Special Feature:
Interview with Dennis Quaid Star of Upcoming Film, Reagan
Dear Friends,
God gave us freedom. It is up to us to protect it.
At Young America’s Foundation, we are training the next generation of leaders in the fight for freedom.
In this edition of Libertas, you will read about many of our dynamic programs and initiatives for students, including our High School Conference at the Reagan Ranch, Standing Up for Faith & Freedom Seminar, and proIsrael flag display.
YAF’s programs are more than mere rallies. We inspire and equip students to make a difference on their campuses, in their schools, and throughout their communities.
Peter Schweizer, a YAF alumnus and Board of Directors member, is a great example of the impact our programs have on young people. He attended a YAF conference as a high school student, and that experience changed his life. This issue highlights Peter’s latest New York Times bestselling book, Blood Money, which exposes the connection between the Chinese Communist Party and America’s open southern border.
Additionally, YAF’s campus lectures are growing, reaching increasing numbers of students nationwide with conservative ideas. During this past school year, we hosted more lectures than ever before, bringing Ben Shapiro, Michael Knowles, Yeonmi Park, Dr. Ben Carson, and many other conservative leaders to college campuses.
When the Left attempts to shut down our students’ activism, as they did when the YAF chapter at the University of California, Los Angeles, recently sought to host a pro-Israel speaker, we take them to court. Just as YAF won a landmark free speech victory against the University of California, Berkeley, we will win against UCLA.
In addition to supporting our students, YAF seeks to work with like-minded organizations to help grow the Conservative Movement. I encourage you to read about how we share our Reagan Ranch and Reagan Ranch Center facilities with our ideological allies.
Speaking of Rancho del Cielo, we are thrilled that the Ranch is featured in the upcoming movie, Reagan, including the tear-jerking closing scene. You will find inside this edition a special interview with Dennis Quaid, who stars in the film along with Jon Voight.
To be released on August 30, Reagan is an excellent opportunity for YAF to draw attention to our mission and student programs at the Reagan Ranch in California and Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home in Illinois. In particular, we are working with YAF’s supporters to provide students nationwide with tickets to see the movie.
On behalf of the young people we serve, thank you for your support. We are grateful for our students and their families, alumni, supporters, staff, and allies.
Keep fighting for freedom,
Governor Scott Walker President
LIBERTAS
8 How Young America’s Foundation Partners with Conservative Organizations to Promote Freedom
By Raj Kannappan, Editor
13 Bringing Ronald Reagan Back to the Big Screen: An Interview with Dennis Quaid
18 Shellenberger, Di Martino, and Scanlan Inspire High Schoolers at the Reagan Ranch
23 YAF’s Campus Lectures Empower Students Nationwide
By Breana Marsh, Campus Events Coordinator
Libertas, the Latin word for liberty, is a publication of Young America’s Foundation which highlights the programs, events, students, alumni, supporters, and staff of the Foundation. You may contact Libertas and Young America’s Foundation by writing to: Young America’s Foundation, National Headquarters, 11480 Commerce Park Drive, Sixth Floor, Reston, Virginia 20191; calling 800-USA-1776; or visiting yaf.org.
Editor: Raj Kannappan; Publisher: Governor Scott Walker; Publication Design: Jonathan Briggs; Assistant Editors: Jason Barbour, Patrick X. Coyle, Katie Cupp, Isabella Dini, Nicole Gillis, Madison Habersetzer, Clare Hinshaw, Luke Hruska, Jordan Janson, Jessica Jensen, Jasmyn Jordan, Breana Marsh, Michael Mastrianna, Chris Miranda, Irenge Nkere, Nino Palombo, Gabe Rader, Felicity Schmidt, Mary
Eric & Nicole Hoplin
Ann Knapheide
Mark Larson
Rebekah Mercer
Dennis & Nancy Moore
Doug & Pat Perry
Larry R. Polhill
Rear Admiral JJ Quinn
Ruppert & Cheryl Reinstadler
Richard & Jane Schwartz
Bernadette Casey Smith
Thomas F. & Joan D. Streiff
Tonette
Jay Webber
National Journalism Center Board Of Governors
T. Kenneth Cribb, Jr.
Emily Jashinsky
The Honorable Alex Mooney
O’Connor
Tom Winter Emeritus
Wetterling; Washington, D.C., event photographers: David Keith and Bob Updegrove; California event photographers: Zach Mendez and Jacqueline Pilar; Illinois event photographer: Alex Rodriquez. This document and all herein contents, images, stories, graphics, and design, fall unto copyright © 2005 to 2024 Young America’s Foundation, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Any use of Libertas content without the written permission of Young America’s Foundation is prohibited.
By Andrew Coffin, Vice President & Director of the Reagan Ranch
By Madison Habersetzer, Conference Director & Development Associate
YAF Student Activists Stand with Israel
Since the Start of hamaS’ war againSt iSrael in october 2023, Young America’s Foundation has equipped students on college campuses across the country to stand with Israel and challenge the radical terroristsympathizers who have sought to silence conservatives and Jewish students.
As pro-Hamas encampments and violent riots have spread nationwide, YAF student activists have been on the frontlines, constructing beautiful flag displays—in honor of the American and Israeli victims of Hamas—on some of the most embattled campuses in the country.
For example, at Columbia University—on a lawn directly across from the Hamas encampment—YAF staff mobilized
quickly to join students in planting American and Israeli flags, one for each victim of the October 7 attack on Israel.
At Harvard University, YAF supported Shabbos Kestenbaum, a Divinity School student who spearheaded this project on campus. Kestenbaum stated,
Through the generous support of YAF, Jewish students and proud Americans were able to display our patriotism in the face of illegal, pro-terror encampments at our university.
At Saint Louis University, even after a YAF student was assaulted by a pro-Hamas radical upset by the sight of an Israeli flag, the Foundation’s student activists woke up at the break of dawn to set up this flag project.
Despite the Left’s violence and intimidation, YAF activists have also erected flag displays at the University of Texas, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), among numerous other campuses.
Additionally, YAF is taking legal action against UCLA, Rutgers University, and Northwestern University, which have encouraged pro-Hamas radicals while suppressing pro-Israel speech.
For example, UCLA YAF Chairman Matthew Weinberg—with the Foundation’s support—is challenging the university’s violation of students’ First Amendment rights after administrators unconstitutionally blocked his club’s pro-Israel campus lecture featuring Jihad Watch Founder Robert Spencer.
To participate in Young America’s Foundation’s proIsrael activism initiatives, please visit YAF.org/Israel.
UCLA YAF Chairman Matthew Weinberg appears on Fox Business’s Mornings with Maria to discuss how campus administrators blocked his YAF chapter’s event featuring Jihad Watch Founder Robert Spencer.
YAF’s flag display at Harvard Divinity School stands in stark contrast to the pro-Hamas demonstrations led by radical students and even faculty members.
YAF Alumnus & Director Peter Schweizer’s Bestseller, Blood Money, Exposes Threat of Communist China
aS top government officialS Seek to conceal the chineSe government ’ S intervention in america’S affairS, Young America’s Foundation Director Peter Schweizer is once again exposing the truth in his latest book, Blood Money: Why the Powerful Turn a Blind Eye While China Kills Americans
In his eighth New York Times bestseller, Schweizer reveals the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) covert operations in the American drug trade, social justice movement, and medical establishment—all in an effort to create chaos in the United States.
Schweizer and his team of investigators dedicated more than two years to thoroughly researching Chinese military documents, reviewing reams of American financial records, and scrutinizing U.S. public officials’ investments and family businesses. In the process, they have implicated President Joe Biden and several other national leaders.
Schweizer’s path to becoming a renowned author and investigator began when he attended YAF’s National Conservative Student Conference in 1982 as a high schooler.
There, he gained inspiration from prominent conservative leaders who shared ideas that were often overlooked or denigrated in the classroom. YAF continues to provide these essential opportunities today to thousands of college, high school, and middle school students.
“YAF meant the world to me when I was starting out, and it still does. No other organization reaches conservative students so effectively and so thoughtfully,” Schweizer remarked, underscoring the enduring impact of YAF on his life and career.
Schweizer went on to serve as YAF’s director of academic affairs and an editor of the Foundation’s publications, a William J. Casey Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution, and a speechwriter during the George W. Bush administration.
He has since earned a reputation as a dogged investigative journalist and bestselling author whose other influential books include Red-Handed, Secret Empires, and Clinton Cash.
Today, Schweizer serves as the founder and president of the Government Accountability Institute, the mission of which is to investigate and expose crony capitalism, misuse of taxpayer funds, and other governmental corruption or malfeasance. He remains deeply involved with YAF’s mission through his service on the Foundation’s Board of Directors and his frequent speeches to YAF audiences nationwide.
Through his continued work with YAF and relentless pursuit of truth, Schweizer exemplifies the values of integrity, patriotism, and intellectual curiosity that the Foundation strives to instill in young people.
Schweizer’s latest book warns Americans about the Chinese Communist Party’s covert operations in the United States.
In his first YAF campus lecture following the publication of his book, Blood Money, Peter Schweizer speaks to hundreds of students and community members at Cedarville University.
Kengor, Horn, and Coughlin Headline Standing Up for Faith & Freedom Seminar
StudentS from 35 collegeS and high SchoolS gathered at Young america’S foundation’S national headquarterS in reSton, virginia, for the annual Standing Up for Faith & Freedom Seminar.
YAF launched this unique program in 2015 after recognizing a gap in the Conservative Movement. Student leaders are most effective when they address issues that match up with the concerns of students on their campuses. Decades of teaching young people how to identify and respond to issues specific to their campuses demonstrated to YAF that students at Catholic schools needed specialized training.
The Catholic Church is the largest non-governmental operator of schools in America, educating millions of students every year. These students routinely face leftist administrators and teachers who distort Church teaching to advance the Left’s agenda. YAF is committed to ensuring that all students, no matter what type of school they attend, receive the most effective support and training to advance conservative ideas at their schools.
At this year’s seminar, economist Dr. Jay Richards of the Heritage Foundation spoke about the morality of free enterprise and was followed by Mary Rice Hasson of the Ethics & Public Policy Center, who discussed how radical transgender ideology attacks human dignity.
The program featured a dynamic session with Seamus Coughlin, creator of the popular FreedomToons YouTube channel, who presented a clear and compelling argument for the natural relationship between conservative values and Catholic teaching.
Given the rising popularity of socialism among Generation Z, the seminar included engaging remarks from
Venezuelan freedom activist Daniel Di Martino, who analyzed socialism according to the seven deadly sins—based on his experience growing up under a socialist dictatorship. The president emeritus of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, Ambassador Andrew Bremberg, then provided guidance on effectively challenging the false promises of communism.
Author and historian Dr. Paul Kengor equipped students to dispel the myths of diversity, equity, and inclusion policies via a historical journey through the Catholic Church’s fight against slavery and promotion of human dignity.
Trent Horn, a popular author and Catholic Answers staff apologist, taught a session on how to persuasively make the case for the right to life.
Students also heard from YAF Director and Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women President Kimberly Begg, who inspired them with a lecture titled “Moral Courage in a Post-Truth World.”
The program concluded with practical activism training led by YAF Legacy Society & Development Relations Director Clare Hinshaw and a panel discussion featuring Foundation staff members Alejandro Flores, program officer for campus advancement; Gabby Dankanich, Capitol Hill outreach director; and Nick Baker, New Guard assistant editor.
Annika Bell from the University of Dallas remarked at the end of the seminar,
Coming from a Catholic liberal arts school, I want to be able to support my beliefs with facts and effective arguments, and this conference has helped me understand how to do that.
Students enjoy learning how to effectively persuade their peers at Catholic colleges and schools with conservative values.
Author Trent Horn signs copies of his book, Persuasive Pro-Life, for seminar attendees.
Remembering Thomas L. Phillips
Young america’S foundation mournS the paSSing of thomaS l. phillipS, a longtime supporter of YAF, loyal member of the Foundation’s boards, and leader whose legacy of profoundly impacting the Conservative Movement will endure in the years ahead.
Governor Scott Walker, YAF’s president, noted, “YAF was blessed by Tom’s lifelong involvement in nearly every aspect of Young America’s Foundation.”
Ron Robinson, YAF’s former president and a longtime friend of Phillips, remarked,
Tom Phillips made enormous contributions to freedom’s cause. His leadership abilities became apparent when he was a YAF leader at Dartmouth during the Goldwater and Reagan eras and as a brilliant marketer at Phillips Publishing. He was a valued friend, colleague, and mentor.
Phillips was passionate about investing in young people and, in particular, young journalists. He established The Phillips Foundation to train young journalists and support their work to promote American culture and a free society. He also created and funded the Ronald Reagan College Leaders Scholarship Program to support conservative students in their education. His generosity benefited countless YAF alumni and rising journalists.
A lifelong supporter of Young America’s Foundation and member of YAF’s boards, Thomas L. Phillips speaks at the 20 th anniversary dinner of YAF’s National Conservative Student Conference in Washington, D.C.
Ranch, a YAF project that was in its infancy at the time.
Phillips was a lifelong evangelist for YAF’s cause, frequently hosting groups of family members, friends, and associates at the Reagan Ranch and organizing receptions in his homes.
Phillips served on YAF’s Board of Directors, the Reagan Ranch Board of Governors, and the National Journalism Center Board of Governors, the latter of which he chaired for many years. He remained a director emeritus on each of these boards until his passing.
He generously supported YAF’s mission in countless ways, including by sponsoring the Foundation’s Thomas Phillips Lecture Series—a popular annual student event at the Conservative Political Action Conference. In 1999, he gave a momentous $1 million gift to protect and preserve the Reagan
He was also a driving force in promoting conservative principles in his business career, especially through his ownership of Human Events, the Conservative Book Club, and Eagle Publishing. An entrepreneur, talented businessman, and publishing pioneer, he grew a two-newsletter, three-employee business out of his garage into the wildly successful Phillips International.
In 1998, Attorney General Ed Meese told an audience of YAF supporters, “There is no one more important to the Conservative Movement today than Tom Phillips.”
The positive influence Phillips had on thousands of young people nationwide will be felt for generations to come.
How Young America’s Foundation Partners with Conservative Organizations to Promote Freedom
By Raj Kannappan, Editor
In his prescient 1989 farewell address, President Ronald Reagan told the nation, “Younger parents aren’t sure that an unambivalent appreciation of America is the right thing to teach modern children...Our spirit is back, but we haven’t reinstitutionalized it.”
Since its founding, Young America’s Foundation has built a track record of “reinstitutionalizing” the spirit of patriotism by teaching the ideas of individual freedom, a strong national defense, free enterprise, and traditional values to increasing numbers of students.
However, we are often asked, does YAF work with other like-minded organizations to find common ground and multiply its impact?
The clear answer is yes. To achieve our core mission, YAF routinely partners with fellow conservative organizations to broadly promote freedom and expand the Conservative Movement. This effort began in our early years, when, for instance, the American Conservative Union and YAF served as the founding organizers and sponsors
of the Conservative Political Action Conference, an annual gathering that has taken place since 1974.
Like YAF, many conservative organizations today do impactful work in their respective areas.
For instance, the Heritage Foundation develops and boldy promotes conservative public policy ideas. The Federalist Society ensures the principles of limited government embodied in the Constitution are respected in our legal system. And the American Legislative Exchange Council organizes state legislators nationwide to promote efficient and accountable government for all Americans.
The success of each conservative organization is critical to spreading the principles of freedom to more Americans, especially those who have never been exposed to these ideas. Additionally, the healthy competition created by the success of each organization encourages each institution’s leadership and staff to set their own sights higher.
Regarding YAF’s cooperation with like-minded groups, one should first look to YAF’s alumni currently serving in key leadership roles of conservative organizations. As an entryway for young people into the Conservative Movement, the Foundation encourages students to pursue careers serving our cause.
YAF’s own staff, for example, are mostly Foundation alumni. So, too, are the leaders of several key conservative groups.
Among the Foundation’s alumni are Peter Schweizer, president of the Government Accountability Institute; Katie Pavlich, editor of Townhall.com and Fox News contributor; Alex Marlow, editor-in-chief of Breitbart News; David Bossie, president of Citizens United; Roger Ream, president of The Fund for American Studies; Kimberly Begg, president of the Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women; Brent Bozell, president of the Media Research Center; and Ken Cribb, president emeritus of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute.
Through their stewardship of these institutions, the aforementioned leaders
Following their board meeting, held at the Reagan Ranch Center, Adolph Coors Foundation family members and staff enjoy a private tour of Rancho del Cielo.
Host Your Organization’s Meeting at the Reagan Ranch and Reagan Ranch Center
Young America’s Foundation regularly hosts like-minded organizations for key meetings, events, and gatherings at the Reagan Ranch and Reagan Ranch Center in Santa Barbara, California.
Rancho del Cielo—President Ronald Reagan’s mountaintop home of 25 years—serves as the premier conservative site on the West Coast, preserved by YAF as it was when our 40th President resided there.
Located on State Street in downtown Santa Barbara, the Reagan Ranch Center—with four floors of classrooms, conference space, an elegant boardroom, a movie theater, exhibit galleries, extensive archives, and a library of conservative resources—is a state-of-the-art facility that complements the Reagan Ranch by bringing conservative ideas to life.
Below is a sampling of organizations that have held key meetings at YAF’s facilities in Santa Barbara:
• Adolph Coors Foundation
• American Enterprise Institute
• American Legislative Exchange Council
• Bradley Impact Fund
• Citizens United
• Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women
• Congressional Western Caucus
• Federalist Society
• Focus on the Family
• Foundation for Economic Education
• Freedom Foundation
• Grove City College
• Heritage Foundation
• Hillsdale College
• Intercollegiate Studies Institute
• National Review Institute
• National Rifle Association
• Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy
• Pepperdine School of Public Policy
• PragerU
• ROTC
• The Institute of World Politics
• The Lynde & Harry Bradley Foundation
• USS Ronald Reagan
To inquire about hosting your organization’s meeting at the Reagan Ranch and Reagan Ranch Center, please call 888-USA-1776.
advance the philosophical and public policy objectives of conservatives nationwide. Many of these leaders remain strong allies of the Foundation, with YAF regularly hosting them to speak at student programs, distributing their latest books to young people, and hosting their organizations’ interns at YAF’s offices and programs.
Bozell, whose Media Research Center has long exposed and countered leftist bias in the national media, remarked on YAF’s 50th anniversary,
It is because of the work YAF does in planting the seeds for future conservative leaders that the Movement is as strong and thriving as it is today…I wish YAF all the best and look forward to partnering with YAF for another 50 years!
Second, YAF seeks to elevate the reputations of conservatives—especially
because mainstream institutions, such as colleges and national media outlets, fail to do so. This has often involved the Foundation hosting both established and rising conservatives at our student conferences, as well as sponsoring them to participate in our nationwide campus lecture program.
Institutional leaders whom YAF has hosted over the years at our programs include, among others: Ben Shapiro, co-founder of the Daily Wire; Dennis Prager, co-founder of PragerU; Dr. Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation; Dr. Larry Arnn, president of Hillsdale College; Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America; David Horowitz, cofounder of the David Horowitz Freedom Center; Rich Lowry, editor-in-chief of National Review; Lt. Col. Oliver North, founder of Freedom Alliance; Marji Ross, former president and publisher of Regnery Publishing; Star Parker, founder and president of the Center for Urban
The American Conservative Union and YAF jointly sponsor the first Conservative Political Action Conference in 1974.
Renewal and Education; Larry Reed, president emeritus of the Foundation for Economic Education; and Dr. John Lenczowski, founder and chancellor of The Institute of World Politics.
To reach young people nationwide, YAF must join forces with conservative leaders who are passionate about inspiring the next generation and willing to step foot on our campuses. As a byproduct, the profiles of these leaders and their organizations are often elevated by the success of these events and the publicity they attract.
A core component of YAF’s work also involves aggressively defending the free speech rights of our student activists. In this realm, the Foundation is fortunate to partner with an increasing number of legal organizations dedicated to protecting the constitutional rights of conservatives. Among the groups YAF partners with are the Alliance Defending Freedom, Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, Mountain States Legal Foundation, Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, Southeastern Legal Foundation, and more.
Because of these partnerships, young conservatives involved with YAF receive quality, pro-bono representation in important free speech-related cases against biased school administrators, student governments, and government officials.
Additionally, YAF’s National Journalism Center—the focus of which
is to train the next generation of truthseeking journalists—annually places interns at conservative media outlets in the nation’s capital, including The Federalist, Daily Caller, Washington Examiner, Newsmax, Washington Free Beacon, The Spectator, National Review, and others. A mutually productive arrangement, these internships— made possible by YAF’s generous supporters—allow aspiring young journalists to gain hands-on experience, while conservative media outlets gain access to a vetted crop of prospective hires.
In a similar vein, YAF’s Center for Entrepreneurship & Free Enterprise, which trains young people to champion free market principles, frequently co-sponsors campus events with like-minded institutes on college campuses, such as the Free Market Institute at Texas Tech University, Academy on Capitalism & Limited Government at the University of Illinois, and Center for the Study of Capitalism at Wake Forest University.
Third, YAF welcomes like-minded organizations to make use of our facilities, especially the Reagan Ranch and Reagan Ranch Center in Santa Barbara, California. As the premier conservative sites on the West Coast, these properties serve as unique venues to inspire young people with Ronald Reagan’s values and for allied conservative organizations to gather for key meetings, conferences, and events.
Since acquiring the Reagan Ranch in 1998 and establishing the Reagan Ranch Center in 2006, YAF has hosted memorable gatherings with the Heritage Foundation, Bradley Foundation, Hillsdale College, Federalist Society, and many other institutions.
YAF also regularly hosts members of the military at the Ranch, including officers and crew members of the USS Ronald Reagan and local ROTC cadets. These partnerships ensure today’s servicemen and women learn about President Reagan’s commitment to our nation’s defense and the protection of freedom worldwide.
Continuing a longstanding relationship, the Foundation for Economic Education and Young America’s Foundation jointly publish a groundbreaking book, Excuse Me, Professor, in 2015 to dispel the popular myths of progressives.
YAF’s staff works closely with these organizations to develop a program itinerary and special tour of Rancho del Cielo that help accomplish their objectives. We hope to welcome more groups in the years ahead to walk in the footsteps of Ronald Reagan and strengthen their organizations’ work.
Our country benefits when there are many effective profreedom organizations carrying out their respective missions. It is also worth noting that conservatives must work together to challenge the Left’s unity in encroaching on the rights of Americans through ever-expanding government.
The Bradley Foundation and Young America’s Foundation host a special dinner at the Reagan Ranch Center in 2019 featuring Bradley Prize recipient Judge Janice Rogers Brown.
A Selection of Conservative Institution Leaders Hosted by YAF
KIMBERLY BEGG YAF alumna and president, Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women
MORTON BLACKWELL YAF alumnus and president, Leadership Institute
DAVID BOSSIE YAF alumnus and president, Citizens United
L. BRENT BOZELL III YAF alumnus and president, Media Research Center
T. KENNETH CRIBB, JR. YAF alumnus and president emeritus, Intercollegiate Studies Institute
ALEX MARLOW YAF alumnus and editor-in-chief, Breitbart News
LT. COL. OLIVER NORTH founder, Freedom Alliance
STAR PARKER founder and president, Center for Urban Renewal and Education
KATIE PAVLICH YAF alumna and editor, Townhall.com
DENNIS PRAGER co-founder, PragerU
DR. KEVIN ROBERTS president, Heritage Foundation
KRISTAN HAWKINS president, Students for Life of America
DAVID HOROWITZ co-founder, David Horowitz Freedom Center
DR. JOHN LENCZOWSKI founder and chancellor, The Institute of World Politics
RICH LOWRY editor-in-chief, National Review
ROGER REAM YAF alumnus and president, The Fund for American Studies
LARRY REED YAF alumnus and president emeritus, Foundation for Economic Education
MARJI ROSS former president, Regnery Publishing
PETER SCHWEIZER YAF alumnus and president, Government Accountability Institute
BEN SHAPIRO co-founder, Daily Wire
Bringing Ronald Reagan Back to the Big Screen: An Interview with Dennis Quaid
By Andrew Coffin, Vice President & Director of the Reagan Ranch
More than a dozen years ago, film producer Mark Joseph optioned the rights to historian Dr. Paul Kengor’s landmark books on Ronald Reagan, God and Ronald Reagan and The Crusader. Joseph’s past projects include the development, marketing, music, or production credits on The Chronicles of Narnia, The Passion of the Christ, Ray, and Holes.
“For me, playing an iconic American hero has been the honor of a lifetime.”
— DENNIS QUAID
Following years of Joseph’s laboring to tell the essential story of Ronald Reagan faithfully, the feature film he dreamed of creating is finally ready for release. Reagan will hit theaters nationwide on August 30, 2024. To ensure the integrity of the story, Joseph worked entirely outside of the Hollywood studio system.
The film, directed by Sean McNamara
Historian Dr. Paul Kengor’s book, The Crusader, provides much of the source material for the screenplay of the film, Reagan.
Rancho del Cielo provides a stunning backdrop for Dennis Quaid (right) and Trevor Donovan (left) to film a scene of President Ronald Reagan and Secret Service Agent John Barletta horseback riding.
(best known for directing the Bethany Hamilton story, Soul Surfer), tells Reagan’s life story through the eyes of a retired KGB agent, played by veteran actor Jon Voight. As with Dr. Kengor’s aptly-titled books, the film gives particular attention to Reagan’s lifelong commitment to battling the forces of communism and the role that his deep personal faith played in providing him with a God-given sense of purpose.
While two talented young actors play Ronald Reagan as a boy and young man, Dennis Quaid shoulders most of the burden of bringing Reagan to life on the big screen, portraying the adult Reagan from his early Hollywood days to the post-Presidential years.
Of special significance to readers of Libertas, the production was filmed on location at the Reagan Ranch. The President’s mountaintop Santa Barbara home—preserved and operated by Young America’s Foundation—provides the backdrop for several key scenes, including the film’s powerful conclusion.
We recently discussed the production with Quaid, an actor who connects with the legacy of Ronald Reagan both on and offscreen. As he shares in this interview, the Reagan Ranch played a crucial role in persuading him that he was the right actor to take on this challenging role.
Andrew Coffin: First, congratulations on the film. We at YAF have followed this production closely for many years, through starts and stops and delays. It is clearly a passion project for everyone involved. What does it mean to you that the film is finally being released this summer?
Dennis Quaid: It has absolutely been worth the wait. You name the delay, we experienced it. COVID caused us to shut down the set twice. Then, we had to push back filming by seven months because we missed the window to shoot
“My visit to the Ranch was really what convinced me to take on the role. I felt Reagan’s spirit there. It’s an incredible place, and I’m glad you have preserved it so well.”
— DENNIS QUAID
the lifeguard scenes. Then came the actors’ strike.
Seeing everything come together and watching how people react to the movie has been inspiring. For me, playing an iconic American hero has been the honor of a lifetime.
Coffin: You capture the essence of Ronald Reagan incredibly well, displaying subtle touches of his mannerisms, voice, and posture. I will admit that I was skeptical anyone could pull that off. Reagan had his own doubts about roles—whether on film or in public service. YAF has an original, handwritten letter composed by Reagan in 1961 on display at the Reagan Ranch Center. He ends that letter with this P.S.: “I’ve been asked to run for governor [of California]. While I’m highly honored, I don’t think I’m right for the part.” Clearly, he changed his mind not too long after that. What were your doubts about taking on this role?
Quaid: Similar to Reagan’s reaction, when I was first approached for this project, I just wasn’t sure I was the right guy. Playing a historical figure, especially one as well known as Reagan, was a frightening prospect. However, after deliberating for several months, I started to realize that the roles I’ve had the most fear taking on have often been the most rewarding. It was an incredible experience diving into Reagan’s speeches, mannerisms, and colloquialisms to try to do justice to the role.
Coffin: Your first visit to Rancho del Cielo was pivotal for you in committing to the role. What resonated with you at the Ranch?
Quaid: Reagan’s lifestyle really stuck with me. This man was a President, governor, movie star, and more, but his and Nancy’s bed was just two twin beds tied together with zip ties. He had accomplished so much in his life, and yet, when you speak
Quaid and Penelope Ann Miller, playing Ronald and Nancy Reagan in the movie, film a scene on Lake Lucky at the Reagan Ranch.
to those who knew him, you find he remained incredibly grounded. Being there in his humble home was inspiring and piqued my interest in him and this role. I became hungry to know more about what made him who he was and, along with that, excited about the prospect of playing him.
My visit to the Ranch was really what convinced me to take on the role. I felt Reagan’s spirit there. It’s an incredible place, and I’m glad you have preserved it so well.
Coffin: President Reagan’s longtime Secret Service Agent and riding partner, John Barletta, was also with us at the Ranch during your visit. How did meeting John influence your impression of Reagan?
Quaid: John was one of the many people Reagan touched who could tell stories for hours about Reagan’s qualities. The two of them had a partnership that continues to live on in the many stories all of us have heard.
John sat down and told us about the time he had to tell President Reagan, following his Alzheimer’s diagnosis, that they couldn’t ride anymore. He
also walked us around the locations at the Ranch that meant so much to the President and helped me understand him better. It was an honor to know John.
Coffin: You’ve returned to the Ranch several times since that first visit. You shared this special place with your wife, and you met Megyn Kelly here for an interview. The production was filmed on location for four days and captured some spectacular footage. Why is the Ranch significant, and what do you think it says about Ronald Reagan as a man and leader?
Quaid: The Ranch shows how grounded Reagan was. Opening his garage and seeing a Subaru was a bit of a shock! While Reagan had every opportunity to be around the glitz and glam of Hollywood, D.C., or wherever else he wanted, at the end of the day, he much preferred riding his horse, checking on his property, repairing fences, and reading by his pond. To think that he spent one total year of his Presidency there is really amazing. It was probably a mechanism for coping with the stress of the job.
The property is a reflection of his personality—not easily accessible and open only to those who really make the effort to get there. There’s something deep there that reflects Reagan’s character.
Coffin: The film accurately portrays faith as central to both Reagan’s life and his sense of purpose as President. You speak very openly about the role faith plays in your own life. Why is faith an important part of Reagan’s story to tell?
Quaid: We didn’t want to inject religion into the movie. We just wanted the story to naturally reflect who Reagan was. He wasn’t as outwardly religious as, say, Jimmy Carter. Reagan’s faith was more private but definitely a part of who he was. To neglect the influence of his devout mother, Nelle, and his childhood church and pastor would not be an accurate portrait of Reagan as a person.
As for me, my faith has a lot to do with who I am. There are definitely parallels between my mother and Reagan’s mother. I was raised in the Baptist church, and even though I got away from God for a while there, He never gave up on me. As I get older, my belief in God and my love and respect for Jesus grows day by day.
Coffin: Another central aspect of the film is Reagan’s steadfast, unwavering opposition to the communist threat. Here, you can see the influence of Dr. Paul Kengor’s excellent book, The Crusader, which provided much of the source material for the screenplay. What gave Reagan the ability to clearly see the evils of communism and its inherent weaknesses when so many others were prepared to acquiesce or appease?
Quaid: Reagan had a great deal of anticommunist thinking that was imputed to him at a young age—probably through his mother, his pastor, and the occasional visitor. We know that B.E. Kertchman, a man who warned Americans about the
While shooting their 2018 TODAY Show interview at Rancho del Cielo, Dennis Quaid and Megyn Kelly meet with YAF’s Reagan Ranch interns (from left: Alex Cortez, Reagan Warner, Quaid, Kelly, and Mary Wishing).
dangers of Soviet communism, visited Reagan’s childhood church.
I think this human factor drove Reagan’s ability to clearly see the problems with communism. While others may have been driven by personal interests and ambition, Reagan never forgot the human stories from the Soviet Union.
Coffin: I get the impression that you’ve admired Ronald Reagan for a long time. Was there anything about him you learned while making the movie that surprised you?
Quaid: I was surprised that Reagan didn’t live like a wealthy man. He wasn’t poor, but he wasn’t exactly rich by Hollywood standards. He lived a simple life. He just wasn’t really into money or fame. He was driven by other things. He had things he wanted to accomplish.
Coffin: YAF’s programs at the Reagan Ranch are designed to help young people engage with the great ideas that Ronald Reagan championed— limited government, free enterprise, a strong national defense, and traditional values. These student programs also introduce young people to Ronald Reagan the man. What lessons do you
want audiences, especially young people who were not yet born during the Reagan years, to take away from your film?
Quaid: We all, regardless of our politics, can learn from Reagan. For instance, while Tip O’Neill and Reagan often fought vehemently about politics, it was always important for them to remember each other as humans.
Our politics, social media, and news are so polarized these days. Everyone creates their own little bubble. We need to remember the humanity of one another and love our neighbors. Reagan fought his opponents, but he didn’t hate them, and he believed in principled compromises. He would often say, “Half a loaf is better than no loaf,” and, “Somebody who agrees with you 80 percent is an 80-percent friend, not a 20-percent enemy.”
Coffin: Finally—in the film, you play an actor who, after a fairly long and successful career, answers the call to public service. What does the future hold for you?
We’ve got to remember that we’re all Americans, and we have to work together to get things done.
Quaid: First, we have to get this movie out on August 30th! That is my priority.
I’ve had people ask me to run for office, but I don’t think that’s what I’m supposed to do. I’m really enjoying this season of my life with my kids and wife, Laura, spending time in Nashville, and looking at many interesting projects. Laura and I have also started a production company, Bonniedale. We’re just looking forward to the future.
Young America’s Foundation is partnering with the production team behind the film, Reagan, on a range of exciting projects that will help introduce new audiences to Ronald Reagan’s life and ideas. To learn more about how you can work with YAF to ensure that young people have the opportunity to see this powerful story, please visit reaganranch.com.
Dennis Quaid reviews Ronald Reagan’s books at Rancho del Cielo, preserved by Young America’s Foundation to educate young people about Reagan’s values.
Forever Tie Your Name To The LegacY oF roNaLd reagaN
Sponsor
an Acre at Rancho del Cielo •
“From the first day we saw it, Rancho del Cielo cast a spell over us.” — Ronald Reagan
“We hope that our ranch will be a spark for many bright young Americans in the years ahead.” — nancy Reagan
“A place to see the real Ronald Reagan” — Washington Post
“Rancho del Cielo has allowed the foundation’s reach to transcend generations.”
— Los angeLes times
For more than 60 years, Young America’s Foundation (YAF) has worked closely with President Ronald Reagan and his family to inspire young people with the ideas of individual freedom, free enterprise, a strong national defense, and traditional values.
Since 1998, YAF has preserved Reagan’s 688-acre Rancho del Cielo in California, where thousands of young people have walked in the President’s footsteps to learn about his character, values, and vision for America.
You can permanently tie your name to America’s greatest modern champion for freedom by sponsoring one of the few remaining acres at the Reagan Ranch. Join an exclusive group of patriotic Americans by protecting this priceless national treasure for the benefit of future generations.
When you sponsor an acre at Rancho del Cielo, you will:
• Have your name permanently recognized on Rancho del Cielo’s Freedom Wall and at the Reagan Ranch Center, YAF’s Schoolhouse for Reaganism in Santa Barbara, California
• Have the opportunity to take a private, unforgettable tour of the Reagan Ranch
• And more!
Rancho del Cielo is preserved exclusively through private support. Young America’s Foundation accepts no government funding.
Shellenberger, Di Martino, and Scanlan Inspire High Schoolers at the Reagan Ranch
By Madison Habersetzer, Conference Director & Development Associate
Eager students from across the country gathered for Young America’s Foundation’s March High School Conference at the Reagan Ranch. YAF’s largest-ever spring program also welcomed parents, supporters, and community members to select portions of the weeklong event.
During the conference, students walked in President Ronald Reagan’s footsteps at his beloved Rancho del Cielo, gained knowledge and inspiration from conservative leaders and faculty members, and formed meaningful relationships with like-minded peers from around the country.
The program began with an energizing session featuring author and radio host Todd Starnes, who encouraged the young audience to take on leadership roles at their schools and beyond. He asked students, “Is your generation going to be the generation
that’s fighting for freedom?”
The following day, Venezuelan freedom activist and Dissident Project Founder Daniel Di Martino warned the audience about the dangers of socialism through a powerful first-hand account of his home country:
You will see moms and dads with kids going through the trash to feed their family...These people are not homeless, but their fulltime jobs, or two full-time jobs, don’t give them enough money to feed their family.
Jihad Watch Founder Robert Spencer followed, delivering a timely presentation on the threat of radical Islam in the context of the Israel-Hamas War.
Students then experienced a memorable tour of the Reagan Ranch, which has become a rite of passage for young conservatives nationwide. Since
the Reagan family entrusted YAF in 1998 with preserving the 688-acre Rancho del Cielo, the Foundation has used this premier Presidential property as a venue for educating and training young people with our 40th President’s freedom philosophy.
Attendees gained an appreciation for Reagan’s ideas and lasting accomplishments by exploring the property’s modest adobe home, hay barn, Secret Service Command Post, and Freedom Wall—where the names of YAF’s generous supporters are engraved in honor of their commitment to passing on Reagan’s values to future generations. The high schoolers enjoyed open-air Jeep rides on Reagan’s favorite trails and heard from longtime Ranch hand and friend of President Reagan, Dennis LeBlanc, who shared inspiring stories about his time working alongside Reagan at Rancho del Cielo.
(Continued on page 20)
Economic historian Dr. Burt Folsom, YAF’s longestserving faculty member, brings to life the stories of some of America’s greatest entrepreneurs.
Jihad Watch Founder Robert Spencer educates students about the threat of radical Islam in the context of the war between Hamas and Israel.
Former University of Pennsylvania swimmer Paula Scanlan discusses the importance of protecting women’s rights in sports.
Bestselling author Michael Shellenberger addresses YAF students, supporters, and friends during the Wendy P. McCaw Reagan Ranch Roundtable.
Seth Gruber, founder and president of the White Rose Resistance, urges students to stand for the right to life.
Commentator Elisha Krauss dispels common progressive myths during a conference session.
During a conference session at Rancho del Cielo, YAF Vice President & Director of the Reagan Ranch Andrew Coffin (right) interviews Dennis LeBlanc (left), a longtime friend of President Reagan.
(Continued from page 18)
Back in the classroom, Hillsdale College Distinguished Fellow Dr. Burt Folsom highlighted important lessons from American history that every young person should know. He extolled America’s founding principles, remarking, “We are all blessed to be born in a nation that started with a goal to have liberty.”
The conference also featured YAF’s president, Governor Scott Walker, who reflected on the lessons he learned from serving as governor of Wisconsin from 2011 to 2019. Describing how 100,000 protestors stormed the Wisconsin State Capitol, intent on canceling his conservative reforms, Walker noted, “I was not going to let the voices of the people occupying the Capitol overcome the voices of the nearly two million people who voted for me.”
Emily Jashinsky, D.C. correspondent for UnHerd and National Journalism Center Board of Governors member, led a session that educated students on how mainstream media outlets manipulate information to fit their preferred narratives.
On the heels of Jashinsky’s presentation, bestselling author and NJC Dao Prize recipient Michael Shellenberger addressed students,
supporters, and friends of YAF during the Wendy P. McCaw Reagan Ranch Roundtable, which was held in conjunction with the conference. In his eye-opening speech, titled “Escaping the Woke Matrix,” Shellenberger underscored the importance of preserving basic truths about law and order, free and fair elections, equal justice under the law, and a culture of
“We are all blessed to be born in a nation that started with a goal to have liberty.”
— dr. burt folSom hillSdale college diStinguiShed fellow
meritocracy. Following his remarks and an engaging question-and-answer session, Shellenberger signed copies of his books, San Fransicko and Apocalypse Never, for attendees.
Summit Ministries President Dr. Jeff Myers then discussed the value of private property in a free society and the dangers of collectivism, stating, “Half of the people on the planet live at
a middle-class level or higher. This has never happened in 5,000 years of human history. It’s made possible when people have ownership.”
That evening, Dr. Folsom returned to the stage to debunk the Left’s attacks on America’s great entrepreneurs. He shared the powerful story of Cornelius Vanderbilt, who refused to rely on government subsidies to build his lifechanging steamboat business, thereby maximizing efficiency and providing immense value to his fellow citizens.
The final day of the conference featured White Rose Resistance President and Founder Seth Gruber, who urged students to stand for the right to life.
Paula Scanlan—a former University of Pennsylvania swimmer and teammate of transgender athlete Lia Thomas— shared her experience of being forced to unquestioningly welcome a male to her women’s swim team. Scanlan explained how, after years of being bullied into silence, she finally spoke up for her rights and those of her fellow female athletes. She encouraged the young audience to do the same, asking, “If you’re not willing to stand up for yourself, how can you expect anybody else to do it for you?”
Additionally, commentator Elisha Krauss dispelled common leftist myths, and Hillsdale College Associate Professor
Governor Scott Walker, YAF’s president, encourages students to boldly stand up for conservative values in the face of the Left’s intolerance.
Students enjoy meeting with talk radio host Todd Starnes following his remarks.
of Economics Dr. Michael Clark led an interactive session to demonstrate free market principles in action. Program Officer for YAF Chapter Services Charlie Jones concluded the conference, sharing practical tips for effectively advancing conservative ideas in high school and beyond.
Reflecting on his experience at the conference, student Independence Mayer
from Shelby High School remarked,
I have had an incredible time at the Reagan Ranch Conference. The stories that these outstanding, influential speakers had to share, as well as the lessons that they taught, have undoubtedly made an impact on my life. Not only that, but the Reagan Ranch itself
has inspired me to pursue a life of following conservative ideals so that I can keep my freedom.
Mayer’s fellow attendees similarly departed Santa Barbara with a greater appreciation for conservative principles and the values upon which America was founded.
During a conference break, students explore the Reagan Ranch Center galleries in downtown Santa Barbara.
In an interactive session, Hillsdale College Associate Professor of Economics Dr. Michael Clark demonstrates free market principles in action.
Reagan Ranch Curator Kody McLain leads a student group during their visit to Rancho del Cielo.
YAF’s Campus Lectures Empower Students Nationwide
By Breana Marsh, Campus Events Coordinator
During a time when cancel culture, DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) policies, antisemitism, and power-hungry leftist administrators are running rampant on college campuses, Young America’s Foundation’s campus lectures help students stand for their beliefs.
YAF is the only organization that specializes in sending the biggest names in the Conservative Movement to college campuses across America. Without these transformative experiences, students could go their entire college careers without hearing a pro-freedom perspective. By hosting these often sold-out events, YAF student activists help shatter the echo chamber.
Working with student activists on each campus in an individualized way, YAF helps identify the best conservative speaker for each school—leveraging a speaker’s popularity along with the most prominent issues on a particular
(Continued on page 26)
Steps to Host a Breakthrough YAF Lecture on Your Campus
Visit YAF.org/Speakers or call Young America’s Foundation at 800-USA-1776 to get started today. YAF’s dedicated team is ready to walk you through each step of the process.
#1 Learn How Your School’s Bureaucracy Works
#2 Select an Appropriate Speaker
#3 Solicit Your School for Funds
#4 Invite Your Speaker
#5 Plan Your Event
#6 Host Your Speaker
#7 Maximize Your Impact
A capacity audience at the University of Florida attends YAF’s lecture featuring the #1 requested campus speaker in the country, Ben Shapiro (inset).
North Korean defector Yeonmi Park (front row, middle) enjoys meeting with the Colorado College YAF chapter after delivering a powerful speech about the lessons of her escape from communism in North Korea to freedom in America.
During his visit to Yale University as part of YAF’s annual Irving Brown Lecture Series, Dr. Ben Carson encourages students to demonstrate courage in standing up for America’s founding values.
Detransitioner Chloe Cole makes a compelling case at the University of Utah for protecting children from radical transgender activists.
At the University of Alabama, students meet with YAF speaker Lt. Col. Allen West following his compelling remarks on how the Left’s policies have harmed black Americans.
(Continued from page 23) campus—to help the next generation of freedom fighters make the biggest impact among their peers.
Foundation speakers are on the front lines, pushing back against many of the politically correct efforts at our nation’s schools. This is why Time magazine noted that YAF’s campus lecture program is sponsoring hundreds of lectures by conservative leaders each year and that “these speeches have become the biggest events of the semester.” These events have also drawn recognition from the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and even the New York Times.
It was the Foundation that first introduced the idea of using speakers with a national reputation as a means to ensure a large audience. These are speakers whom the students, the local community, and even faculty members
want to hear. Students are eager to learn from policymakers, celebrities, and newsmakers, rather than obscure professors. The large audiences these speakers draw show campus communities that students are eager to hear conservative ideas. They give our cause a sense of excitement.
During the 2023-2024 academic year, YAF’s campus lectures reached tens of thousands of students in person and millions more online—many for the first time.
For instance, YAF’s most-requested speaker, Daily Wire Co-Founder Ben Shapiro, took to the University of Florida and the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW) immediately following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. Part of YAF’s Free to Choose Lecture Series, Shapiro’s speeches—in which he discussed the importance of Western values in the face of radical Islamic terrorism—were the largest conservative events of the year on these campuses.
After delivering a speech at the University of Virginia titled “Talk Softly but Carry America with You,” 70 th Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (middle) meets with the conservative students who organized his campus visit.
Governor Scott Walker, YAF’s president, speaks at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire about the importance of protecting free speech in education.
Reflecting on the impact of hosting Shapiro on campus, UW YAF Chairman Harrison Wells remarked,
[Our] Ben Shapiro event was the biggest conservative speaker event in UW history. We exposed over 1,200 individuals to conservative ideas and demonstrated that the Conservative Movement is alive and well on campus despite all obstacles.
Through the Foundation’s Logan Family Lecture Series, commentator Michael Knowles reached new audiences at Vanderbilt University, Georgetown University, Cornell University, and Clemson University, among others. These popular events helped propel each college’s conservative club to new heights, as more students on campus realized they were not alone in believing in traditional American values.
Taylor Adams, YAF chairwoman at Clemson, noted,
The Clemson YAF chapter is extremely grateful to the Logan family and [YAF] for the opportunity to host Michael Knowles on our campus. The chance to host Mr. Knowles not only helped us spread conservative values and ideas on campus, but it also magnified our chapter’s presence. Since our event, we’ve been able to draw more interest in our organization, including an increase in membership and greater engagement with our social media.
Additional YAF campus speakers this year included Daily Wire Host Matt Walsh, detransitioner Chloe Cole, neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson, commentator Elisha Krauss, NBA star Enes Kanter Freedom, author Dr. James Lindsay,
In his sold-out YAF lecture at Washington & Lee University, commentator Matt Walsh urges students to pursue truth above all else.
former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany, economists Dr. Arthur Laffer and Dr. Kevin Hassett, North Korean defector Yeonmi Park, Venezuelan freedom activist Daniel Di Martino, The Babylon Bee CEO Seth Dillon, YAF President Governor Scott Walker, and many more.
These events helped YAF’s student activists gain even more traction on campus beyond the impact of the speeches themselves. By deploying to campuses, the Foundation’s staff supported conservative students by capturing video footage of radical leftists tearing down their event posters, attempting to disrupt speakers, and even seeking to prevent attendees from entering event venues. Often going viral, these videos have garnered millions of views and highlighted the tyranny that conservative students face on campus. They also helped to teach young conservatives on other campuses how to
effectively deal with the Left’s anti-free speech tactics and bullying from biased administrators.
The photo series depicted on these pages showcases a selection of the students, speakers, and campus audiences who helped to make YAF’s campus lecture program a success during the 2023-2024 academic year. These and other YAF campus lectures can be viewed in full on the Foundation’s YouTube channel, YAFTV (YouTube.com/YAFTV).
With decades of experience arming students to take up the torch of freedom, Young America’s Foundation stands ready to assist young people across the country who wish to host a YAF speaker on their campus and make an immediate impact.
Students should visit YAF.org/Speakers or call YAF at 800USA-1776 to speak with a Young America’s Foundation team member and get started today!
At Roanoke College, Dr. Carol Swain speaks to hundreds of students and community members about what her own life has taught her about the dangers of diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.
At James Madison University, NBA star Enes Kanter Freedom speaks about his experience being blackballed by the National Basketball Association for his vocal criticism of its business ties with the Chinese Communist Party.
During one of his several campus stops as part of YAF’s Logan Family Lecture Series, commentator Michael Knowles exposes the Left’s attacks on free speech at Cornell University.
Kayleigh McEnany, who served as White House press secretary in the Trump administration, delivers her inaugural YAF speech at Wisconsin Lutheran College as part of the Bruce & Kathi Eberle Lecture Series.
In his Young America’s Foundation lecture at Saint Vincent College, economist Dr. Kevin Hassett outlines the path to “stopping America’s slide to socialism.”
Join the Club!
Become a member of one of Young America’s Foundation’s exclusive, annual giving clubs to help save America.
Members of President’s Club, Rawhide Circle, and Defenders of Freedom provide the backbone of support for YAF’s efforts to pass on your conservative values to future generations of young Americans.
Benefits include permanent recognition at the Reagan Ranch, invitations to exclusive giving club events, private visits to the Reagan Ranch for you and your family, and much more.
Young America’s Foundation’s Giving Clubs
President’s Club Benefits (annual giving of $2,500+)
• An invitation to the annual President’s Club Weekend
• A permanent engraving of your name on Freedom Wall at the Reagan Ranch
• Open invitation to visit the Reagan Ranch or the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home for a private tour
Rawhide Circle Benefits (annual giving of $10,000+; or lifetime giving of $100,000+)
• An invitation to the annual, exclusive Rawhide Circle Retreat
• A unique Rawhide Circle recognition plaque to acknowledge your membership
• All benefits included in YAF’s President’s Club giving level
Defenders of Freedom Benefits (annual giving of $100,000+; or lifetime giving of $1,000,000+)
• Invitations to exclusive Defenders of Freedom events around the country
• Prominent, permanent recognition on Freedom Wall at the Reagan Ranch
• VIP access to YAF events around the country featuring Foundation leaders and other conservative dignitaries
• All benefits included in YAF’s President’s Club and Rawhide Circle giving levels
Please visit YAF.org or contact a Young America’s Foundation development officer at 800-USA-1776 to learn more.
September 19 to 30, 2025 11
Nights Aboard the Seven Seas
Young America’s Foundation has been around the world, offering our supporters an in-depth study of the many pressing policy questions facing countries from Australia to Hungary to Argentina and beyond. In 2025, it will be my honor, as YAF’s president, to join you on the Foundation’s latest at-sea program!
— Governor Scott Walker, President, Young America’s Foundation
Thousands of sudents line up hours in advance to attend the University of WisconsinMadison YAF chapter’s campus lecture featuring Ben Shapiro, the largest conservative event in campus history that also drew millions of views online. Since 2013, Young America’s Foundation has brought the Daily Wire co-founder to more than 60 campuses nationwide, recruiting a generation of young people to the Conservative Movement.