MEET THE DIRECTOR

Phil Ludwig – Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Teen Rescue, Inc. was born in Orange, California to a solid Christian home. Phil graduated high school and accepted a position at Hume Lake Christian Camps where he spent several summers as a child. While at Hume Lke, Phil met Kim Greiner who would eventually become his wife and play a significant part in Teen Rescue, Inc.

Phil became interested in police work as a result of his involvement in “Police Explorers” at the Anaheim Police Department. Phil was accepted by the San Diego Police Department and finished 3rd in his class. He had a successful career with SDPD, receiving many awards for his exceptional performance. In 1981, a drunk driver struck the car Phil was riding in, causing injuries sufficient to mandate his early retirement from the police force.

While recovering from his injuries, opportunity knocked at his door – literally. A distraught mother of a runaway teen came seeking his help. Phil, with the help of local law enforcement, located the runaway teen in two days, encouraged her into counseling, and reunited her with her family. About a week later, another troubled parent approached Phil. Unable to turn this parent away; he stepped in to assist this family as well. The word began to spread, and more and more families in turmoil called Phil, desperate for some sort of help.

After assisting several parents who had nowhere to turn, Phil realized the critical need of assistance for parents of troubled teens. He did some research to identify the families’ greatest needs in order to create caring, supportive solutions for the family as a whole. Finally, after a year and a half of investigation, Phil founded Teen Rescue, Inc., a non-profit advocate for the thousands of families who find their children in trouble and have no avenue of assistance they can trust. Since that time, Teen Rescue has grown exponentially.

In 1993 Teen Rescue leased some property and opened its first boarding school for troubled teens. Later, when the owner needed to sell the property, Kim and Phil found it too expensive for the fledgling school to purchase. They were in desperate shape. A week before the school was scheduled to close its doors; a man came by to tour the facility and was impressed with the staff and the kids. He approached Kim and Phil about leasing back an affordable property he had purchased in the same area. They were back in business.

As escrow was closing on the new location, Kim and Phil were dealt a devastating blow. Kim was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died four months later. Phil found himself with a whole new set of responsibilities. In addition to running the organization he had formerly worked with his wife, he was now a single parent of two boys. Phil and his sons had to make some huge adjustments. On December 25, 2003, Phil met Lynn Balderas, mother of two daughters and wife of Josue Balderas who was killed in a plane crash while working for Mission Aviation Fellowship in Mexico. Phil and Lynn were married six months later.

Youth and family programs across the country seek Phil’s counsel on program and parenting issues as it applies to teens in turmoil. Phil speaks regularly on family advocacy issues such as: Teens in Crisis, Family Dynamics, Parental Rights, Conflict Resolution and other topics related to healthy family relationships. Phil conducts regular training seminars on parenting teens as well as two semi-annual conferences.