About Us

WE HAVE MORE THAN 45 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN RESTORING HOPE & CHANGING LIVES.


Anchor House is a Christian ministry that began in 1974. We are located in Polk County, Florida, and are committed to reaching boys in crisis. Often things happen as a result of parents being unable to take care of their sons, independent of anything the boys have done. In circumstances like this, the boys are removed from the home. Unfortunately, in Polk County, most often these boys must leave the area to receive the care they need. Anchor House is one of the few facilities in the county that can provide these young boys in crisis with hope.

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Mission

We are a Christian ministry that believes a personal relationship with Christ is the most powerful manner of personal and societal transformation.  As a result of our mission focus, we aim to become the hands and feet of Christ to those children who are hurting and homeless.  This past year we have again made tremendous strides forward to help the children of Polk County and surrounding counties. Our approach has been two-fold. Our first task is to care for the children who come to us through a myriad of traumas. Over the past ten years, eighty-six percent of children who come to Anchor House have been abused. Other children come to us through neglect. Some come because there is just not any place for them to go when a lone parent dies. All come from some form of trauma. Because of the trauma endured, many children act out the aggression or trauma imprinted upon them, making reunification challenging for a single parent or caring individuals who desire foster care adoption.

History

The History and Growth of Anchor House Ministries

Our Founder

Anchor House was founded in 1974 by Mark “Pop” Rivera who directed operations of the ministry for 33 years. A reformed gang member and heroin addict who became an Episcopal deacon, Rivera understood the power of transformation and redemption. His goal was to provide a safe, stable, and structured environment for boys where both God’s love and accountability was practiced. The land on which our main Auburndale campus resides was donated by Mosaic Company in 1982. Rivera passed away in 2012.

Jay Troxel – Troxel Hall

Troxel Hall on our main campus is named after Jay Troxel who spent his professional years conducting independent appraisals of banks and other commercial enterprises so he could travel the world with his wife and business partner, Eloise. After Eloise’s death in 1997, Troxel started making donations to area non-profits in his wife’s name. Before he passed in 2012, Troxel set up a fund called The Community Foundation of Greater Lakeland so he could continue giving after he was gone. That foundation evolved into the Give Well Foundation which continues to support Anchor House Ministries to this day.

Dr. Joseph Davis - Current Executive Director

The Transitional Houses are a vision brought to reality by current Executive Director, Dr. Joseph Davis. Once residents reach 18 years of age, they can no longer live at Anchor House. Knowing statistics place 85% of aged-out foster care kids homeless and living on the streets, Davis brought the first transitional houses to Polk County. Based on availability, the willingness to work, and school attendance, Anchor House residents may transition to residences staffed with house parents at any of our four homes throughout Lakeland. 

Maurice Sigler – Sigler Hall

Sigler Hall, also on our main campus, is named after Maurice Sigler. Sigler was a former corrections officer who became a warden, was twice appointed by President Nixon, and was Chairman of the U.S. Parole Board in Washington, D.C. Sigler wanted to be a part of changing the lives of young men who had never before had a chance to know what living meant. As a child, Sigler was heavily impacted by the 1938 movie “Boys Town” starring Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney. Because of this, Sigler became a major supporter of Anchor House Ministries after he moved to Lakeland, Florida, to retire. Sigler passed away in 2009.
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