J Street Cup charity golf tournament to benefit service members and their families
Washington D.C. Metro Area | The Daily Caller | April 12, 2013
Posted By Stuart Dezenhall On 3:36 PM 04/12/2013
The 11th annual J Street Cup charity golf tournament is set to be played April 22 at Mt. Vernon Country Club in Alexandria, Va.
The proceeds from the Cup will go toward two worthy causes, the No Greater Sacrifice Foundation and Armed Services YMCA.
No Greater Sacrifice is a nonprofit organization that supports nearly 50,000 children of America’s fallen and wounded Service members. Funds are allocated towards scholarships and other resources in the pursuit of higher education for these children.
The Armed Services YMCA has been providing educational, recreational, religious and social resources to Service members and their families for 150 years. The ASYMCA offers programs that include childcare, hospital assistance, spouse support services, food services, computer training classes, health and wellness services and holiday meals.
The J Street Cup offers a fun way to raise money for these two causes and increase awareness of armed services members and their families.
Sponsorship for the J Street Cup is designated at several levels of donation and exposure during the event.
Platinum ($10k) donors can send three groups of four players to the event and receive sponsorship on two holes.
Gold ($5k) donors get to send two groups of four players to the event and sponsor one hole.
Platinum and Gold donors also receive visibility on the event website, a full page ad in the tournament program, logos on signage, the option of providing branded giveaways in the event’s participant gift bag, are included on all press related materials.
Silver ($3k) and Bronze ($2k) donors each receive one four-player group. Silver donors get half-page ads in the program while Bronze donors receive a quarter-page ad. They both also receive visibility on the event website, logos on signage and materials, the option of providing branded giveaways for the participant gift bag in the event.
All participant members of the Platinum, Gold, and Silver donor groups also receive a new Titleist Vokey Design Wedges.
Individual ($250) donors are also able to participate in the event and provide branded giveaways for the participant gift bag.
The J Street Cup golf tournament offers a chance to have a nice day of golf while providing meaningful assistance to America’s Service members and their families.
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URL to article: http://dailycaller.com/2013/04/12/j-street-cup-charity-golf-tournament-to-benefit-service-members-and-their-families/
Armed Services YMCA and Lincoln Military Housing Partner Up to Provide Community Events
HAMPTON ROADS, Va., April 16, 2013 – /PRNewswire/ — The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) of Hampton Roads services a significant portion of the military population stationed in southeastern Virginia. Offering an extensive variety of activities and services, ASYMCA’s mission is to improve and support the lives of service men and women and their families. Partnering withLincoln Military Housing (LMH), ASYMCA has created a thriving community center program. Due to the support of LMH, ASYMCA is able to offer a multitude of no cost programs to military members and their families.
The ASYMCA strongly believes in the benefit of support systems for spouses and children of military members. Partner LMH, as illustrated by their motto, “Every Mission Begins at Home”, shares this core belief. The focus of the ASYMCA community center program is health, wellness, and community connections for the spouses and children of military members.
With over 10,000 military children and spouses participating annually, local programs have attained high attendance levels. Some of the most popular events are preschool programs that increase kindergarten readiness – “Mommy & Me” classes, Zumba, and yoga fitness classes. These in-demand classes are also the most expensive programs to facilitate.
To generate funds to support the community center, ASYMCA, is planning to raise an additional $70K in 2013. Beyond the support from LMH, ASYMCA is sponsoring a fundraising Father-Daughter Ball, which will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Westin in Virginia Beach, on June 13, 2013. Additionally, ASYMCA has formed a partnership with Rip-It energy drink, which will cover the costs of the yoga fitness programs.
Contributions to community center programs can be made on the donation page of the ASYMCA Hampton Road website. For any additional questions on how to become a community partner, contact Juanita Pryor at 757-363-1884 (ext.307).
About Lincoln Military Housing In partnership with the Department of Defense, Lincoln Military Housing (LMH) was established in 2001 to improve the processes and quality of military housing in America. An affiliate company of Lincoln Property Company, a respected real estate developer since 1965, LHM has now grown to manage more than 31,000 family homes for military members. Providing much more than simply a home, LMH seeks to provide support services and community events for military families. LMH offers 24-hour maintenance assistance, outreach programs, community events, and more – all in an effort to create a solid home foundation for military members and their families. LMH services are available to members of the Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, United States Coast Guard, and National Guard.
For more information please visit: http://www.lpcmil.com
Media Contact Katie Hans khans@lpsi.com (703)674-2554
SOURCE Lincoln Military Housing
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2013/04/16/5345097/armed-services-ymca-and-lincoln.html#storylink=cpy
Salute set for Padres’ annual Military Opening Day
San Diego | Padres.com | April 14, 2013
Ceremony also will recognize the San Diego Military Advisory Council & REBOOT veteran transition program
SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres today announced the complete line-up of events surrounding Military Opening Day presented by Northrop Grumman, this Sunday, April 14, which officially kicks off a full season of Sunday military salutes.
Pregame ceremonies for Military Opening Day presented by Northrop Grumman will include nearly 200 active duty men and women lining the base paths and the 50 State Flag Team from Marine Corps Recruit Depot. The ceremony will recognize the San Diego Military Advisory Council and the REBOOT veteran transition program for their efforts in support of service members and their families.
Sunday’s National Anthem will be performed by Navy Band Southwest and MajGen Ronald Bailey, Commanding Officer of the First Marine Division, will throw the Ceremonial First Pitch and present a U.S. flag recently flown in Afghanistan to the Padres. Military Take the Field, which has become a Sunday tradition, will feature representatives from the Army, California National Guard, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy.
In addition Sunday, Laura Brayton, a military spouse representing the Armed Services Armed Services YMCA San Diego will be accompanied by her husband, USMC Capt. Andrew Brayton as she sings “God Bless America” during the 7th inning break.
In support of Military Opening Day, presenting sponsor Northrop Grumman has donated 1,500 tickets for Sunday’s game to local military non-profits, and FOX Sports San Diego has teamed up with the Armed Services YMCA to have its Fan Express bring military families to the game.
More information about the full line-up of Military Salutes this season, including Military Spouse Appreciation Day and a Salute to the Military Child, can be found on the club’s dedicated military website, www.padres.com/military, which serves as a tool to connect Padres fans to our San Diego military community and non-profit organizations that support it.
Tickets for all home games can be purchased at the Petco Park box office, online at www.padres.com, by phone at 619.795.5555, at the Padres Store in Tijuana, and new this year, at all Ticketmaster locations.
BILLY RAY CYRUS’ LATEST CD NOW AVAILABLE AT BUFFETS, INC. RESTAURANTS; PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT MILITARY FAMILIES
Greer, SC– (April 11, 2013) – Buffets, Inc.® is proud to announce its latest tie-in with country music, this time with the singer/songwriter/actor Billy Ray Cyrus and his 13th studio album, Change My Mind. Beginning April 11, guests can pick up Cyrus’ latest CD at Ryan’s®, Country Buffet®, HomeTown® Buffet, Old Country Buffet® and Fire Mountain® for a special $8.99 price, while supplies last. Proceeds from the CDs will support the Armed Services YMCA® (ASYMCA) for Operation Outdoors, a camp program that assists the children of military personnel during deployment.
“Our restaurants are all about providing an inviting environment for families to connect over a delicious meal. It’s fitting to be partnering with one of America’s most famous fathers and military supporters while aligning with the ASYMCA and its mission of helping military families reconnect,” said Alice Crowder,Vice President of Marketing for Buffets, Inc.
Produced by GRAMMY nominated, multi award-winning producer Brandon Friesen, Change My Mind is a stellar 10-song collection, which harkens back to Cyrus’ roots in bluegrass, Southern rock, gospel, and country music. The Flatwoods, KY native wrote or co-wrote every song on the CD including the title track and lead single, “Change My Mind.” The tune is already a fan-favorite with the music video nearing the Top 10 on Great American Country’s (GAC) Top 20 Country Countdown.
Billy Ray Cyrus struck it big in June 1992 with his debut album, Some Gave All. This debut eventually became a 9x-platinum selling No. 1 album, fueled by the best-selling single “Achy Breaky Heart,” which spent five weeks atop the Billboard Country chart. Some Gave All (which held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Top 200 chart for 17 weeks in a row and became the best-selling debut album of all time by a male solo artist). This success launched Cyrus’ colorful 20-year career in the spotlight — during which he has sold millions of albums worldwide, charted nearly 30 singles (including three No. 1 country hits), and racked up multiple film and television credits. Cyrus also made his debut in the Broadway play CHICAGO late last year. Throughout all of his success, Billy Ray has remained devoted to the military cause and he is overjoyed to partner with Buffets, Inc. on this project.
ABOUT THE ASYMCA
The ASYMCA Operation Outdoors camp program provides an opportunity for military children to take a break from everyday worries. The unique atmosphere of the camp provides an opportunity for military kids to meet and have fun with each other and build a support network of friends going through the same experiences. Children are also able to take advantage of outdoor activities that will help foster leadership and teamwork skills, as well as boost their self-esteem.
In addition to the camps for children, the ASYMCA sponsors camps that reunite families with loved ones returning from overseas service. Service members are able to take mini getaways to the outdoors and spend quality time with their entire family, catching up and reconnecting. ASYMCA launched the camp program in the summer of 2007 for children of junior enlisted military personnel and their families.
ABOUT BUFFETS, INC.
Buffets, Inc., the nation’s largest steak-buffet restaurant company, currently operates 347 restaurants in 35 states, comprised of 337 steak-buffet restaurants and 10 Tahoe Joe’s Famous Steakhouse restaurants. The restaurants are principally operated under the Old Country Buffet®, HomeTown® Buffet and Ryan’s® brands. Buffets employs approximately 18,000 team members and serves approximately 100 million customers annually. For more information, visit www.Buffet.com
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Buy tickets to the PGA MidAtlantic Championship to Benefit the Armed Services YMCA May 30th-June 2nd
Click here to see the MidAtlantic Championship- purchase tickets to benefit the Armed Services YMCA!
TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm
May 30 – June 2
MU students spend spring break at ASYMCA camp
Fort Campbell, OK |Fort Campbell Courier | April 4th
Posted: Thursday, April 4, 2013 6:00 pm
by Lori Brenae Perkins, Courier staff
For spring break, instead of joining the bandwagon and partying at Cancun, Mexico or Panama City Beach, Fla., 12 college students from the University of Missouri volunteered last week at the Fort Campbell Armed Services YMCA.
The college students worked with the ASYMCA, located on Reed Street, to help prepare 25, 4-to 5-year-old preschoolers for elementary school.
The University of Missouri is part of Alternative Breaks, a large organization that sends 40 site leaders and participants to various locations to help communities.
“I just found out two weeks ago … I think it’s worked out really well,” said site leader Jayme Gardner, a senior. “The participants that we have and the way that they are and their personalities work well with that age group.”
During camp, the children were put in animal groups of five and were given different activities each day. Among the activities was when an education naturalist from Animal Tales, a company that provides nature and zoo animal education, brought a raccoon, an owl, a porcupine, a toad and a snake, which were the names of the groups, for the children to observe.
“[They] learned about the animals, [colored, had relays and obstacle courses, played tag] and [made] art and crafts,” said Gardner. “They had a potato and stuck little toothpicks in it and eyes on it, and made it a porcupine.
The preschoolers were also taught team challenges and the importance of team work.
“I really like the challenge [activities],” said freshman student Kristin Ayer. “As their leader, we can encourage them to encourage their teammates and teach them to be positive and help each other out.”
By the end of camp week, the students saw growth in the preschoolers’ understanding of restraint and teamwork.
“It’s funny, in the beginning of the week, [some of the children] wouldn’t understand why they didn’t get to pick up a ball or do whatever,” explained Gardner. “Now, they’re cheering each other on and telling me things like ‘I can’t do anything without my team.’”
“It’s been really cool to see the development of the kids,” said Morris. “It’s been good to see how well they’ve adjusted.”
The spring break program also richly helped a few of the non-ASYMCA preschoolers who are not able to interact with their peers regularly.
“Even in the short four or five days we’ve been with them, we’ve already seen them starting to not only understand the rules, but [being] excited to follow the rules,” Gardner said.
The ASYMCA usually has programs to assist preschoolers, but this year, opted for a different kind of pre-registration program.
“We normally do programs like Our Little Heroes program, which is a preschool program that we do for kids whose parents are deployed…,” said director Shirley West. “We decided that we’d do a spring break camp.”
To register a child for spring break camp, certain qualifications were required.
“One of our criteria was that they had to be 4 [years-old] by the beginning of the school year, last year in September,” said adventure camp coordinator Susan King.
“We looked for E-5s and below; it’s our focus.”
Site leaders, Gardner and junior Skylar Morris, both agree that donating their time is one of the “highest forms of service.”
“Spring break for me now is service,” Gardner said. “I’ve always really like to go and see other communities and learn about other people.”
On Friday, senior Chi Him Ng, showed emotions as she was handed an “I’ll miss you” card from a preschool girl.
“It’s bittersweet,” Ng said.
Preschooler Tyler Arnone, 4, had a positive change after camp.
“I think it helped him become more open with people he didn’t know very well,” his mother Jennifer Arnone said. “[He] was excited to go to a camp that his older brother and sister weren’t going to.”
Before the students left Saturday, they helped hide eggs for the ASYMCA egg hunt at Camp Hinsch.
“We probably had about 800 people; we hid over 10,000 eggs,” West said.
Spring break camp taught preschoolers new activities and discipline while giving UM students a chance to mingle with the Fort Campbell community, experience Soldiers’ homecoming and personally see how children deal with deployments: a lesson they will never forget.
“Every night we have reflection,” explained Gardner. “I think for a lot of us it’s been really awesome… [being here] put into perspective, what a lot of these kids are going through.”
UCLA Veteran’s Conference April 27th
AMVETS National Ladies Auxiliary Chooses Armed Services YMCA as National Project for 2013
Leslie R. Wunderle, Life Member of AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary #2 in Anchorage, Alaska was elected to the office of National President at the AMVETS National Ladies Auxiliary 66th National Convention in Daytona Beach, Florida on August 11, 2012.
Her family, the Department of Alaska and her local Post 2 are extremely proud that Leslie was the 1st Auxiliary member from Alaska to be elected to the National board. She was first elected to the office of Chaplain in Greensboro, North Carolina and has consequently served as Scholarship Officer, 3rd Vice President, 2nd Vice President and 1st Vice President.
Leslie is a 21 year Member of AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary after joining when she married her husband Emil in 1991. Emil is a proud Veteran of the US Navy having served from 1961-1967. Leslie is also very proud of the service of her grandfather (US Army-Ret.), father (USMC and Army National Guard) and stepfather (US Air Force-Ret.).
On the Local level, Leslie served as President for 3 terms, 1st Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Parliamentarian, Hospital, Sergeant At Arms and Liaison. On the Department level she served as President, 1st Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Parliamentarian. During Leslie’s second term as President, Alaska received the Department of Year at the National Convention in Reno, Nevada.
Leslie graduated from AJ Dimond High School in Anchorage and attended the University of Alaska – Fairbanks, then moved to warmer climates to attend Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. Upon returning to Alaska in 1981 she went to work in the Mortgage and Title industry. She has worked for her current employer, Residential Mortgage, for more than 20 years and is grateful they have allowed her to transfer to their Spokane, Washington office to make her travel during her year as National President more accessible. This move also allowed Emil to retire and become Chief Cook, Laundry Dude and “Bag Boy”.
Leslie has chosen “Serving Those Who Served” as the theme for her year and her National President’s project is the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA). ASYMCA was formed by a group of local YMCA members who voluntarily provided relief to the American Armed Services during the Civil War. The first permanent Army YMCA was founded at Fort Monroe, Virginia in 1889. The ASYMCA was officially established and recognized as part of the Department of Defense in 1984. The ASYMCA motto is “Serving Those Who Serve America”.
Click here to learn more
During her tenure as National President, Leslie looks forward to visiting AMVETS Auxiliary members throughout the United States and seeing firsthand how those members put into action her theme, “Serving Those Who Served”.
La Quinta Putting Might Behind Military
Hotel Business Journal | March 2013
LAS CROABAS, PUERTO RICO—One of the key initiatives over the next year for La Quinta Inns & Suites will be an all-out effort to embrace members of the armed services, as well as veterans and veteran-owned vendors.
Describing the military-friendly concept for some 1,300 attendees here at the midscale chain’s annual conference being held at El Conquistador Resort, President/CEO Wayne Goldberg said it would range across a variety of strategies, including hiring, community giving, marketing and recognition.
“We want to hire more veterans and military spouses because they are quick learners and have demonstrated leadership qualities and to designate La Quinta as a ‘Top-25 Military Spouse Friendly Employer’ for 2013,” said Goldberg. He noted the company recently was cited by GI Jobs magazine as a military friendly employer.
In addition, Goldberg said the chain’s community-giving efforts have enabled it to form strategic partnerships with several leading military non-profit organizations, and in working with these groups “Our [loyalty program] Returns members will be able to donate their Returns points to a fantastic philanthropic cause: the military family,” he said.
EVP/Chief Marketing Officer Julie Cary said the organizations include Fisher House Foundation, Operation Home front and the Armed Services YMCA.
“Fisher House has a program called ‘Hotels for Heroes,’ a program that helps military-family members who have urgent, last-minute travel needs,” said Cary, indicating the donation of Returns points is a simple process. “The donated Returns points go into a central account managed by the Hotels for Heroes team, who can then redeem them for stays at our hotels,” she said.
Although the program is just getting off the ground, approximately 125,000 points already have been donated.
Beginning in May, La Quinta will launch a new tier within the Returns program that will offer active-duty military, military spouses, caregivers and veterans the opportunity to join the program and receive an accelerated tier status similar to the loyalty program’s Gold tier.
The La Quinta Returns Military Rewards program also will include: 2,000 Returns points on the first stay; two King Room upgrade certificates; 20% bonus points on all stays; a dedicated, exclusive customer service and reservations telephone number; a personalized welcome kit; and a 12% discount when military identification is shown.
Goldberg added the chain’s efforts to recognize military members would include giving them a key-card sleeve at check in that recognizes their service.
The CEO told attendees there was one non-cost aspect of the program that could and should be implemented immediately.
“Train your front desk [staff] and everyone at your property to recognize and thank anyone in uniform. When your employees see a member of the armed forces in uniform, they should immediately go up to the individual and thank them for their service to our country,” said the CEO.
The military initiative, which Goldberg said was inspired by consultant Lee Dushoff who works with the chain, is being spearheaded by Derek Blake, La Quinta’s VP/partnership marketing.
The CEO also said the chain would look to increase its support of vendors that are veteran owned. The company presently works with approximately 22 such vendors.
Media support targeted toward the military will launch in May and include print and online efforts, said Cary.
Goldberg felt La Quinta’s military initiative is more comprehensive than other programs and offers the chain a competitive advantage. “More importantly, it’s the right thing to do,” he said.—Stefani C. O’Connor
Retiree Spotlight
MOAA Magazine | April 2013 | Page 28
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