By Nancy Gilbride

Express Scripts is extremely proud to serve the 9.7 million active and retired military personnel and their dependents through the TRICARE® program since 2003.

At Express Scripts, we believe in giving back to the communities that support us. We focus our community engagement in four areas: health, education, support for youth and families, and support for our military troops. That’s why we are honored to support our military troops through our involvement with the Armed Services YMCA.

In September 2011, Express Scripts sponsored a fundraiser for the ASYMCA Operation Kid Comfort program. The fundraiser was held during the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks to show the company’s appreciation of the sacrifices family members make and to recognize the patriots who make our freedom possible.

Operation Kid Comfort creates custom-made quilts and pillows for children of deployed U.S. military personnel who experience grief from missing their mom or dad. Photos of the deployed parent are printed onto fabric and sewn into the quilt or pillow. Each child then receives a quilt or pillow depending on the age of the child.

To show our support for the ASYMCA, Express Scripts’ employees and family members volunteered to make quilts or provide monetary donations to fund quilting materials for the program. In fact, our employees in offices around the country raised over $10,000, to assist in this important effort.

Each year,  the ASYMCA honors military men and women who administer life-saving medical treatment to our service members on the front lines at the Annual Angels of the Battlefield Gala. Express Scripts is supporting the ASYMCA’s Angels of the Battlefield Gala this year at the bronze level. ASYMCA works with the military services to select corpsmen and medics from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Navy Reserve and Air Force Reserve to represent and receive awards on behalf of their fellow corpsmen and medics for their dedication and commitment to service.

Express Scripts has supported many other organizations and events that directly and indirectly impact active duty, guard and reserve personnel who have served or are serving overseas and/or stateside. We are actively involved with several beneficiary associations. Our employees volunteer their time to present TRICARE pharmacy benefit information to the beneficiaries and to provide employment guidance on several advisory councils. We have been recognized for our efforts by the Missouri Employee Support for Guard and Reserve (ESGR) and have received the Patriot Award, the Above and Beyond Award, and the Seven Seals Award.

In addition, Express Scripts’ corporate policies and training programs show a strong level of support for employees who are actively deployed, guardsmen or reservists. Express Scripts has enacted a pay differential and extended benefits to help aid service members while they are deployed on active duty and during mobilizations. These benefits will be available to the member and their families for more than one year.

Express Scripts also has incorporated training on Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) into the supervisor’s training tool kit for both new and existing leaders within the organization.

Express Scripts takes a very proactive approach to military recruiting. The Talent Acquisition department is reaching out all over the country through various recruitment channels, to extend our job opportunities to provide active duty, guard, and reserve personnel opportunities for employment.

The important work of the ASYMCA helps to bring families closer together whether at home or in times of deployment. This means healthy families are sustained, which contributes greatly to the success of service members and the entire military. Most importantly, the ASYMCA educates, entertains and comforts young children, who suffer the most from missing a deployed parent. Express Scripts is honored to be involved with the ASYMCA, creating a wholesome, supportive environment for our military families around the country.

Nancy Gilbride, who serves on ASYMCA’s Board of Directors, is Express Scripts vice president and general manager of the TRICARE account.

About Express Scripts:

Express Scripts is the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) for the TRICARE® Pharmacy Program. Express Scripts provides eligible Department of Defense beneficiaries with the cost-savings and convenience of receiving medications by mail or from a highly accessible, nationwide network of retail pharmacies. We’re committed to making the use of prescription drugs safer and more affordable for the 9.7 million TRICARE beneficiaries we serve.

PRIVATE SERVICES

ARMED SERVICES YMCA

The Armed Services YMCA is a social services agency with branches and affiliates at many major installations in the U.S. Most services are offered free or for a nominal fee with a valid military ID card.

Recreational, educational, social and religious programs include child care, mentoring, computer learning centers for children, single service members’ centers, hospital assistance, transportation, adult classes, aerobics and classes in English as a second language.

Through the YMCA Outreach program, Armed Services YMCA is contracted by the Defense Department to offer free family memberships at local, participating YMCAs throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico, for families of deployed National Guard and Reserve personnel and active-duty members assigned to independent duty who do not have access to installation morale, welfare and recreation programs. For specifics, visit www.asymca.org and look under “What We Do” and “National Military Programs.”

Contact: www.asymca.org

NATIONAL MILITARY FAMILY ASSOCIATION

In addition to providing a wealth of information about benefits and services for military families, this organization has many other programs, including scholarship programs for military spouses, free “Operation Purple” camps for children of deployed service members, and reintegration weekend retreats for families.

Contact: www.militaryfamily.org

OPERATION HOMEFRONT

This network, with 23 chapters nationwide, offers help with day-to-day issues for families of deployed troops and wounded warriors. Services include financial assistance, housing and food needs; critical car, home and appliance repair; refurbishing computers; moving and transportation; and furniture needs.

Contact: www.operationhomefront.net/map.aspx

RED CROSS

Armed Forces Emergency Services of the American Red Cross provides a vital link to home for those serving in remote areas. Emergency messages can be sent by service members or their families for quick relay by the Red Cross to almost any community or military installation, even to ships at sea. Some local Red Cross chapters may be able to provide links to assistance for families, including parents of service members and others who may not live near a military installation.

Contact: 877-272-7337; www.redcross.org

RELIEF SOCIETIES

The four private military relief societies can help service members with emergency financial problems.

Each has local representatives on military installations, usually in family centers. They offer education assistance programs for spouses and children and also can help service members and families with debt management. Some aid comes through direct grants, but most is in the form of interest-free loans. The societies may be able to help service members get a no-interest loan within a few hours to help them avoid high-interest predatory lenders.

The societies rely solely on donations for their support and do not charge for their services.

Contact: Army Emergency Relief, www.aerhq.org; Air Force Aid Society, www.afas.org; Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, www.nmcrs.org; Coast Guard Mutual Assistance, www.cgmahq.org

SPOUSE CLUBS

These clubs, found at most military installations, help spouses get acquainted with new communities, make friends and find support. The clubs are chartered and registered with the local installations.

These are not formal entities of the Defense Department. Most are involved in a variety of charitable and self-help efforts.

USA CARES

This civilian group, formed in 2003, helps families with various problems that arise during deployments and mobilizations, with a focus on helping families through short-term financial crunches — helping with basic needs such as keeping the lights on and food on the table. USA CARES has a program to help wounded warriors and a program that can help families avoid losing their homes because of deployment-related financial trouble. Applications for assistance are accepted online only.

Contact: 800-773-0387; www.usacares.org

USO CENTERS

United Service Organizations operates more than 160 centers worldwide offering hospitality in commercial and military airports, on military bases and at Navy fleet centers. The centers have programs to meet local needs ranging from housing assistance and emergency assistance to support groups; cultural, educational and recreational activities; tours; and new spouse orientation. The “USO in a Box” program is a shippable USO center that can be sent anywhere in the world to support and entertain troops. The “USO Operation Phone Home” program provides free phone cards to troops.

Contact: 888-484-3876; www.uso.org

Health Net Federal Services, LLC, part of the Government Contracts segment of Health Net, Inc. (NYSE:HNT – News) has partnered with Blue Star Families and Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) of Hampton Roads to present Families in the Kitchen, an interactive evening for military families to prepare a healthy meal together on Monday, April 30.

Approximately 20 local military families have been invited to participate in a hands-on event with the goal of drawing families together and putting emphasis on meal time as a way to stay connected as a family before, during and after deployment.

“Health Net recognizes the unique pressures and challenges military families face. In observance of the Month of the Military Child, we have partnered with Blue Star Families and ASYMCA to host an evening that brings families together. It’s important to establish and continue healthy family routines, and meal time is an ideal time to reconnect and decompress as a family unit,” said Tom Carrato, president of Health Net Federal Services.

Parents and children will prepare their own fresh garden salad and healthy pizza to take home, bake and enjoy. The hour-long event will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Hampton Roads ASYMCA, 1465 Lakeside Road, Virginia Beach, Va.

“The Armed Services YMCA of Hampton Roads is excited to partner with Health Net’s Families in the Kitchen event, which aligns with our mission to make military life easier for military families,” said Juanita Pryor, regional outreach programs director, Armed Services YMCA of Hampton Roads. “We are proud to partner on events like these that benefit the families we work with.”

“The Families in the Kitchen event is a great opportunity for our military families to enjoy,” said Sheri Robey-Lapan, Blue Star Families senior director, Programs. “Health Net, a true supporter of our military family, brings a unique and fun-filled event to our community, and we are thrilled to be part of the evening.”

In addition to a delicious and healthy meal, each family will leave with a cookbook created by Health Net filled with fast, easy recipes kids can help prepare, and copies of Health Net’s kid’s journal, My Life, designed for military children who are experiencing the deployment of a loved one.

Members of the media are invited to attend. For more information, contact Angela Kennedy at (571) 227-6630.

About Health Net

Health Net, Inc. is a publicly traded managed care organization that delivers managed health care services through health plans and government-sponsored managed care plans. Its mission is to help people be healthy, secure and comfortable. Health Net, through its subsidiaries, provides and administers health benefits to approximately 6.0 million individuals across the country through group, individual, Medicare (including the Medicare prescription drug benefit commonly referred to as “Part D”), Medicaid, U.S. Department of Defense, including TRICARE, and Veterans Affairs programs. Health Net’s behavioral health services subsidiary, Managed Health Network, Inc., provides behavioral health, substance abuse and employee assistance programs to approximately 5.0 million individuals, including Health Net’s own health plan members. Health Net’s subsidiaries also offer managed health care products related to prescription drugs, and offer managed health care product coordination for multi-region employers and administrative services for medical groups and self-funded benefits programs.

For more information on Health Net, Inc., please visit the Health Net’s website at www.healthnet.com.

ARLINGTON, Va., Apr 30, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Health Net Federal Services, LLC, part of the Government Contracts segment of Health Net, Inc. (NYSE:HNT) has partnered with Blue Star Families and Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) of Hampton Roads to present Families in the Kitchen, an interactive evening for military families to prepare a healthy meal together on Monday, April 30.

Approximately 20 local military families have been invited to participate in a hands-on event with the goal of drawing families together and putting emphasis on meal time as a way to stay connected as a family before, during and after deployment.

“Health Net recognizes the unique pressures and challenges military families face. In observance of the Month of the Military Child, we have partnered with Blue Star Families and ASYMCA to host an evening that brings families together. It’s important to establish and continue healthy family routines, and meal time is an ideal time to reconnect and decompress as a family unit,” said Tom Carrato, president of Health Net Federal Services.

Parents and children will prepare their own fresh garden salad and healthy pizza to take home, bake and enjoy. The hour-long event will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Hampton Roads ASYMCA, 1465 Lakeside Road, Virginia Beach, Va.

“The Armed Services YMCA of Hampton Roads is excited to partner with Health Net’s Families in the Kitchen event, which aligns with our mission to make military life easier for military families,” said Juanita Pryor, regional outreach programs director, Armed Services YMCA of Hampton Roads.

“We are proud to partner on events like these that benefit the families we work with.”
“The Families in the Kitchen event is a great opportunity for our military families to enjoy,” said Sheri Robey-Lapan, Blue Star Families senior director, Programs.

“Health Net, a true supporter of our military family, brings a unique and fun-filled event to our community, and we are thrilled to be part of the evening.”
In addition to a delicious and healthy meal, each family will leave with a cookbook created by Health Net filled with fast, easy recipes kids can help prepare, and copies of Health Net’s kid’s journal, My Life, designed for military children who are experiencing the deployment of a loved one.

Members of the media are invited to attend. For more information, contact Angela Kennedy at (571) 227-6630.

About Health Net
Health Net, Inc. is a publicly traded managed care organization that delivers managed health care services through health plans and government-sponsored managed care plans. Its mission is to help people be healthy, secure and comfortable. Health Net, through its subsidiaries, provides and administers health benefits to approximately 6.0 million individuals across the country through group, individual, Medicare (including the Medicare prescription drug benefit commonly referred to as “Part D”), Medicaid, U.S. Department of Defense, including TRICARE, and Veterans Affairs programs. Health Net’s behavioral health services subsidiary, Managed Health Network, Inc., provides behavioral health, substance abuse and employee assistance programs to approximately 5.0 million individuals, including Health Net’s own health plan members. Health Net’s subsidiaries also offer managed health care products related to prescription drugs, and offer managed health care product coordination for multi-region employers and administrative services for medical groups and self-funded benefits programs.

Press Release | April 23, 2012

April 23, 2012 – The TriWest Healthcare Board has voted to continue support of their charitable partners while undergoing a Department of Defense contract appeal.  TriWest lost the TRICARE contract for the West Region in March of 2012 and immediately appealed the decision. Military non-profit beneficiaries of TriWest support were hit hard by the news and possible consequences. “The TriWest board has stated that we will stand shoulder to shoulder with those organizations with which we have partnered in recent years to serve military families in the West until our last day in business, whenever that day may be”, stated TriWest’s Vice President for External Affairs, Scott Celley.

News that the support of 2012 ASYMCA programs would continue during the appeal process has been a welcome relief for the western branches of the Armed Services YMCA, including: Alaska, Hawaii, San Diego, Travis AFB, Camp Pendleton and Fort Riley.

The ASYMCA would be facing a significant funding deficit without the TriWest partnership, which would leave many popular programs and events like the Father-Daughter Dances and Hospital Waiting Rooms for children in jeopardy.  “It’s our incredible honor to stand alongside the ASYMCA as they provide outstanding support to military families who have experienced a decade of conflict and multiple deployments,” said TriWest Healthcare Alliance President and CEO David J. McIntyre, Jr. “We’re truly privileged to be able to help the ASYMCA in the military communities that we have the honor of serving together.”

Regardless of the appeal outcome, ASYMCA CEO Mike Landers said “the Armed Services YMCA is grateful for the legacy of support and service TriWest has provided over the years during our partnership. For them to step up and continue that support during this period is a testament to their dedication to serving our military and their families.”

About TriWest

TriWest Healthcare Alliance partners with the Department of Defense to do “Whatever It Takes” to support the healthcare needs of 2.9 million members of America’s military family. A Phoenix-based corporation, TriWest provides access to cost-effective, high-quality health care in the 21-state TRICARE West Region. Visit www.triwest.com for more information.

About the Armed Services YMCA

The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) was rated in the top 3% of charities nationwide by Charity Navigator in 2011.  The ASYMCA makes military life easier with free and low-cost programs for nearly 500,000 junior enlisted and their families each year at 33 branches and affiliates nationwide. Please visit www.asymca.org to learn more.

LAWTON, OK- It’s important in a military town to have a strong support structure and that’s what the Armed Services YMCA in Lawton provide.  They’ve been helping service men and women for 70 years.

This morning they kicked off their annual Partner-Member Campaign with a breakfast. Their goal is to raise over $82,000.

To show what the Armed Services Y does to help, they invited a woman to share her story.

Jodi Patterson had lived her entire life in California, her family and her job of 15 years were there, but she was about to be an army wife living in Oklahoma.

It doesn’t sound that unusual until you find out that Brian was 39 when he decided to join the army.

So he joined, she wasn’t happy, but wait there’s more, this story has tears, screaming, a coma and a happy ending.

“Well I don’t think I can put that on camera because I was furious, I came unglued, I just got in the car and drove. I drove out to Palm Springs which was about an hour away I just screamed and hollered and bawled my eyes out the whole time,” Jodi said.

When you decide to make a life changing decision, like joining the army that’s not exactly the kind of response you’re looking for. Understand that before joining, Brian was unemployed.

“As the breadwinner of the family the kids look up to you for food, look up to you to get fixed if they have medical needs, and I’m not gonna get a job that doesn’t offer much [sic] benefits,” Brian said.

After basic training they moved to Oklahoma

“We got here March 17th and he deployed June 3^rd,” Jodi said.

So about 75 days after arriving in Oklahoma it’s just Jodi and her kids. She didn’t know anybody, no support system and that’s where the Armed Services YMCA comes in.

“We got here we needed a microwave and we went in there and that’s how we met them, and we walked out with a microwave at no cost because it was available that day at the soldiers closet,” Jodi said.

But that’s just the beginning…

“They were on the phone what do you need, they were emotionally you know when you go in there they would you could just cry on their shoulder you could share your story, they cared they remembered your name  you weren’t just a person walking in that was a nobody they actually cared enough to know who you were,” she said.

That’s not the end of the story, after returning from Afghanistan the family of four reunited and took off to visit family in California. But they didn’t get far, a terrible car accident, a few hours down the road; Brian suffered a traumatic brain injury, and spent 6 weeks in a coma.

“When we were in the accident we immediately had an outpouring of his command team and the Y they immediately contacted us,” she said.

What does Jodi, who was screaming, crying, and not happy when her husband joined up, think about the army now?

“We want to stay, we want to keep and do it and he wants to retire out with it and we say we’re not gonna let it go and they’ll have to push us out, we’re ready to stay.”

We’re ready to stay? What a difference a couple of years can make. Jodi loves the army now, and she loves the Armed Services YMCA.

If you are a member of the armed services they would love to help you too.

By the way Brian isn’t fully recovered from the traumatic brain injury but the army has been there to support him all the way.

In 2011, the Newman’s Own foundation, through a partnership with Fisher House Foundation, awarded the Armed Services YMCA a $300,000 thousand dollar grant to serve military families thru 2012.

The grant provides family support for military families nationwide and has already impacted thousands of military and their families. The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) distributed program grants ranging from $30,000 to $50,000 to support programs at ASYMCA locations serving Marine and Army families, including:

• Camp Pendleton, California.
• 29 Palms, California.
• Camp Lejeune and Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
• Wheeler Army Air Field and Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.
• Fort Richardson and Fort Wainwright, Alaska.
• Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
• Fort Hood, Texas.
• Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Free ASYMCA programs target junior enlisted and their families, who are typically younger and have more financial and emotional burdens without nearby family to assist.  As of March 2012, more than $200,000 has been provided in support of thousands of military and their families. Direct support has included: emergency assistance, respite for medical issues, summer camp opportunities for low income families, diapers, groceries, car repairs, emergency housing, house fires, and support for travel and respite for families of Wounded Warriors.

Armed Services YMCA CEO Mike Landers is thrilled with the impact that the Newman’s Own donation continues to make for military families, “we thank our friends at Newman’s Own for their generous donation, as well as the Fisher House for facilitating the Newman’s Own award. We are proud to partner to make military life easier and help our junior enlisted military and their families “pay it forward” by eliminating problems today or ensuring they don’t become greater ones tomorrow.”

For one Marine father from 29 Palms, California, the grant “ brought peace of mind to know (his) family would be taken care of when he deployed ” and know his “ family would not be alone with no one to turn to.”

The Armed Services YMCA was rated in the top 3% of charities nationwide by Charity Navigator in 2011, receiving their 6^th consecutive 4-star rating.  The ASYMCA makes military life easier with free and low-cost programs for nearly 500,000 junior enlisted and their families each year at 33 branches and affiliates nationwide. Please visit www.asymca.org to learn more.

The Fisher House Foundation is a unique private-public partnership that supports America’s military in their time of need. The program recognizes the special sacrifices of our men and women in uniform and the hardships of military service by meeting a humanitarian need beyond that normally provided by the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. Please visit www.fisherhouse.org to learn more.

The Newman’s Own Foundation donates all net royalties and profits after taxes it receives from the sale of Newman’s Own products to charity. To date, Paul Newman and Newman’s Own Foundation have given over $300 million to thousands of charities around the world. Please visit www.newmansownfoundation.org  to learn more.

San Diego | Navy Dispatch | April 19th, 2012

Healthy Kids Day coming to Murphy Canyon Sat., April 21

Healthy Kids Day, presented by the San Diego Armed Services Y, will be held on April 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the ASYMCA Headquarters at the Santo Baseball Field.

Put play in your day and join us for an afternoon filled with outdoor activities that will challenge the entire family to stay healthy! Families who attend will be invited to sample healthy snacks while enjoying active games, resources, and prizes encouraging families to have fun together.

The event is open to all military families. To ensure we have enough prizes and food please pre-register at www.militaryymca.org for the event!

ASYMCA Headquarters is located at 3293 Santo Road. San Diego, CA 92124. Phone (858) 751-5755.

April 26: ASYMCA hosts monthly Neighborhood Exchange Food Bank

The Armed Services YMCA HQ will host its monthly Neighborhood Exchange Food Bank for Military Child month. This family outreach event will take place on Thursday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to noon.

April is the month of the military child–come celebrate with free popcorn for the kids in attendance! Meeting Professionals International will be here helping with a baby item drive. We’ll have art projects and obstacle races, and 400 kids outfits from Carters!

Bring your bags and enter a raffle. You must bring a reusable bag with you to enter the raffle.

The ASY has partnered with the San Diego Food Bank to provide a monthly food distribution for qualified families in zip codes 92123 and 92124 (please scroll down for income requirements). Food is first come, first serve for the first approximately 150 families who come and bring their own bag!

The Neighborhood Exchange usually takes place on the 4th Thursday of the Month (check www.militaryymca.org for holiday schedules) from 10 a.m. to noon.

Tickets are given out prior to start time in line order (line forms in the park) at the

ASYMCA Paul Hartley Complex.

3293 Santo Road, San

Diego, CA 92124

Please see below for income requirements.

*Military families do not need to include BAH. If you live in another zip code, you can go one time out of area.

*Please note, families are only able to attend one San Diego Food Bank site per calendar month, which means they cannot go to Neighborhood Exchange and Miramar Food Locker in the same calendar month.

Emergency Food Assistance Program Income Guidelines

Household Size Monthly HH

Income Annual HH Income

1 $1,361 $16,335

2 $1,839 $22,065

3 $2,316 $27,795

4 $2,794 $33,525

5 $3,271 $39,255

6 $3,749 $44,985

7 $4,226 $50,715

8 $4,704 $56,445

Each additional member add $478 $5,730

Special thanks to the San Diego Food Bank! Thanks also to Sempra Energy Foundation and SDG&E for your generous ongoing support of this event! We also thank Words Alive, Military Outreach Ministries, Californians for Drug Free Youth (CADFY), and The Bookman for your partnerships!

To donate or volunteer, please call (858) 751-5755.

Kids coloring contest: ASYMCA is looking for ‘America’s next top Artist’

The winner of the ASYMCA America’s Next Top Artist Coloring Contest will be recognized at Military Appreciation Day at the Drew Brees Celebrity Championship on Sunday May 20th at La Costa Canyon Resort and Spa.

Contest Rules and Submission Guidelines:

· All drawings must fit on an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper

· Artists can use any 2D medium (crayons, markers, pastels, paint, etc)

· No 3D drawings (no glitter, no glue-ons )

· Drawings must incorporate the following themes: Family, Military, San Diego Armed Services YMCA, Drew Brees

· Winner must be able to attend the Opening Ceremony at Military Appreciation Day on May 20th

How to submit your child’s drawing:

· Healthy Kids Day on April 21: Bring your drawing or create it there!

· Drop drawings off or mail them to our headquarters: 3293 Santo Road San Diego, CA 92124, Attn: Cat,

· Originals (in color) can be scanned and emailed in PDF or JPEG format to cquirk@asymcasd.org

· Please be sure to include parent contact information with submission

· Submissions are due by May 7.

Click here to see our Armed Services YMCA Huffington Post Blog about this partnership

In 2011, the Newman’s Own foundation, through a partnership with Fisher House Foundation, awarded the Armed Services YMCA a $300,000 thousand dollar grant to serve military families thru 2012.

The grant provides family support for military families nationwide and has already impacted thousands of military and their families. The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) distributed program grants ranging from $30,000 to $50,000 to support programs at ASYMCA locations serving Marine and Army families, including:

• Camp Pendleton, California.
• 29 Palms, California.
• Camp Lejeune and Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
• Wheeler Army Air Field and Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.
• Fort Richardson and Fort Wainwright, Alaska.
• Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
• Fort Hood, Texas.
• Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Free ASYMCA programs target junior enlisted and their families, who are typically younger and have more financial and emotional burdens without nearby family to assist.  As of March 2012, more than $200,000 has been provided in support of thousands of military and their families. Direct support has included: emergency assistance, respite for medical issues, summer camp opportunities for low income families, diapers, groceries, car repairs, emergency housing, house fires, and support for travel and respite for families of Wounded Warriors.

Armed Services YMCA CEO Mike Landers is thrilled with the impact that the Newman’s Own donation continues to make for military families, “we thank our friends at Newman’s Own for their generous donation, as well as the Fisher House for facilitating the Newman’s Own award. We are proud to partner to make military life easier and help our junior enlisted military and their families “pay it forward” by eliminating problems today or ensuring they don’t become greater ones tomorrow.”

For one Marine father from 29 Palms, California, the grant “ brought peace of mind to know (his) family would be taken care of when he deployed ” and know his “ family would not be alone with no one to turn to.”

The Armed Services YMCA was rated in the top 3% of charities nationwide by Charity Navigator in 2011, receiving their 6^th consecutive 4-star rating.  The ASYMCA makes military life easier with free and low-cost programs for nearly 500,000 junior enlisted and their families each year at 33 branches and affiliates nationwide. Please visit www.asymca.org to learn more.

The Fisher House Foundation is a unique private-public partnership that supports America’s military in their time of need. The program recognizes the special sacrifices of our men and women in uniform and the hardships of military service by meeting a humanitarian need beyond that normally provided by the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. Please visit www.fisherhouse.org to learn more.

The Newman’s Own Foundation donates all net royalties and profits after taxes it receives from the sale of Newman’s Own products to charity. To date, Paul Newman and Newman’s Own Foundation have given over $300 million to thousands of charities around the world. Please visit www.newmansownfoundation.org  to learn more.