Boys Republic gives first wreaths off its production line to customers impacted by January fires

CHINO HILLS, Calif. (KABC) -- At Boys Republic in Chino Hills, the holiday season doesn't begin with lights or music, it begins with the steady rhythm of hands at work.

Students turn trimmed evergreens and pine cones into the school's iconic Della Robbia wreaths recognizable for their fruit-trimmed, traditional design.

For 103 years, Boys Republic has relied on this wreath production as a cornerstone of its annual fundraiser supporting therapeutic, academic, and vocational programs for disadvantaged and at-risk youth.

"This is a $2 million fundraiser," said Executive Director Chris Burns. "Going back into the operations that allow us to do a lot of things for the boys and girls we wouldn't be able to otherwise."

Each student who joins the wreath crew earns vocational credits toward graduation along with a warehousing certificate, just one of several hands-on career pathways offered on campus.

Other options include culinary arts, automotive repair, masonry, cabinetry, and welding. The goal is simple: to give students skills, structure, and confidence.

"Each kid can try anything they want, and a lot of them that do try something new end up enjoying it and then they move on to like a trade school," said Treatment Director Jayson Moore.

During the three-week production window, the wreath room becomes a whirlwind.

Students, staff, and volunteers team up to craft more than 3,000 wreaths a day, shipping them across the country and around the world.

Among those volunteers this year was a group from Brewer Directors, led by Executive Officer Jennifer Salas, who brought her entire company to help on the line. She said the process is surprisingly simple and rewarding.

"It's very easy," Salas said. "They give you the supplies you need. You just come in here, tie everything together, and it's done."
But for her, the real value was the shared experience.

"Us bringing the full company here, we get to give back, and we get to be together outside of the office," she said.

The first 61 wreaths, however, stay close to home, going to the students' own families.

This year, the school added another gesture of goodwill: complimentary wreaths for customers who lost homes in the Palisades and Eaton fires.

Burns said the outreach came naturally after their own Boys Republic Thrift shop in Altadena burned down in the Eaton Fire.

"We just sent letters to them a few months back, inviting them ... we'd love to send a complimentary wreath to wherever they're managing right now," he said.

For those families, the wreaths are a symbol of comfort. For the students who make them, they're a symbol of transformation.

Many of the young people at Boys Republic are working to rebuild their lives, and some come back to help the next generation do the same.

"I graduated high school here at Boys Republic," Moore said. "I went to Chico State, came back as an intern about 23 years ago, and now I try to push it forward and encourage the boys to give it a chance."

Each year, the wreaths have sold out, which is why Boys Republic encourages those interested in having one decorate their door to place their orders before December 9.