Media Contact
Janice Laurente
(202) 775-1401
janice.laurente@dittus.com

Armed Services YMCA Receives $500K from Jolie-Pitt Foundation to Support Military Kids Affected by Iraq War
National Mentoring Program will Expand to Serve more Children
Washington, D.C. – The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA), the nation’s leading nonprofit organization supporting junior enlisted military personnel and their families, is proud to announce a $500,000 donation from the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, an organization founded by actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. The funds will go toward the ASYMCA’s Operation Hero program, a mentoring program for military children who experience temporary difficulty in school, both socially and academically, due to emotional stress from deployment, family disruption and frequent moves. Click here to read more.

Book of Essays by Military Kids to Benefit Service Members and Their Families
Washington, D.C. (May 13, 2008) – The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA), the nation’s leading nonprofit organization supporting the families of junior enlisted military personnel, today announced the scheduled release of MY HERO, a book comprised of entries from ASYMCA’s 2007 Student Essay and Art Contest, on Thursday, May 15. Twenty percent of the sales of MY HERO directly benefit ASYMCA programs that provide educational, recreational, social and spiritual support services for our troops and their families. Click here to read more.

Military Medical Personnel Honored at Armed Services YMCA Gala
Washington, D.C. (March 7, 2007) – Tonight, the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) -- a national nonprofit organization that is the leading provider of social and support services to members of the U.S. military and their families – will honor the military men and women who administer life-saving medical treatment to our troops on the front lines at The ASYMCA Angels of the Battlefield Gala. Click here to read more.

Armed Services YMCA to Receive $20K Donation to Aid Military Families During Deployment
Fort Bliss, TX (February 5, 2007) – TriWest Healthcare Alliance today donated $20,000 to the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) of El Paso to be used for the ASYMCA’s Junior Enlisted Family Center, which serves as an essential resource for Fort Bliss families by easing the burdens of deployment. Click here to read more.

Armed Services YMCA Launches 2007 Essay and Art Contest
Alexandria, Va. (November 1, 2006) – The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA), the nation’s leading nonprofit organization supporting the families of junior enlisted military personnel, today launched its annual art and essay contest for children of active duty and retired military personnel from all five branches of the military, as well as the National Guard, and Reserve. Click here to read more.

Health Net Federal Services Lends a Hand to
America’s Military Families
NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 27, 2006 – At a dinner with Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) leaders last night, Health Net Federal Services, Inc., one of the nation’s largest providers of health care to America’s military families, presented a check for $300,000. This generous donation will help sustain many of the educational, recreational and support services provided by ASYMCA to military families at Camp Lejeune, Fort Bragg/Pope Air Force Base, Fort Drum, Fort Campbell, Fort Lee and the Navy installations in Hampton Roads, Va. Click here to read more.

Armed Services YMCA Art and Essay Contest Winners Showcased on Capitol Hill
Alexandria, Va. – June 28, 2006 – Award-winning artwork and essays by 26 children (grades 1-12) of active duty or retired military personnel will be on display in the U.S. Senate’s historic Russell Rotunda July 3-7. Winners were selected from a pool of entrants to the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) annual art and essay contests, which asked students submit artwork that best illustrates their military families, or essays about why they are proud of their military families. Click here to read more.

Health Net Federal Services Lends a Hand to
America’s Military Families
ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 19, 2006 – Health Net Federal Services, Inc., one of the nation’s largest providers of health care to America’s military families, will be showing their support for the troops in many new ways this year. With an annual donation of $300,000 to the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA), Health Net Federal Services will help sustain many of the educational, recreational and support services provided by ASYMCA to military families at Camp Lejeune, Fort Bragg/Pope Air Force Base, Fort Drum, Fort Campbell, Fort Lee and the Navy installations in Hampton Roads, Va. Click here to read more.

Americans Asked to Remember Troops on Anniversary of War
Washington, DC –March 15, 2006 – The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA), in collaboration with Music for a Cause, ask all Americans to remember our nation’s troops on March 19, 2006, the 3rd anniversary of the war in Iraq. ASYMCA and Music for a Cause have launched the “Send a CD to a Soldier” program, a unique way for Americans to let our men and women in uniform know that their service to our country is appreciated. Click here to read more.

Armed Services YMCA Honors Uni ted States
Armed Forces On Veterans’ Day
Washington, DC –November 11, 2005 – The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) today recognized Veterans’ Day by commending all those who have served our country as members of the United States Armed Forces, and by calling for continued support of deployed U.S. service
members and their families. Veterans’ Day falls during ASYMCA’s Military Family Month, a time to demonstrate the nation’s support for and commitment to the families of military personnel. Click here to read more.

Country Music Star Aaron Tippin Announced as Armed Services YMCA National Spokesperson
Washington, DC – October 27, 2005 – The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) today announced that Billboard Country music star Aaron Tippin will be serving as the organization’s national spokesperson. The announcement was made during an event for military families and supporters at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, where Tippin helped to kick off ASYMCA’s 10th annual Military Family Month. Formally established by ASYMCA in 1996, Military Family Month is a time to demonstrate the nation’s support for and commitment to the families of military personnel. Click here to read more.

SONY BMG’s Strategic Marketing Group to release
Patriotic Country™ 2 on June 14th
New York, NY May 17, 2005 – The SONY BMG Strategic Marketing Group announces the June 14th release of Patriotic Country™ 2, the follow-up to 2004’s popular debut, Patriotic Country™. This CD provides a multitude of dynamic patriotic songs from popular country artists. It serves the dual purpose of providing entertainment for any country music fan as well as raising awareness for the Armed Services YMCA, a charity supporting the families of junior enlisted military personnel. Click here to read more.

Armed Services YMCA Presents Congressman Gene Taylor With Annual Honor
Washington, D.C. , May 12, 2005 – The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA), the nation’s leading not-for-profit organization supporting the families of junior enlisted military personnel, today honored U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss) for his commitment to serving and protecting our nation’s military personnel. Taylor was presented the Military Family Congressional Champion Award by the ASYMCA in Washington, DC, at a luncheon sponsored by General Dynamics. Click here to read more

Camp Lejeune Armed Services YMCA Wins National Award
Washington, D.C. , May 12, 2005 – Today the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) honored its Camp Lejeune branch with the 2004 "Best New Program" award, sponsored by Raytheon Company. The Camp Lejeune ASYMCA won the award for its Crafty Campers program, which focuses on artistic development in children between two and seven years old. The branch received a $10,000 award from Raytheon. Click here to read more

Two Seattle Area ASYMCA Branches Win
National Awards
Washington, D.C. , May 12, 2005 – Today the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) honored two ASYMCA branches in the Seattle area with prestigious national awards for programs serving families of enlisted military personnel. The Kitsap Family YMCA, located in Bremerton, won the "Best Use of Volunteers" award for its Selective Swim program that helps handicapped youth learn to swim. The Whidbey Island ASYMCA in Oak Harbor won the "Most Innovative Improvement" award for its Full Day Kindergarten program. Both awards are sponsored by Raytheon Company and earn the branches $4,500 grants from Raytheon. Click here to read more

Junction City, Kansas Business Leader Wins National Recognition
Washington, D.C. , May 12, 2005 – Today the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) honored Junction City resident John Trygg, President and CEO of Konza Construction, as its 2004 Volunteer of the Year, the organization’s highest individual honor. Trygg earned this recognition because of his decade-long commitment to programs at the Junction City Family YMCA, which serves military families from nearby Fort Riley. Click here to read more

New Exhibit At U.S. Navy Museum Celebrates Artwork And Essays From Military Children
Washington, D.C. , January 27, 2005 – Winning entries from the annual Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) Art and Essay contests for children are now on display at the U.S. Navy Museum, the flagship museum of the U.S. Navy. The exhibit runs through March 2005. The museum is open to the public, but visitors must make an appointment by calling 202-433-6897 for entry to the Washington Navy Yard. Click here to read more

Supporting Military Families Is a Great Charitable Giving Choice this December
Alexandria, Va., December 6, 2004 – As the holiday season approaches, hundreds of thousands of families of our military’s junior enlisted personnel carry multiple emotional and financial burdens while their loved ones are deployed overseas. The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) is calling upon Americans to show their support for these families, specifically for military children, by making a donation to the ASYMCA…Click here to read more!

ASYMCA’s Frank Gallo Wins Harold C. Smith Distinguished YMCA Service Award
New York, NY, November 19, 2004 – The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) announced today that its National Executive Director Frank Gallo, RADM, USN (Ret.), was presented with the Harold C. Smith Award, which honors leaders who have provided distinguished service to the YMCA. This annual award is named for Harold C. Smith, former President of the YMCA Retirement Fund…Click here to read more!

President Bush Joins Armed Services YMCA in Honoring Military Families
Alexandria, VA, October 25, 2004 – November 2004 marks the 9th annual Military Family Month, formally established by the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) in 1996 to demonstrate the nation’s support for and commitment to the families of military personnel. With hundreds of thousands of service members deployed overseas, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan today, this recognition of the sacrifice that military families make every day has never been more important…Click here to read more!

Armed Services YMCA Receives Two “Newman’s Own” Awards for Innovation to Improve Military Quality of Life
Alexandria, VA, August 24, 2004 – The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) proudly accepted two “Newman’s Own” grants today, which reward the organization’s ingenuity and innovation to improve military quality of life. Charles S. Abell, Principal Deputy Undersecretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness), presented the award in a ceremony at the Pentagon’s Hall of Heroes. Mrs. Silke Hagee, wife of General Michael W. Hagee, 33rd Commandant of the Marine Corps, accepted the award on behalf of the ASYMCA at the ceremony…Click here to read more!

Armed Services YMCA Presents Award to Alaska Railroad Corporation President and CEO Pat Gamble
Alexandria, VA, June 18, 2004 – The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) recently presented Pat Gamble (General USAF, Retired) with its first Chairman’s Board Giving Roundtable Award at its annual board meeting. Gamble, president and CEO of the Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC), was recognized for making $186,000 in train fare available to military families in Alaska during 2003…Click here to read more!

Armed Services YMCA Honors Those Who Serve American Military Families
Washington, DC, May 13, 2004 – The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) today honored individuals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and service to military personnel and their families. ASYMCA presented Congressman John M. McHugh (R-NY) with the Military Family Congressional Champion Award for his work with the defense community and military families. ASYMCA 2004 Volunteers of the Year, Dale and Cheryl Scherberger, were recognized for their outstanding volunteer efforts on behalf of military families. …Click here to read more!

ASYMCA Achieves 70 Percent Increase in Volunteer Hours During Wartime Period
Alexandria, VA, April 21, 2004 – Today, as part of National Volunteer Week, Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) announced that Americans committed 128,377 volunteer hours in 2003 to families of military personnel during wartime, a 70% increase since 2002…Click here to read more!

Local Volunteer Earns Noted Marge Thorne Award
Bremerton, WA, March 10, 2004 – Today, the Kitsap Family Branch of the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) announced that it has presented local retiree Gary Larson with the organization’s Marge Thorne Award. The award is given annually to a volunteer who goes beyond the call of duty in support of military families…Click here to read more!

Event Marks Expansion of Operation Hero Program At Camp Lejeune
Camp Lejeune, NC, March 3, 2004 – Today, the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) and Sodexho USA celebrated the expansion of the ASYMCA’s Operation Hero program here by presenting an award of recognition to Superintendent of Schools at Camp Lejeune Dr. Robert Brinton. The award was presented by ASYMCA board member Silke Hagee, wife of General Michael Hagee, Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps...Click here to read more!

Armed Services YMCA Commemorates September 11th Attacks at Freedom Walk in Washington
Washington, DC (September 11, 2001)– Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) joined thousands of Americans in remembering the innocent lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001, at the second annual Freedom Walk. The event was expected to draw more than 15,000 people, including family members of 9/11 victims, members of Congress, administration officials, federal workers, corporate employees, civic organizations and citizens from around the country. A concert followed at the Pentagon South Parking Lot. Click here to read more.