RESCHEDULED FOR 3/19: Matt Stover and Vice Chief of Naval Operations to Honor Outstanding Military Medical Personnel

STORM UPDATE: RESCHEDULED FOR MARCH 19th

Dear Angels of the Battlefield Attendees –

In follow-up to my email yesterday afternoon, the ASYMCA has made the decision to postpone the 7th Annual Angels of the Battlefield until Tuesday, March 19th.  We have been closely monitoring the storm tracking information and all models indicate the Washington DC area will be heavily impacted.  For the safety and well-being of event attendees and staff, we believe it is in everyone’s best interest to delay the evening’s festivities.

Realizing schedules are committed in advance, we are hopeful you will still be able to join us on Tuesday, March 19th.  With that said, logistically our turnaround is tight and we request your prompt participation in updating your attendance status.  If the date change doesn’t alter your plans to attend, you don’t need to do anything.  Should your schedule prohibit you from joining us on Tuesday, March 19th, please email your cancellation to Susan Simms at ssimms@asymca.org as soon as possible but no later than, Thursday, March 14th.

The ASYMCA regrets any inconvenience that may cause.  If you are in the path of the storm please stay safe.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.

Jonsie T. Stone

Director of Financial Development

ARMED SERVICES YMCA NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

7405 Alban Station Court, Suite B215, Springfield, VA 22150-2318
(P) 703-455-3986 Ext 115 (F) 703-455-2181

(E) jstone@asymca.org (W) asymca.org

 

 

 

Contact:

Brittany Catton

Armed Services YMCA

(703) 455-3986, ext. 112

bcatton@asymca.org

 

 

Former Baltimore Raven Matt Stover and Vice Chief of Naval Operations to Honor Outstanding Military Medical Personnel

When: Wednesday, March 6^th, 2013. Reception, live music, and Step and Repeat at 6:30pm. The Program will take place from 7:30pm till 9:30pm.

 

Where:  The Ronald Reagan Building, Atrium level.  1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. Washington, DC, 2004.  Validated parking is available at the entrance on 14^th street. Government ID needed for admittance.

 

D.C., March 6, 2013 –Former NFL star kicker , Matt Stover, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies, while the Vice Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Mark Ferguson will give the keynote address to thank the Corpsmen, Medics and Pararescuemen of the United States Military at the annual Armed Services YMCA Annual Angels of the Battlefield Gala. The event highlights the individual men and women on the frontlines who are saving lives and demonstrated extraordinary courage.

The Keynote speaker will be Vice Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Mark Ferguson. Following graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy with the Class of 1978, Adm. Ferguson completed nuclear power training prior to entering the fleet as a surface warfare officer.  His afloat assignments include service on board USS South Carolina (CGN 37), USS Fife (DD 991) and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). He commanded the USS Benfold (DDG 65) and Destroyer Squadron 18.
In addition to various staff assignments, he served as a Special Assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, in Mons, Belgium. He has also served as the assistant commander, Navy Personnel Command, chief of legislative affairs, and chief of naval personnel.

Musical Guest Bunnell Strings is an energetic and youthful string quintet of five siblings. Their special bond provokes a tremendous audience response both for the remarkable ensemble interaction and their compelling story of loss and hope in the aftermath of losing both their active-duty father and mother to cancer. They offer a thrilling journey into an expanded genre of stringed instrument performance styles and repertoire that make them accessible to young and old alike.

 

The Armed Services YMCA works  with the military services to select outstanding Corpsmen, Medics and Pararescuemen  from the Army, Army Reserve, Navy, Navy Reserve, Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air National Guard and Army Guard, who accepted the awards on behalf of their fellow corpsmen and medics for their dedication and commitment to service.

 

The Armed Services YMCA of the USA makes military life easier, and remains a fiscally responsible, top ten military charity, as rated by charitywatch.org. The Armed Services YMCA has 33 branches and affiliates that provide free programs like Operation Kid Comfort, a free photo quilt program for children of deployed, programs for spouses,  active-duty, wounded warriors, and military children to help them stress less and connect more. To learn more, please visit www. asymca.org

 

A special thanks to  our Major Sponsors SAIC  and TriWest for their generous support of the event.

• Our Silver Level Sponsors  are United Concordia and Express Scripts.
• Our Bronze Level sponsors are Raytheon, GEICO, La Quinta Inn & Suites, Pitney Bowes, Robinson Aviation, Lockheed Martin, Veterans United, DRS and Bechtel.
• Our Event Level Sponsors are Rip It Energy Fuel, the NAI Michael Companies, Greenburg Trauig and J Street Cup.

Thank you to all of our Sponsors.

Media is invited to attend the event, and interviews with awardees and participants can be scheduled ahead of time.

 

ARMED SERVICES YMCA RECEIVES $200K GRANT FROM NEWMAN’S OWN FOUNDATION

 

ARMED SERVICES YMCA RECEIVES $200K GRANT FROM NEWMAN’S OWN FOUNDATION 

Funding will support Camping for Young Troops and their Families.

Springfield, VA ─ The Armed Services YMCA has been awarded a $200,000 grant from Newman’s Own Foundation, the independent foundation created by the late actor and philanthropist, Paul Newman. The award to Armed Services YMCA  reflects the ongoing commitment of Newman’s Own Foundation to organizations serving military service personnel, veterans, and their families.

Mike Landers, President and CEO shared, “ The impact this funding will have on our military families and their children is immeasurable.  These funds will provide hundreds of military children with  learning and bonding opportunities, coping mechanisms to help them deal with the challenges of military life, as well as memories that will last a lifetime”.

The non-profit Armed Services YMCA  is dedicated to making military life easier and funds will be used at Armed Services YMCA locations to provide camping opportunities to young enlisted military and their families who could not otherwise afford it.

“We are proud of the men and women who have made innumerable sacrifices in service to our country,” said Robert Forrester, President of Newman’s Own Foundation. “For nearly 20 years, we have been supporting the organizations that help our nation’s troops and their families. This funding is intended to further the impact that our grantees are having in the lives of individuals and families in their time of need.”

Paul Newman established the Foundation in 2005, as a means of continuing his pledge to donate to charity all net profits and royalties from the sale of products from Newman’s Own, Inc. Since the food company’s founding in 1982, Newman and Newman’s Own Foundation have donated more than $350 million to thousands of charities worldwide.

 

About the Armed Services YMCA

The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) provides no and low-cost programs to make military life easier for nearly 500,000 active-duty enlisted military and their families each year at 33 branches and affiliates nationwide. Innovative, direct services are tailored to the needs of local military installations nationwide with the help of 18,000 volunteers in addition to community and military support. The Armed Services YMCA was rated in the top 2% of charities nationwide by Charity Navigator in 2012. The ASYMCA does not receive government funding, and does not charge dues or membership fees for their programs.  Your tax deductible donation (Tax ID #36-3274346) to the ASYMCA, a top-rated non-profit, will make a significant difference in the lives of young military service members and their families.

 

 

Media Advisory: Angels of the Battlefield Gala

Contact:

Brittany Catton

Armed Services YMCA

(703) 455-3986, ext. 112

bcatton@asymca.org

 

Former Baltimore Raven Matt Stover to MC Event to Spotlight Military Medical Personnel

When: Wednesday, March 6^th, 2013. Reception, Live Music, and Step and Repeat at 6:30pm. The Program will take place from 7:30pm till 9:30pm.

 

Where:  The Ronald Reagan Building, Atrium level.  1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. Washington, DC, 2004.  Validated parking is available at the entrance on 14^th street. Government ID needed for admittance.

 

D.C., March 6, 2013 –Former NFL star kicker , Matt Stover, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies to thank the Corpsmen, Medics and Pararescuemen of the United States Military at the annual Armed Services YMCA Annual Angels of the Battlefield Gala. The event highlights the individual men and women on the frontlines who are saving lives and demonstrated extraordinary courage.

 

The Armed Services YMCA works  with the military services to select outstanding Corpsmen, Medics and Pararescuemen  from the Army, Army Reserve, Navy, Navy Reserve, Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air National Guard and Army Guard, who accepted the awards on behalf of their fellow corpsmen and medics for their dedication and commitment to service.

 

The Armed Services YMCA of the USA makes military life easier, and remains a fiscally responsible, top ten military charity, as rated by charitywatch.org. The Armed Services YMCA has 16 branches and 45 affiliates that provide free programs like Operation Kid Comfort, a free photo quilt program for children of deployed, programs for spouses,  active-duty, wounded warriors, and military children to help them stress less and connect more. To learn more, please visit www. asymca.org

 

A special thanks to  our Major Sponsors SAIC  and TriWest for their generous support of the event.

• Our Silver Level Sponsors  are United Concordia and Express Scripts.
• Our Bronze Level sponsors are Raytheon, GEICO, La Quinta Inn & Suites, Pitney Bowes, Robinson Aviation, Lockheed Martin, Veterans United, DRS and Bechtel.
• Our Event Level Sponsors are Rip It Energy Fuel, the NAI Michael Companies, Greenburg Trauig and J Street Cup.

Thank you to all of our Sponsors.

 

Media is invited to attend the event, and interviews with awardees and participants can be scheduled ahead of time.

Click here to see the PDF Version

Jack Daniel’s Operation Ride Home with the Armed Services YMCA Update – Waitlist Assistance Needed

 

Here is the impact of the program as of 12.5.12. We are still accepting donations and are hoping to serve waitlist families ASAP. Please donate here today! Please designate ” TRAVEL” in the comments section and 100% of your tax-deductible donation will go to travel for military families in need. Thank you!

425 Families / 951 Individuals Impacted

 

Driving

207 Families = 565 Individuals

 

Flying

218 Families = 386 Individuals

 

Total cost of travel as of 12.5.12 report – $191,470.73.  The average cost of travel is $201.34.

The average family served is 2.23 people.

 

Destination States

ALABAMA = 12

ARIZONA = 22

ARKANSAS = 23

CALIFORNIA = 92

COLORADO = 12

CONNECTICUT = 8

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA = 1

FLORIDA = 101

GEORGIA = 59

IDAHO = 7

ILLINOIS = 31

INDIANIA = 7

IOWA = 6

KANSAS               = 3

KENTUCKY = 3

LOUISIANA = 13

MAINE = 4

MARYLAND = 10

MASSACHUSETTS = 24

MICHIGAN = 46

MINNESOTA = 11

MISSISSIPPI = 11

MISSOURI = 12

NEBRASKA = 4

NEVADA = 18

NEW HAMPSHIRE = 9

NEW JERSEY = 14

NEW MEXICO = 25

NEW YORK = 38

NORTH CAROLINA = 22

OHIO = 29

OKLAHOMA = 12

OREGON = 18

PENNSYLVANIA = 16

PUERTO RICO = 1

RHODE ISLAND = 2

US TERRITORY  = 1

SOUTH CAROLINA = 10

SOUTH DAKOTA               = 2

TENNESSEE = 24

TEXAS = 122

UTAH = 18

VIRGINIA = 7

WASHINGTON = 25

WEST VIRGINIA = 2

WISCONSIN = 14

Approximately 1,000 Military and Families Members to Return Home for the Holidays- Please Donate to Serve Waitlist Families Today

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Brittany Catton, ASYMCA

(703) 455-3986, ext. 112

bcatton@asymca.org

 

JACK DANIEL’S “OPERATION RIDE HOME”   WITH THE ARMED SERVICES YMCA: HELPING

REUNITE SERVICE MEMBERS AND FAMILIES FOR THE HOLIDAYS

 

One Thousand Troops and Family Members Able to Return Home for the Holidays- Waitlist Families Still Need Assistance

 

 

ASYMCA Headquarters, VA- (December 10^th  2012) – For the second year in a row, the Jack Daniel’s Distillery has donated more than $100,000 to help service members and their families travel from bases to homes across the U.S. through “Operation Ride Home” this holiday season.

 

Through Operation Ride Home, identified junior enlisted (E-4 and below) single service members, military families, and families of deployed who might not otherwise have the funds or opportunity to travel home, will be eligible to receive vouchers and financial assistance for travel by air or vehicle, depending on the distance of their family homes from their current base or installation.

 

As of December 6^th, Jack Daniels and the Armed  Services YMCA has expended $200K sending approximately one thousand service members and family members home this holiday season. But there is still a need, ASYMCA spokesperson Brittany Catton, “We still have about $25k to $50k to go to serve our waitlist and meet the need of our young enlisted service members.  Please adopt a troop and donate today to make Christmas brighter for those that are often separated from their families.”

 

A sample waitlist family from the Texas area includes an Army Specialist with a wife and 4 children. They would love to be able to fly to Michigan, having not been home due to deployments and cost since 2008. His family has not seen his two younger children, nor have they met his new sister-in-law. He also sustained injuries and is awaiting medical evaluation.

 

By making a  tax-deductible donation today at www.asymca.org today, you will help adopt a troop and their family for the holidays. Please help make them make the trip and give them the gift of family this holiday season. To donate to this worthwhile program, please specify this donation is for “TRAVEL”In the comment section, and we will make sure 100% of your donation goes to help a military family  travel home .

 

Increasing the national effort, Jack Daniel’s also announced its partnership with the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) of the USA – a top-rated military charity (rated in the top 2% by Charity Navigator 2012) that makes military life easier for junior enlisted military families nationwide.  The Armed Services YMCA will partner actively with military commands and committed volunteers to identify those service members and families in most need of financial assistance and to assist them with travel.

 

“There is nothing like being home for the holidays, and we hope that Operation Ride Home this year will generate an outpouring of support to help those junior enlisted soldiers and their families make it to see their loved ones,” said Jennifer Powell, Senior Brand Manager for Jack Daniel’s.  “We saw the success of the campaign last year and particularly how it provided a mechanism for folks to give just a bit, that when added up with other contributions, made a tremendous difference in these families’ lives.  We want to do even more this year.”

 

“The Armed Services YMCA is proud to partner with the Jack Daniel’s Distillery for their second annual Operation Ride Home campaign to reunite deserving military with their families for the holidays,” said Capt. Mike Landers USN (Ret), CEO of the ASYMCA. “Last year, in partnership with the Fort Campbell ASYMCA, 721 Soldiers and family members were given the opportunity to travel home and be with family for Christmas.  Thanks to the generosity of Jack Daniel’s and their friends, we will be able to make military life easier for even more military families this coming holiday season.”

 

With your kind assistance we will be able to increase those able to travel home for the holidays. Thank you for helping to make military life easier for military and their families. Click here to see a report of our impact as of 12/5/12.

About the Armed Services YMCA

The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) provides no and low-cost programs to make military life easier for nearly 500,000 active-duty enlisted military and their families each year at 33 branches and affiliates nationwide. Innovative, direct services are tailored to the needs of local military installations nationwide with the help of 18,000 volunteers in addition to community and military support. The Armed Services YMCA was rated in the top 2% of charities nationwide by Charity Navigator in 2012. The ASYMCA does not receive government funding, and does not charge dues or membership fees for their programs.  Your tax deductible donation (Tax ID #36-3274346) to the ASYMCA, a top-rated non-profit, will make a significant difference in the lives of young military service members and their families.

 

The ASYMCA to join in Google+ Hangout with Craigslist founder Craig Newmark and the Sierra club about Military and the Outdoors

Craigslist founder Craig Newmark joins Sierra Club for environmental Google+ Hangout
on National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
to discuss the value of getting the military community outdoors

 

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – On Friday, December 7, craigslist founder Craig Newmark will join Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune and Sierra Club Mission Outdoors Director and Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran Stacy Bare in their first Google+ Hangout together to discuss the relationship between outdoor recreation, conservation and the military community.  Craig’s craigconnects online hub and the Sierra Club’s military outdoors program share a focus on serving military personnel, returning veterans and their families.

“Military families and veterans have sacrificed a lot to defend us all, and continue to do so, so let’s do more to help them enjoy the country they’ve defended,” said Craig Newmark.

“Every year on Pearl Harbor Day, we’re reminded of the sacrifices our service men and women make to protect our country,” said Michael Brune. “The Sierra Club Mission Outdoors program is committed to creating opportunities that promote outdoor recreation, expand the conservation movement and connect our veterans and their families with our public lands and wild places.”

“Just as in the military we rely on our fire team, squad, flight, or department to accomplish a goal, we work together with all our different skills and talents to ensure our military families and veterans are well cared for when they return home,” said Stacy Bare.  “Turning to Google+ Hangouts to facilitate an open dialogue about the healing power of spending time in nature is one more way we’re able to reach the military community.”

When:   December 7, 2012
1 p.m. Pacific / 4 p.m. Eastern

Where: Sierra Club Google+ page
http://gplus.to/SierraClub

Launched in 2011, craigconnects is a web-based initiative to help people work together for the common good using the Internet.  In addition to veterans’ organizations, the initiative spotlights many other organizations and agencies working in the areas of community building, connectivity, journalism integrity, open government, service and volunteering, and technology for social good.  To learn more, visit http://craigconnects.org/military-families-and-veterans.

Through direct programming, public education and advocacy, Sierra Club’s Mission Outdoors program combats the growing divide between America and the outdoors by increasing opportunities for all to improve their overall well-being by exploring and enjoying the natural world.  Outdoor recreation remains a critical piece of the conservation movement; over the last few years the Sierra Club has worked with over 50,000 service members, veterans, and family members from all over the country to help ease the stresses of service and coming home by helping them get outside. The Sierra Club works in partnership with many veteran service organizations, some of whom include Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Blue Star Families, the Armed Services YMCA of the USA and National Military Family Association.  To learn more, visit http://www.sierraclub.org/military.

 

Armed Services YMCA of the USA rated in the Top 2% of all Charities Nationwide

Charity Navigator is America’s premier independent charity evaluator. They help charitable givers make intelligent giving decisions by providing in-depth, objective ratings and analysis of the financial health and accountability & transparency  of America’s largest charities. Charity Navigator awarded Charity Name four out of a possible four stars. Receiving four out of a possible four stars indicates that Charity Name adheres to good governance and other best practices that minimize the chance of unethical activities and consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way. You can see the Armed Services YMCA’s 7th Consecutive Four Star Charity Rating here.

The Armed Services YMCA now ranks among the top 2% of all Charities nationwide. So please know that your donation does make an impact.  Please donate today to help make military life easier for our enlisted troops and their families.

Jack Daniel’s “Operation Ride Home”: Helping Reunite Service Members and Families for the Holidays

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl renews charitable partnership with Armed Services YMCA

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl renews charitable partnership with Armed Services YMCA

 

The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) has once again joined forces with the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl for the 2012 postseason bowl game as one of the bowl’s official charity partners.

“We are very thankful Armed Services YMCA has chosen to continue to work with us,” said Brant Ringler, executive director of the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl. “Through their innovative programs, the Armed Services YMCA makes military life easier for young enlisted military and their families.

The Armed Services YMCA offers no and low-cost programs for nearly 500,000 active-duty enlisted military and their families each year at 33 branches and affiliates with hands on innovative programming nationwide with the help of 18,000 volunteers. The Armed Services YMCA was rated in the top 3% of charities nationwide by Charity Navigator in 2011. The ASYMCA does not receive government funding, and does not charge dues or membership fees for their programs. Your tax deductible donation (Tax ID #36-3274346) or CFC contribution (CFC # 11085) to the ASYMCA, a top-rated non-profit, will make a significant difference in the lives of young military service members and their families.

“The Armed Services YMCA is proud and extremely grateful for the opportunity to partner with Bell Helicopter and the Armed Forces Bowl for the second straight year. With their considerable help, we will be able to provide 500 troops and families representing all Services from multiple bases around the country the opportunity to attend the 10^th Armed Forces Bowl,” said President and CEO of the Armed Services YMCA, Mike Landers. “A consistently strong partner of the ASYMCA, Bell’s continued support of American service members and their families definitely helps make military life easier for these young heroes.”

Owned and operated by ESPN Regional Television (ERT), the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl has featured the “armed forces” theme since 2006. Patriotic overtones recognizing all five branches of the service are prevalent throughout the game. Past Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowls have included fan-fest areas showcasing armed forces hardware; flyovers; demonstrations by several of the military’s top skydiving teams; the awarding of custom homes to wounded warriors; on-field induction ceremonies; armed forces bands and honor guards the awarding of the annual Great American Patriot Award presented by Armed Forces Insurance; and the Armed Forces Merit Award presented by the Football Writers Association of America. For additional information about the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, please visit ArmedForcesBowl.com, Facebook.com/ArmedForcesBowl or Twitter.com/ArmedForcesBowl.

The 10^th anniversary Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl will be played on Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012 at 10:45 a.m. (CT) at the newly-renovated Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas. The game will air on ESPN and ESPN Radio.

Tickets for the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl are on sale now. With prices starting as low as $20 a ticket and ranging up to $150 for a Bud Light Platinum Club seat, tickets can be selected and purchased through the bowl’s web site at www.ArmedForcesBowl.com. Armed forces veterans and active duty personnel can also request their complimentary tickets through the bowl’s web site, or by calling the bowl office at 817-810-0012. Complimentary armed forces tickets are available via the bowl’s corporate military ticket underwriting program while supplies last.

Join us at the Grand Re-Opening of the Old Country Buffet in Woodbridge, VA on November 3rd