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The Armed Services YMCA has achieved the highest 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for the sixth year in a row.

In its letter to our national executive director, Charity Navigator said this of the Armed Services YMCA:

“We are proud to announce Armed Services YMCA has earned our sixth consecutive 4-star rating. Receiving four out of a possible four stars indicates that your organization adheres to good governance and other best practices that minimize the chance of unethical activities and consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way. Only 3% of the charities we rate have received at least 6 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that Armed Services YMCA outperforms most other charities in America. This “exceptional” designation from Charity Navigator differentiates Armed Services YMCA from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust.”

Click here to read the full letter.

So do what The Gunny says:
SUPPORT OUR MILITARY FAMILIES TODAY!

Click here to learn how you can help support the Armed Services YMCA.

Click here to make a donation.

Woman’s Day asks you to help them “Support Our Troops!” by donating to the Armed Services YMCA. Click the WD icon below to donate:

Our great nation’s birthday is fast approaching, and it’s an important time to thank our country and our service members and their resilient families. The July issue of Womans’s Day magazine does just that. Siobhan Fallon, and Army spouse and author of You Know When the Men are Gone, penned an amazing essay for the issue about the lives of military families, titled, “The Brave: Standing Together in the Dawn’s Early Light.”

Woman’s Day also encourages everyone to “Support Our Troops!” by donating to the Armed Services YMCA:

Help us thank our troops by making a donation to the Armed Services YMCA, which this year celebrates 150 years of continuous service to americas military — junior enlisted service members and their families. Send a check payable to Armed Services YMCA (write Woman’s Day on the memo line or on the envelope) to 6359 Walker Lane, Suite 200, Alexandria, VA 22310. To donate by credit card, call 800-597-1260 (9 a.m.-5 p.m. ET).

Kaitlyn Nicole won 1st Place in the 7th/8th grade category of the contest with her “My Military Hero” essay, earning her a spot in the Grand Prize contest along with 11 other 1st and 2nd place winners from grades K-12.

As the Grand Prize winner, Kaitlyn Nicole will receive an additional $500 U.S. Savings Bond, in addition to her other prizes.

The 12 winners of the 2011 art contest (two from each branch of service) and 12 winners of the 2011 essay contest were recognized at a dinner in the Washington, D.C., region on May 12. All winning artwork will be featured on the annual Military Family Month Poster, which is distributed to Members of Congress and the Department of Defense, and displayed publicly throughout the year.

Thank you to everyone who voted on Facebook! And a special THANK YOU to the amazing, resilient children who put so much love and dedication into their drawings, and who are true heroes for the sacrifices they make for our country each and every day!

To learn more about the annual ASYMCA Student Art and Essay Contest, and see this year’s winning artwork and essays, click here.

Rory McPherson, Kittery, Maine, U.S. Coast Guard

The Armed Services YMCA is proud to announce that Rory McPherson, a 3rd-grader from Kittery, Maine, has been voted the 2011 ASYMCA Student Art Contest Grand Prize Winner. For the first time, ASYMCA turned to our “fans” on Facebook to determine the grand prize winner of our annual Student Art and Essay Contest.

Rory won 1st Place in the Coast Guard category of the contest with her “My Military Family” drawing, earning her a spot in the Grand Prize contest along with 11 other 1st and 2nd place winners from each of the U.S. military branches.

As the Grand Prize winner, Rory will receive an additional $500 U.S. Savings Bond, in addition to her other prizes.

The 12 winners of the 2011 art contest (two from each branch of service) and 12 winners of the 2011 essay contest will be recognized at a dinner in the Washington, D.C., region tonight (May 12). All winning artwork will be featured on the annual Military Family Month Poster, which is distributed to Members of Congress and the Department of Defense, and displayed publicly throughout the year.

Thank you to everyone who voted on Facebook! And a special THANK YOU to the amazing, resilient children who put so much love and dedication into their drawings, and who are true heroes for the sacrifices they make for our country each and every day!

To learn more about the annual ASYMCA Student Art and Essay Contest, and see this year’s winning artwork and essays, click here.

Press Release | March 31, 2011

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) tonight honored the military men and women who administer lifesaving medical treatment to our troops on the front lines at the 5^th Annual Angels of the Battlefield Gala. General Raymond Odierno, Commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command, gave the keynote address at the event honoring corpsmen and medics from 10 branches of the active military, guard and reserve components. 2011 marks the 150^th anniversary of the ASYMCA, the leading provider of social and support services and programs to members of the U.S. military and their resilient families.

ASYMCA worked with the military services to select corpsmen and medics from the Army, Army Reserve, Navy, Navy Reserve, Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air National Guard and Army Guard, who accepted the awards on behalf of their fellow corpsmen and medics for their dedication and commitment to service.

“Our nation’s medics and corpsmen have evolved to meet the changing needs of their brothers-in-arm,” said Eugene Habiger, General, USAF (Ret.), chairman of the National Board of Directors of the ASYMCA. “These ‘Angels of the Battlefield’ are men and women who risk everything to provide aid, to be compassionate comrades and comforting brothers and sisters when our soldiers need it the most. Their unwavering heroism is something that moves me every year that I am fortunate enough to be in their company at this fine event, and as a retired airman, something I never took for granted in my many years of service.”

The following service members received awards on behalf of their fellow corpsmen and medics:

U.S. Army

Sergeant John C. Curtis, of Lisbon, Maine, accepted an award at the Angels of the Battlefield gala on behalf of his fellow U.S. Army medics. He has been deployed twice to Iraq and was selected to support a mission in a hostile area of Iraq. At 8 years old, Sergeant Curtis was inspired by his father to join the Army and continues the military tradition in his family that includes his father Darryl R. Curtis, U.S. Army; grandfather Romeo Binnette, U.S. Army KIA (Vietnam); grandfather Carroll Curtis, U.S. Navy (Ret.); and great grandfather Earle Grass, U.S. Navy (Ret.). He said his most rewarding moment in the military happened when he returned home and was greeted by the praises of his family and Battalion Commander. Sergeant Curtis was nominated for the Bronze Star with Valor Device medal for the combat events of June 28, 2008, when he treated casualties during an Iraqi attack. His past awards include the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal and the Good Conduct Medal, and he was the first enlisted soldier to receive the D.A.I.S.Y. award.

Staff Sergeant Devon Poole, of Brown Deer, Wis., accepted an award at the Angels of the Battlefield gala on behalf of his fellow U.S. Army medics. Staff Sergeant Poole was awarded the Army Commendation Medal with Valor for his heroic efforts to save the life of is squad leader, who was shot in the abdomen by enemy fire. Using his own body as a shield, Staff Sergeant Poole was able to protect him from further injury, as well as later administer lifesaving aid and prevent him from going into shock. Perhaps a moment that stands out most vividly for Staff Sergeant Poole — an incident that he said demonstrates the significance of the role of the medic — was treating an Iraqi man’s daughter, whose forearm had been severely injured and side grazed by a bullet. Staff Sergeant Poole continues the military tradition in his family after his grandfather Technical Sergeant Fred Poole, U.S. Air Force (Ret.); father, Senior Chief Kurtis Bartelt, U.S. Navy; and brother, Sergeant Derek Bartelt, U.S. Air Force. He has been deployed to Iraq twice.

U.S. Marine Corps

Hospital Corpsman Third Class (FMF) Peter A. Gould, U.S. Navy, servicing the Marine Corps, and of Syracuse, Kan., was presented with the Silver Star on March 4, 2011, the third-highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy. He attended the 5^th Annual Angels of the Battlefield gala on behalf of his fellow U.S. Navy corpsmen servicing the U.S. Marine Corps. During a local security patrol, Hospital Corpsman Third Class Gould’s squad was engaged from three different directions by an enemy force estimated at between 35 to 40 Taliban fighters. One of the Marines from the patrol was shot in the leg, and with complete disregard for his own safety, Hospital Corpsman Third Class Gould repeatedly exposed himself to accurate, medium machine gun and small arms fire to retrieve the wounded Marine and apply medical aid. By his bold leadership, wise judgment and complete dedication to duty, Hospital Corpsman Third Class Gould upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

U.S. Navy

Hospital Corpsman Third Class Shabir Nawabi, of Los Angeles, Calif., accepted an award on behalf of all U.S. Navy corpsmen. After moving to the United States as a refugee from Afghanistan, he said that he joined the U.S. Navy to “give back to the country that has adopted him as a son.” Over his four years of enlistment, Hospital Corpsman Third Class Nawabi has served on the USS Santa Fe and was deployed for six months to Kandahar Afghanistan.

U.S. Air Force

Staff Sergeant Abraham Jara, of North Hollywood, Calif., accepted an award at the Angels of the Battlefield Gala on behalf of the medics of the U.S. Air Force. He is the first in his family to serve in the military and was inspired to join the Air Force after an Airman left a strong impression at a his second-grade “career day.” He was deployed to Panshir, Afghanistan, from June 2009 through March 2010. Staff Sergeant Jara received the Air Force Combat Action Medal after he secured the safety of the individuals in his vehicle, after encountering a small arms ambush while on a convoy. He said that one of the most rewarding aspects of being a medic is experiencing the gratefulness of the individuals or the family members of someone he saved.

U.S. Coast Guard

Health Service Technician Second Class Kevin Bishop, of Flomaton, Ala., accepted an award on behalf of his fellow U.S. Coast Guard medics. He was twice selected to support a U.S. Coast Guard mission in a hostile area of Iraq. He is assigned to the Special Mission’s Training Center, located on Camp LeJeune, N.C. Health Services Technician Second Class Bishop has used his law enforcement background, military experience and exceptional medical knowledge to identify and resolve unusual problems while deployed. He exhibited superb medical training skills by instructing 10 Iraqi students in basic medical skills, a difficult task complicated by language barriers. On another occasion, Health Services Technician Second Class Bishop led a SMTC color guard to represent the U.S. Coast Guard at a Vietnam Veterans Memorial dedication ceremony.

U.S. Navy Reserve

Hospital Corpsman First Class (FMF) John Morrison, of Fleming Island, Fla., accepted an award at the Angels of the Battlefield gala on behalf of his fellow U.S. Navy Reserve corpsmen. He has served two seven-month tours in Iraq and is the recipient of the Navy Achievement Medal, after his mission in Ramidi, Iraq. Hospital Corpsman First Class Morrison used his hospital background experience and exceptional medical knowledge to provide treatment after a mass casualty incident. He had just returned from time off after his tour in Iraq, but he said he assisted at the surgical site because lives were at stake. Morrison was born in Bangkok, Thailand, and spent his childhood in Satellite Beach Florida. Hospital Corpsman First Class has gained the nickname “Doc” from his fellow marines because of their trust.

U.S. Air Force Reserve

Command Technical Sergeant Christina Wiskowski, of Bryn Mawr, Pa., accepted an award on behalf of all the U.S. Air Force Reserve medics. She was studying pre-med in college before deciding to enlist and has since been deployed three times. She has received the Aerial Achievement Medal and twice was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal, after her exemplary performance in two of her deployments. While deployed at Bagram AF, she flew in nine combat missions and safely transported 65 patients. During another mission in Afghanistan, Command Technical Sergeant Wiskowski and her unit, despite being physically and emotionally exhausted, safely evacuated patients from a fire and managed to replace equipment and continue on to their original destination.

U.S. Army National Guard

Sergeant Antoine A. King, of Elkton, Md., accepted an award at the Angels of the Battlefield gala on behalf of all U.S. Army National Guard medics. He has served more than 14 years in the military, including three deployments. After a mass casualty on January 1, 2006, Sergeant King was one of the first medics to treat more than 25 casualties. He joined the Army National Guard because he wanted to save lives. His service has inspired his son, Stephen A. King, a Navy Corpsmen at Camp Pendleton, Calif., to enlist.

U.S. Air National Guard

Senior Airman Candice Cook, of Pittsburg, Pa., accepted an award at the Angels of the Battlefield Gala on behalf of all U.S. Air National Guard medics. She joined the U.S. Air National Guard three years ago and continues her family’s military tradition after her father and grandfather. Senior Airman Cook said that the military has offered her many educational opportunities, and she has gained valuable experience working in the medical field. Senior Airman Cook received the Army Commendation Medal and Iraq Campaign Medal for her tour in 2010, during which time she organized the equipment and coordinated the movements of each convoy.

Press Release | March 16, 2011

Washington, D.C. – The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) will be the recipient of a minimum of $100,000 from a WD-40 Company effort, launched today, to support those who serve or have served. The company will donate 10 cents from the sale of each of four limited edition cans with special artwork depicting service at sea, in air and on land. The can series will be available for sale at retailers across the country through Memorial Day.

In this 150^th anniversary year, the ASYMCA is dedicated to providing programs to support the men and women of America’s military, and their resilient families. The funds from the WD-40® can sales will be used to fund the more than 150 program centers around the country, designed to enrich the quality of life for those who are committed to a life of service.

“Partners like WD-40 Company are integral to the development and delivery of programs and services to our servicemen and women and their families,” said Mike Landers, Deputy National Director, ASYMCA. “We are grateful for their recognition of our organization as a ‘charity of choice’ for providing programs and services to our Heroes in uniform and their families, and we look forward to working with an organization who shares our commitment to this important group.”

The WD-40 Company has committed a minimum of $100,000 to each of three organizations that support the military. In addition to the ASYMCA, Wounded Warrior Project and Veterans Medical Research Foundation will also receive donations from the company. Each WD-40 Military Collectible Series can includes a code for consumers to unlock videos from actor and retired gunnery sergeant R. Lee Ermey training purchasers how to use WD-40 to solve everyday problems.

“The Armed Services YMCA has made a positive difference in the lives of military families for 150 years,” said Tim Lesmeister, vice president of marketing at WD-40 Company.  “The men and women it helps are both dedicated and resilient and we hope this program honors their commitment and supports their efforts in a tangible way.”

For more information about the WD-40 Company initiative, please visit http://supporttroops.wd40.com/.

For more information about the Armed Services YMCA and their dedicated programs for the resilient families of American servicemen and women, please visit www.asymca.org.

Photo Credit: Politico

Paul Newman believed in the vagaries of luck. Thankful for his own good fortune, the iconic actor wanted to improve the luck of others. It’s why he stipulated that 100 percent of the profits from his Newman’s Own food line would go to charity.

Now, two years after the actor’s death, sales of his products have raised $300 million in charitable donations. Newman’s Own Foundation is recognizing the milestone by donating another $2.5 million to charities dedicated to America’s service members, which CEO Robert Forrester announced at an elegant reception – “A tribute to those who serve” – at the Library of Congress.

Forrester, a longtime friend of Newman’s, told POLITICO, “Paul Newman would have had a very simple answer for why we’re doing this: Because it’s the right thing to do.”

Read more…

ASYMCA is pleased to announce that it has met all 20 BBB charity standards for 2010.

The BBB Wise Giving Alliance national charity carries a lot of meaning for both donors and charities.

For donors, the appearance of the seal in a charity’s mailings, on its website, in newspaper and magazine advertisements or elsewhere is a clear and concise sign that the charity meets the Alliance’s Standards for Charity Accountability.

Donors may not know, though, that for charities, putting the seal in their materials is the culmination of a demanding process. Before national charities can even apply to use the seal, they must undergo evaluation by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, the nation’s most experienced charity evaluator. And the evaluation process is anything but superficial. It involves rigorous scrutiny of a charity’s governance, effectiveness, finances and solicitations and informational materials. The standards go beyond what government regulators require.

Only organizations that come through an Alliance review with a “meets standards” conclusion are eligible to participate in the seal program. Not all will decide to do so. Participation is entirely voluntary and involves licensing agreement and fee. But more and more charities report that the seal gives them an efficient way of demonstrating their commitment to accountability and ethical practices, the values that donors are looking for. This commitment is all the more credible when it is verified by the familiar and respected BBB Wise Giving Alliance.

“National charities that display the BBB Wise Giving Alliance seal can do so with pride,” says Art Taylor, President and CEO of the Alliance. “Not only are they attesting to their organizations’ adherence to sound standards, they are helping to increase donor confidence and strengthen public trust in giving.”