jimenez, owner of Green Thumb Farms and co-owner of the San Juan Bautista café Cultiva, exemplified success after Rancho Cielo.
“Rancho Cielo was a place where I could focus on my education instead of giving up on it,” Jimenez said. “[They] never gave up on me. I was held accountable. Today, I live with that same discipline in my life.”
Jimenez’s speech received a powerful standing ovation.
The beauty of the celebration filled the air, inspiring dancing. Even Judge Phillips rocked out during blues legend Chris Cain’s and Santana vocalist Tony Lindsay’s rendition of Ray Charles’s jam-laden “America the Beautiful.” Many guests joined in, dancing under the glowing dusk sky, immersed in the energy and joy that have become the hallmark of Rancho Cielo.
The Culinary Experience was another highlight, showcasing exquisite dishes prepared by chefs from the American Culinary Federation, Ardent Culinaire, Cultura, Folktale Winery & Vineyards, Sardine Factory, Santa Lucia Preserve and Rancho Cielo’s talented Drummond Culinary Academy students. The region’s best beverages from Folktale Winery & Vineyards, ROAR Wines, Talbott Vineyards, Alvarado Street Brewery and Other Brother Beer Co. flowed freely, celebrating the kindness of the local community that has fueled Rancho Cielo’s journey.
As Rancho Cielo looks ahead to the next 25 years, its vision stays clear: to keep empowering at-promise youth with the tools, training and trust they need to forge better futures. The night’s applause and shared pride made one thing obvious: Rancho Cielo isn’t just celebrating its history; it’s shaping it. (Photos by Bill Cox)
