RAISING ARIZONAS MEN
About Us
Creating Strong Men, Transforming Communities
At Raising Arizona’s Men (RAM), we believe that when a young man understands his worth, learns to lead with character, and encounters the life changing love of Jesus Christ, it doesn’t just change his story—it changes the community around him.
Through our Skills Day programs, boys living in foster care group homes are introduced to positive male role models and real-world skills that build confidence, direction, and the foundation for long-term success. They learn what it means to show up, take responsibility, and begin forming an identity rooted in honor and integrity. Our Launch Pad program expands that support by providing young men aging out of foster care with something many have never known—stability. Paired with mentorship and life training, Launch Pad offers a second chance at a first start.
In our summer retreat and weekly Meeting of Men Bible study, these young men are given something far more powerful than just guidance—they’re given hope. In a space filled with trust, consistency, and Christ-centered teaching, they come to understand that faith in Jesus is not just a belief system, but a source of strength, healing, and transformation. As they grow in their faith, they begin to embrace the importance of strong character, personal accountability, and self-reliance.
While RAM’s mission focuses on young men, the ripple effect is felt throughout entire communities. A man striving to be all God created him to be will respect women, lead well, and work hard to provide for his family. That means stronger marriages, healthier homes, better workplaces, and safer neighborhoods. RAM is not just raising up good men—we’re helping to build a better future for wives, daughters, co-workers, neighbors, and generations to come.
When you invest in young men, you invest in the soul of a community. And we believe the impact of that can echo for a lifetime.
We EMPOWER young men.
At Raising Arizona’s Men, our mission is to empower young men in foster care by affirming their inherent value, nurturing their potential, and guiding them toward lives of purpose and character. We provide a foundation rooted in Christian principles, where honor, integrity, and responsibility are not only taught but lived. Through mentorship, discipleship, and unconditional support, we help these young men build lasting relationships with Christ and become the strong, faithful leaders they are meant to be.
Our Story
Raising Arizona’s Men (RAM) began with a burden placed on one woman’s heart. In 2013, Renee Hanson read a series of local newspaper articles that exposed the growing foster care crisis in Arizona. What began as concern quickly turned into conviction, and as Renee dug deeper, she discovered a profound gap in support— particularly for young men living in group homes. Out of that discovery, a vision was born: to give these young men the opportunity to grow into strong, godly leaders and to leave a positive legacy for generations to come.
In October 2015, RAM became an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit. With the help of her family and close friends, Renee launched the first monthly Skills Day—a hands-on event that opened doors to relationships, trust, and transformation. As those bonds grew stronger, so did the ministry. RAM expanded its reach by creating a Summer Retreat held every July, a weekly Bible study called Meeting of Men, and the Launch Pad program, which provides housing and continued support for young men aging out of foster care.
Today, RAM Ministries continues to be a place of hope, healing, and transformation—where young men find their purpose, develop character, and begin to walk boldly in their God-given identity.
Our Founder
Renee Hanson is a third-generation Arizona native. She has been married to her high school sweetheart since 1985. Together, they raised 3 wonderful children and currently have 7 grandsons and 1 beautiful granddaughter.
In 2021 Renee closed her massage practice and began working full time for RAM. Her husband Randy along with their children and their spouses, continue to volunteer their time to answer God’s call to support the young men of Arizona living in foster care group homes.
Our Ministry Partners
