DoD Military Outreach Initiative

ASYMCA has partnered with the Department of Defense (DoD) on a $31-million initiative to provide eligible military families and active duty personnel with access to youth development, family strengthening, and health and well-being programs through memberships at community YMCAs nationwide. Membership fees are underwritten by the DoD.

The ASYMCA-DoD Outreach Initiative responds to a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008, which requires the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan to support military family readiness and to ensure that military family readiness programs and activities are available to all military families, including those of the National Guard and Military Reservists.

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Military Family Month

Military Family Month was established in 1993 by the Armed Services YMCA, with the U.S. Government recognizing the occasion every year since. President Barack Obama proclaimed November 2009 as Military Family Month, calling on all Americans to honor military families through private actions and public service for the tremendous contributions they make in the support of our service members and our Nation.

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Operation Outdoors

Over the past four years, 20,566 military children and their parents have received a camping experience thanks to a $1.5 million grant from the Sierra Club.

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Operation Holiday Joy

The holidays can be an especially trying time for the families or our service members currently deployed overseas. As hundreds of thousands of military families await their loved ones’ return, it’s our job to make their days a little brighter and their holiday season a little more joyous.

ASYMCAand Woman’s Day magazine, in partnership with the Military Channel, partner every November (Military Family Month) to sponsor Operation Holiday Joy, a national holiday drive to raise money for military families in need. All donations are used to purchase toys and holiday food baskets for military families in need. The drive has resulted in contributions totaling more than $720,000 from more than 6,900 generous donors.

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