Armed Services YMCA Art Contest Winners Announced! Presented by GEICO

Army: Grace Snell

Marines : Patrick Wilson Carroll

Navy:  Elliot J. Crane

Air Force: Aspen Adams

Coast Guard: Jackson Yarbrough

Guard/Reserve:  Emilia Caney

2012 ASYMCA Annual Report Now Available!

Click here to see our 2012 Annual Report

Army Times: ASYMCA One of a “Dozen Doing Good” Nationwide

Army Times | May 6, 2013

Click Here to see the 5/06/13 Issue of the Army Times which includes the Armed Services YMCA as one of a ” Dozen Doing Good.”

The Power of Print: $1.5 Million Dollars Raised for Troops

 

Over 100,000 Military Children Impacted by the YMCA DoD Initiative with the Armed Services YMCA

Do you know that over 1,481 YMCAs participate in the YMCA Department of Defense Initiative Program?

The Armed Services YMCA makes military life easier, and has partnered with YMCA’s nationwide along with the Department of Defense to offer youth development, healthy living and social responsibility to military families. Over 100,000 military children have been impacted by this opportunity since 2008. Active-duty, Guard, Reserve and their families can see if they are eligible for the free program by here.

 

• Fun Fact- The Armed Services YMCA also partners with 300 Y’s for the Navy Special Warfare Recruit Fitness Training Program!

 

 

Armed Services YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day® on April 20 Aims to Help Military Kids Exercise Minds and Bodies

San Diego| Scoop San Diego | April 18, 2013

On Saturday, April 20, the Armed Services YMCA San Diego (ASYMCA) is celebrating YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day® with a free community event that encourages military kids in San Diego to get moving and learning, and families living healthier. Healthy Kids Day, the Y’s national initiative to improve families’ health and well-being, takes place at 1,900 Ys and kick-starts healthier behaviors now and throughout the summer, a critical out-of-school time for children’s health.

Military children face many unique challenges such as relocations and the prolonged and frequent deployments of a parent. In addition, many U.S. children do not get the daily recommended hours of physical activity and reading, and daily amounts of healthy foods. According to the latest findings of the YMCA’s Family Health Snapshot – a survey of parents that gauges their children’s activity levels during the school year – only 19 percent of children get 60 minutes of physical activity, only 17 percent read books for fun, and only 12 percent eat at least eight fruits and vegetables daily.

“At the Armed Services YMCA San Diego, we understand that military parents have enough to worry about. We don’t think that keeping their kids physically and intellectually active every day should be one of them. We want to help ensure fewer kids are at risk of childhood obesity and more kids excel in school,” said Paul Steffens, Executive Director. “We are so excited to partner with the YMCA for this national initiative and specifically gear our ASYMCA’s Healthy Kids Day to military families. This event will get kids moving and learning while also helping families get a jump on creating a healthier summer, and ultimately a healthier future.”

ASYMCA’s Healthy Kids Day takes place at the Santo Baseball Field from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm. This event will feature fun, active play and educational activities. Families will get active with an obstacle course, mini-ball games, bounce houses, and tug-o-war. Healthy snacks like trail mix and fruit pizza will provide refreshment, while resource tables and activity booths like the Rad Hatter’s silly hat making booth will provide a place to relax. Gym Ventures will also be leading gymnastic-style exercises, while Heartlight will be coordinating fitness dance routines and jump rope fun.

ASYCMA’s Healthy Kids Day is supported by Coleman University and San Diego Uptown Rotary. ASY is proud to host representatives from Cabot Creamery, Feeding America San Diego, Chicano Federation, and Sunflower Family Child Care, who will provide a variety of healthy snacks and awareness materials for attendees.

YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day is supported by national media partners Sprout and Lazy Town, who are committed to encouraging kids to lead a healthy lifestyle. Representatives from the Downtown YMCA, Mission Valley YMCA, and Borderview YMCA will join the Armed Services YMCA at Saturday’s event. The YMCA of San Diego County will be celebrating Healthy Kids Day the following Saturday, April 27th—allowing military families the chance to participate in two weekends of fun.

For more information, contact Cat Quirk at 858-751-5755 or visit MilitaryYMCA.org.

Dance strengthens bond between fathers, daughters

Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs Military Newspaper Group | April 14, 2013

Capt. Derek Foster, commander, Company A, 704th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, dances with his daughters, Ruby, 12, left, and Gracie, 9, during the seventh annual Military Father Daughter Dance at the Crowne Plaza Colorado Springs hotel, Saturday.

Story and photo by Cpl. William Smith

4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

Fathers held their daughters and twirled them around the dance floor, the young women dressed in gorgeous gowns, their eyes full of admiration for those who held them as they danced to “My Girl.”

The Armed Services YMCA hosted the seventh annual Military Father Daughter Dance at the Crowne Plaza Colorado Springs hotel for dads and daughters to strengthen bonds, April 13.

“The Father Daughter Dance is all about (dads) connecting with their daughters,” said E.D. Rucker, military outreach coordinator, Armed

Services YMCA. “The Armed Services (YMCA) mission is to enhance the life of the active-duty members and their Family. The dance is about them bonding; it is about the dad and the daughter having that time together.”

Fathers were raving about the opportunity to dance the night away with their daughters.

“Last year we were not able to come (to the event) because I was in Afghanistan,” said Capt. Derek Foster, commander, Company A, 704th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.

“With my many deployments, just being home is great, but being able to come to the dance with my daughters is just amazing,” Foster said.

For some of the attendees the dance was the first chance to create memories.

“The bond and the memories that my daughter and I are creating are amazing,” said Sgt. James Spaulding, health care specialist, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., as he held his daughter, Alyssa, 3.

“We don’t have a lot of memories because I was deployed and this is the first daddy-daughter date, first daddy-daughter anything, the first of many (to come).”

Foster said that events like these help servicemembers to reconnect with Family.

“Your Family is always there for you, so take advantage of the time you get with them,” Foster said.

Foster’s daughters, Ruby, 12, and Gracie, 9, both said they were excited that their dad was able to come to the dance, and enjoyed spending time with him.

Rucker said the YMCA staff looks forward to hosting events that help servicemembers.

“It is a beautiful thing, and (the dance) is my favorite event that we put on,” Rucker said. “Realizing what … military men and women do, seeing that you guys are so proud and your daughters are so proud that they are with their dads. When you see that, it touches your heart, it just touches your heart.”

Rancho Santa Fe Jeweler and artist Todd Krasovetz host May 2 event

Camp Pendleton, CA | Rancho Santa Fe Review | April 18, 2013

Steve Brower, Todd Krasovetz, painting by Todd, Kourtney Krasovetz, and Coleen Freeman.

Coleen Freeman, owner of Rancho Santa Fe Estate and Fine Jewelry, and Fine Art artist Todd Krasovetz, along with his business partner and Rancho Santa Fe resident Steve Brower, will host an event on Thursday, May 2, from 5-8 p.m. in the courtyard behind Rancho Santa Fe Estate and Fine Jewelry, located at 6024 Paseo Delicias in Rancho Santa Fe.

In celebration of Mother’s Day (May 12), a percentage of proceeds from sales at the event on May 2 and throughout the month of May will benefit the “Mommy and Me” program administered by the Armed Services YMCA at Camp Pendleton. The event will commemorate the grand re-opening of the jewelry store at its new location on Paseo Delicias and the grand opening of artist Todd Krasovetz’ interactive studio and art gallery. Appetizers provided by Dinners by David and La Reine des Macrons, wine, entertainment by Ean Corbett, opportunity drawing and a miniature military F18 jet display will be offered. The event is free and open to the public, however, reservations are required. To RSVP, contact Kourtney Krasovetz at 619-730-8104 or kourtneykrasovetz@yahoo.com by Monday, April 29.

Rancho Santa Fe Estate and Fine Jewelry was established 30 years ago and specializes in a variety of services, including the acquisition, consignment and sale of gold, diamonds, watches and all other precious metals and gemstones. The inventory of items for sale is an eclectic selection of new, antique and designer pieces. The store features an on-site Master Jeweler with 30 years’ experience in his trade and is qualified to create a wide variety of custom designs. Other services offered include expert cleaning, re-sizing, jewelry and watch repair, pearl re-stringing and appraisal capability. Owner Coleen Freeman has 25 years’ experience in the jewelry business. During this time, she has refined her taste and technical expertise in the industry. In the five years she has owned Rancho Santa Fe Estate and Fine Jewelry she has become a mainstay in the community and has established an impeccable reputation for her integrity and sincerity.

American artist Todd Krasovetz was born in Frankfurt, Germany and is internationally renowned for his contemporary abstract expressionism style of painting. Krasovetz’s influences can be tied back to the works of Sargent, Matisse, Van Gough and Pollock. Krasovetz is also recognized for his military artwork; two of his paintings, titled “Wings of Hope” and “Hidden Wings,” that depict Navy corpsmen in action were commissioned for the set of the Lifetime TV show “Army Wives.” The original paintings are on permanent display at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton and the Corpsman Field Training Center on base. “Army Wives” features hand-painted prints of the originals. Todd’s business partner, Steve Brower, is an art aficionado, as well as an accomplished pilot who flew as a Captain for American Airlines for 25 years and who now flies a private corporate DA10 aircraft.

The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) “Mommy and Me” program is a preschool parent network guided by ASYMCA preschool teachers that provides parents of toddlers from 18 months to 5 years old with tools that enable them to begin and sustain their young child’s educational development. ASYMCA Lil’ Friends and Kindertyme programs emphasize kindergarten readiness, socialization and positive parent/child interactions. Both programs meet twice a week for one hour and are offered at various locations throughout Camp Pendleton.

Call 760-385-4921 or visit http://www.camppendletonasymca.org/services.html. For additional information regarding Rancho Santa Fe Estate and Fine Jewelers, log onto www.ranchosantafejewelers.com, call 858/756-4047 or email at rsfjewelers@yahoo.com. Todd Krasovetz may be reached at 619-490-9985 or through his website at www.toddkrasovetz.com.

Armed Services YMCA Preparing For Annual Partner Member Campaign Breakfast

Lawton, OK | 7 News | April 22, 2013

 

LAWTON,  OK- The Armed Services YMCA and 2013 Partner Member Campaign Chairman BG(R) Jim Cerrone are proud to announce the annual campaign has set a goal of $61,900.

The funds from this campaign allow us to continue providing programs and services to Soldiers and their families.

“In the Lawton-Fort Sill community, we love our Soldiers and we know the hardships incurred when young Soldiers with families deploy and redeploy to combat areas.”  Cerrone states, “While these young dads and moms keep our nation safe, the Armed Services YMCA provides support vital to the families.”

“The Armed Services YMCA is the leading provider of social and support services for military families”, states Bill Vaughan, ASYMCA executive director, “Through the generosity of donors, the ASYMCA Lawton Fort Sill has provided educational, recreational, social, and  inspirational support services to military personnel and their children continuously since 1942″.

ABOUT ARMED SERVICES YMCA

The Armed Services YMCA continues to maintain an increase of more than 200 percent during each of the last four fiscal years which clearly demonstrates that need outpaces resources.

The families of our military’s junior enlisted personnel carry multiple emotional and financial burdens while their loved ones are deployed overseas. When service members know their families are taken care of at home, they have peace of mind and can focus on their job of defending our country. The Armed Services YMCA plays a vital role in meeting the needs of the young military family.

The Armed Services YMCA Lawton Fort Sill is Oklahoma’s leading nonprofit organization supporting junior enlisted personnel and their families. For more information, please call Kate Whitehead at the Armed Services YMCA, 580-355-5520.

Woman’s Day Reader Donations Top 1.5 Million Dollars to Bring Holiday Joy To Our Troops

BRINGING HOLIDAY JOY TO OUR TROOPS

Woman’s Day and the Armed Services YMCA’s Operation Holiday Joy

 

 

Total Amount Raised to Date by Woman’s Day Readers Since 2004:

 $1,585,979.68

 

 

Over  9,000  Individual Donors

 

On behalf of the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) National Board of Directors, the staff and most importantly the young men and women who serve our country and their families, I extend sincere thanks to Woman’s Day and its readership for supporting Operation Holiday Joy.   Woman’s Day readership has contributed over $1.5 million dollars to Operation Holiday Joy in just 9 years.  In addition, to maximize the number of families served, the ASYMCA donates all the staff time and overhead associated with running Operation Holiday Joy.  The generosity and unwavering support shown from Woman’s Day readership has allowed the ASYMCA to purchase and distribute over 1600 pallets of toys (over 320,000 toys) as well as deliver over 25,000 baskets of food at Thanksgiving and Christmas to junior enlisted families in need.

These young heroes and their families are voluntarily serving and sacrificing daily so we can continue to enjoy our freedoms and way of life.   The generosity shown from Woman’s Day readership demonstrates an appreciation for the sacrifices required of these dedicated defenders of our country.

From all of us here at the Armed Services YMCA, thank you for helping make military life easier.

To see thank you notes from military families impacted by this great program, please pick up the May 2013 issue of Woman’s Day Magazine.

 

Mike Landers

Captain, USN (Ret.)

President/CEO