The ASYMCA is prominently featured in the Giving Library™ a new online guide to great nonprofits. Check out the video…

The Armed Services YMCA is thrilled to be prominently featured in the new Giving Library™, an online guide to help connect strategic philanthropists to excellent nonprofit service organizations. Thank you Laura and John Arnold Foundation for including us!

The Giving Library™ is a new resource for philanthropists to help them learn about nonprofit causes that are worth funding – the videos are short and easy to digest.

ASYMCA President and CEO Mike Landers talks about how ASY serves junior enlisted troops and their families, and why everyone should care.

Check out ASYMCA’s video here.

 

Montgomery Gentry Album to Be Sold at Buffet Inc. Chains to Benefit Military Children

BUFFETS, INC.® SHOWS LOVE FOR COUNTRY

WITH MUSIC GREATS MONTGOMERY GENTRY CD SALE STARTING JULY 5 IN RESTAURANTS

Proceeds from “Rebels on the Run” CD sold at Buffets restaurants benefit the Armed Services YMCA® Operation Outdoors for children of military personnel

GREER, SC – Buffets, Inc.® is turning up the heat this summer with country music sensations Montgomery

Gentry. The duo’s newest CD, Rebels On the Run, will be available at all Buffets locations – Ryan’s®,

Country Buffet®, HomeTown® Buffet, Old Country Buffet®, Fire® Mountain and Granny’s Buffet® – starting

July 5 for a special price of $8.99, while supplies last. Proceeds from the CDs will be donated to Armed

Services YMCA® (ASYMCA) for Operation Outdoors, a camp program that assists the children of military

personnel during deployment.

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 war. 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.

“Our brands are all about providing places for families to connect over a great meal. That’s why we are so

proud to align with the ASYMCA to help further its mission of helping military families reconnect after a

period of service to our country,” said Jason Abelkop, Chief Marketing Officer of Buffets, Inc. “Through our

donation and involvement, we hope to improve the experience of the military families in our communities.”

The well-known country duo echoed Abelkop’s thoughts. “We have a history of appreciation for and

support of the military, and are proud to be a part of an initiative that allows our music to help such a great

cause,” said Troy Gentry.

For more information about the Buffets brands, visit any of their websites:

www.hometownbuffet.com, www.oldcountrybuffet.com, www.countrybuffet.com, www.ryans.com, www.grannysbuffet.com and www.firemountainbuffet.com

 

About Montgomery Gentry

Montgomery Gentry has been on a steady journey on their road to gold and platinum albums, CMA and

ACM awards, and Grammy nomination. The journey has been paved both with musical integrity and with

an abiding respect for the people and the genre they represent. They have released more than 20 charted

singles, with anthems like “My Town” and “Hell Yeah” becoming indelible parts of the honky-tonk

landscape. They have hit the top of the singles charts five times, with “If You Ever Stop Loving Me,”

“Something To Be Proud Of,” “Lucky Man,” “Back When I Knew It All” and “Roll With Me.”

Known for their hard-core country anthems, Montgomery Gentry have released their latest single, “So

Called Life,” from their seventh studio album, Rebels On The Run. Written by Sean Patrick McGraw and

Bruce Wallace, Billboard Magazine recently reviewed the new single calling it a “fiery anthem.” “So Called

Life” is the follow-up single to Montgomery Gentry’s Top 10 radio smash “Where I Come From.”

For more information on Montgomery Gentry, visit www.montgomerygentry.com.

Check Out the Armed Services YMCA featured in June’s Military Spouse Magazine

Free Huggies Diapers For Military Families

Huggies is partnering with the Armed Services YMCA – a military non-profit that makes military life easier with free programs and services to active duty enlisted military and their families nationwide. Armed Services YMCA branches at Fort Bragg |Camp Lejeune, NC, Camp Pendleton, 29 Palms, and San Diego, CA, in addition to Fort Campbell, KY and Fort Leonard Wood, MO, will also receive diapers, with a total donation of 4 million diapers, to the Armed Services YMCA for junior enlisted military families to make military life easier. Only branches listed above are able to process and distribute this large of a donation, we thank them for their support!

“Our non-profit serves many of the largest military bases in the country, like the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Air Force,” says Mike Landers, CEO, Armed Services YMCA. “We are excited to be partnering with Huggies and are extremely grateful for the millions of diapers they are donating to help young enlisted troops and their families.”

Diapers will be distributed on behalf of the National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN) – a nonprofit organization founded by the Huggies Every Little Bottom program, which is dedicated to providing every child in the U.S. with the diapers needed to remain clean, dry and healthy. Huggies Every Little Bottom will work closely with military organizations from coast-to-coast to help get diapers in the hands of military families.

“We are honored to support our military service members and their families,” says Aric Melzel, Brand Director at Kimberly-Clark. “Diapers are a basic need for many families and we want to show our appreciation and thanks to those who have sacrificed so much this Memorial Day.”

Please see below for Event Dates and Frequently Asked Questions

Check back as more events are scheduled and posted at participating Armed Services YMCA Locations; please stay tuned to their Facebook Pages and Websites for added events throughout the summer:

 

Check back as more events are scheduled and posted at participating Armed Services YMCA Locations, please stay tuned to their Facebook Pages and Website for added events through out the Summer :

1. SAN DIEGO | May 24th (Closed)

The San Diego Armed Services YMCA will be hosting a free Huggies Camo Diaper Event for Active Duty Military and their Families on Thursday, May 24th from 9am to 11am (or until out) at the San Diego Armed Services YMCA HQ at 3293 Santo road, San Diego, CA, 92124. Diaper sizes available are 3,4,5.  Two free boxes per active duty military family with Military or Spouse  ID card. Please bring a thank you note made out to Kimberly-Clarke and the ASYMCA.

 

2. CAMP PENDLETON | May 24th (Closed)

The Camp Pendleton Armed Services YMCA will be hosting a free Huggies Camo Diaper Event for Active Duty Military and their Families on Thursday, May 24th from 12pm-2pm (or until out) at the Camp Pendleton ASYMCA, Bldg 16144, A Street, Camp Pendleton, CA, 92055.  Diaper sizes available are 3,4,5. Two free boxes per military family with Military or Spouse ID card. Please bring a thank you note made out to Kimberly-Clarke and the ASYMCA.

 

3. TWENTYNINE PALMS | JUNE 6TH (EVENT) (PRE-REGISTRATION 5/29- 6/5) The Armed Services YMCA Twentynine Palms will be hosting a free Huggies Camo Diaper Event for Active Duty Military and their Families on Wednesday, June 6th from 10:00am-2:00pm (or until out) at the Twentynine Palms ASYMCA, Bldg 192, Mineral Street, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277. There will be pre-registration for this event in our office from May 29th- June 5th. The event is for E-5 and below, and diaper sizes available are 3, 4, and 5. Two free boxes per military family with Military or Spouse ID card, as well as ticket provided at registration. Please bring a thank you note made out to Kimberly-Clarke, The San Diego Food Bank, and the ASYMCA. The requirements for registration is open to all families rank E-1 to E-5 with children under 37lbs. We will have a waiting list for ranks E-6 and above, as well as for expectant mothers in their 3rd trimester.

4.  FORT LEONARD WOOD | June 7th

The Fort Leonard Wood Armed Services YMCA will be hosting a free Huggies Camo Diaper Event, “Operation Diaper Duty” on June 7th from 9am-1PM at Alphapointe Base Supply Center, 2346 Louisiana Ave., Fort Leonard Wood, MO 65473. Diaper sizes available are 3, 4, and 5. Three free boxes per active duty military family with Military or Spouse ID card. Please bring a thank you note made out to Kimberly-Clarke and the ASYMCA.

5. FORT CAMPBELL | JUNE 8TH (Updated)

The Fort Campbell Armed Services YMCA will partner with the Post Chaplains office to host a free Huggies Camo Diaper Give-A-Way event from 1pm to 4pm. The event will be located at Liberty Chapel 3111 …Bastogne Avenue, Fort Campbell, KY (the new chapel). This Huggies Camo event is for E-5 and below families that receive a ticket from their unit Family Readiness Support Assistance (FRSA). If you don’t have a ticket you will not receive diapers at this event. Available diaper sizes will be 3, 4 and 5. 2 free boxes for each military family: Must have military ID and ticket to receive the diapers. Please bring a thank you note made out to Kimberly-Clarke and the Armed Services YMCA. When we have definite plans for any other events….we will post it on our Facebook page.  Due to limited staffing that is busy running programs, please don’t call the Armed Services YMCA, because we are going to refer you to our Facebook Page.

 

6. FORT BRAGG | POPE ARMY AIRFIELD | CAMP LEJEUNE | TBD

The Fort Bragg | Camp Lejeune Armed Services YMCA will be organizing multiple events TBD for Military stationed at Fort Bragg, Pope Army Air Field or Camp Lejeune. Please continue to watch the  Ft. Bragg Facebook Page and the Camp Lejeune Facebook page for updates.  They plan to begin handing out vouchers to military ID card holders, E-5 and below, on 10 July from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm and continue until they are all accounted for. At that time participants will be given a date and time for pick up.  Military ID card holders will need their ID Card and their child’s birth certificate for verification.  Please bring a thank you note made out to Kimberly-Clarke and the ASYMCA. Please contact the Ft. Bragg Facebook Page  or the Camp Lejeune Facebook page for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can You Ship or Bring Diapers to My Base? Due to our non-profit status and limited funding, staff and volunteers, we are unable to ship, mail or truck diapers to other locations not listed. Our Participant’s “Attitude of Gratitude” and their understanding that not all families will be able to attend all giveaways. Their appreciation of companies that choose to donate to military, versus other worthy charities, is what enables and sustains future donations.

Why are you not bringing them to my location?  That is not fair!

Why we would love to serve 100% of our Military and their Families nationwide, as with all of our donations,  we are unable to do so, due to obvious cost, staffing and other logistics. Our ASYMCA military families value all donations made to military families, even if they might not be able to benefit from the event themselves. Positive or negative interactions affect donor wishes and future donations. We hope to serve more ASYMCA locations in the future and we appreciate ASYMCA Branches that volunteered to take on this additional project.

When will your event happen? (If participating) We are busy organizing volunteers, and arranging necessary logistics and base permissions in preparation of such a large event. It will be a lot of work, but we are excited to be able to help more military families and make military life easier. We will post on our Facebook page/website when the event is confirmed, so make sure join our Facebook page or check our website for updates.

Social Responsibility and the Attitude of Gratitude Our participants understand that tickets and giveaways are possible, not expected and understand that duty, childcare, deployments, giveaway locations, and other life happenings may prevent them from attending a specific giveaway. Our Participant’s “Attitude of Gratitude” is what keeps donations and giveaways active and strong.

Armed Services YMCA Core Values We reserve the right to refuse service to anybody not in keeping with the YMCA Core Values of Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility. Participation in all ASYMCA programming is a privilege, not a right, and violators of this policy will lose the privilege of participating in all future ASYMCA programming and events. Thank you! We will post more events as they are added.

 

Welcome! Fun Fact : Do You Know Newman’s Own is Supporting Military Families at Eight Military Bases Nationwide? Learn More!

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.

 

A Thank You Note From a Grateful Military Family

To the Armed Services YMCA:

Thank you so much for being a part of this wonderful organization.  I contacted Operation Kid Comfort before my husband deployed this January, finding it through a website looking for things to comfort our 3 year old daughter, Emma.  I sent in my form from NAS JRB New Orleans and hoped I would hear something.  Within weeks, I was contacted and told to be looking for our quilt.  When it arrived yesterday, I was in tears reading the sweetest note from “Grandma Carolyn”, who sewed it and I wished at that moment I could hug her.  I don’t know how many thank you’s you all receive on a daily or weekly basis but I cannot tell you how wonderful this quilt is.  My daughter has not let it out of her sight since she saw it.  She’s sitting on it right now before preschool.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  If you would please find a way to let everyone know who is involved in these quilts how much I appreciate this wonderful quilt, I would love it.  My husband is currently serving as a Physician Assistant and a LT in the Navy, working through an IA in Africa.  The work he is doing with children in orphanages and in the wound care clinic there is something that he enjoys doing and feels that he makes a difference somehow.  I want you all to know the difference you have made in our lives with this quilt.  We are smiling ear to ear!

Thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts,
Nicole B. | March 19th, 2012

Click here to learn more on the Operation Kid Comfort Program and to submit your photos online.

The 2012 Armed Services YMCA’s Angels of the Battlefield

 

The 6^th Annual Armed Services YMCA’s Angels of the Battlefield

 

The Chief of Naval Operations, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, our guest speaker LtGen Mills, USMC, the Sergeant Major of the Army, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard were on hand to congratulate the award recipients at the sixth Armed Services YMCA Annual Angels of the Battlefield Gala on March 14^th, 2012. The Annual 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 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 would like to honor the following nine recipients:

•   Sergeant Terry Derr is accepting the Angels of the Battlefield Award on behalf of Army Medics around the world. Derr has served a total of twenty years, with a total of seven deployments. Derr was awarded the Air Service Medal for flying into dangerous a sand storm to save the lives of two soldiers injured by an IED, while serving as a flight medic in Salerno, Afghanistan. Derr, originally from Watson, Pennsylvania, is currently stationed at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Derr has been married to his wife Rebecca for 15 years, and they have two children; Jordan, age 12, and Nathan, age 7.

 

•  Chief Petty Officer Amilcar Rodriguez is accepting the Angels of the Battlefield Award on behalf of the Navy Corpsmen supporting the United States Marine Corps around the world. Rodriguez has served thirteen years, with a total of five deployments. Rodriguez was awarded the Army Commendation Medal and the Silver Star for combat operations in Afghanistan. While under attack, Rodriquez gained fire superiority and helped his teammate. He also moved and assisted other casualties while wounded. Rodriguez, originally from Caguas, Puerto Rico, is currently stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Rodriguez continues a strong family tradition; his grandfather, father and brother have all served in the United States Army.

 

• Petty Officer Second Class Owen Pitrone is accepting the Angels of the Battlefield Award on behalf of Navy Corpsmen around the world.  Pitrone has served seven years, with a total four deployments. Pitrone has been awarded a Joint Service Medal for his time in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as well as, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals for exceptional service while at Bethesda and Bastion Role 3 UK Hospital in Afghanistan. Pitrone, originally from Chardon, Ohio, is currently stationed at Walter Reed Military Medical Center. Pitrone has two brothers, who also serve in the United States Marine Corps.

 

• Staff Sergeant Jack Williams is accepting the Angels of the Battlefield Award on behalf of Air Force medics around the world. Williams has served a total of six years, with two deployments. Williams has been awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service in Afghanistan, as well as the Air Force Combat Action Badge, the Army Combat Medical Badge, the Army Order of the Gold Spur, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and as a CSAF Portraits in Courage Honoree. Williams is originally from Milton, Pennsylvania, and is currently stationed at Wright Patterson Air force base in Dayton, Ohio.  Williams continues his family legacy, in which almost every member of his family is involved with some aspect of healthcare or public service.

 

 

 

• Staff Sergeant Gino Kahaunaele is accepting the Angels of the Battlefield Award on behalf of Air Force Pararescuemen around the world. While acting as the primary rescue specialist for a joint task force unit in theater, Staff Sergeant Kahaunaele was shot in the shoulder at close range with an AK-47, during a direct firefight against an enemy of the United States. Staff Sergeant Kahaunaele continued to aid and triage the wounded while wounded himself. After an insurgent threw a grenade, wounding additional women, children, and team members, Staff Sergeant Kahaunaele  was hit by fragments severing several major arteries. He took immediate, inventive action to stop the bleeding and save his own life. He continues rehabilitation with the support of his grateful unit and family.

 

•   Petty Officer First Class Brian Richardson is accepting the Angels of the Battlefield Award on behalf of the United States Coast Guard Corpsmen around the world.  Richardson has served a total of fourteen years, with five deployments.  Richardson has been awarded the United States Coast Guard Commendation Medal, four United States Coast Guard Achievement Medals, and has been selected as the Enlisted Person of the Year twice; by Sector Delaware Bay, and the CGC Harriet Lane, respectively.  Richardson is originally from Oakwood Village, Ohio, and is currently stationed in Mobile, Alabama. Richardson has enjoyed the challenge of overcoming language and cultural barriers to serve migrants trying to enter the United States, and to ensure their safe return to their home country.

 

•   Staff Sergeant Nicolas Crouse is accepting the Angels of the Battlefield Award on behalf of the Air National Guard Medics around the world. Crouse has served a total of six years and has deployed to Afghanistan. Crouse has been awarded an Army Commendation for his time as primary medic for the First Joint Force, Multi-National Police Operational Mentor Liaison Team in Afghanistan, the Lithuanian Armed Forces Medal of Distinction, and the Air Force Achievement Medal.  Crouse is originally from Abottstown, Pennsylvania, and is currently stationed at the 193^rd Special Operations Wing in Pennsylvania.  Crouse has had a family member serve in every major US conflict since the Revolutionary War.

 

• Sergeant Major Pamela Duggan.  Sergeant Major Pamela Duggan is accepting the Angels of the Battlefield Award on behalf of the Army Reserve Medics around the world.

 

•  Technical Sergeant Chante’ Richardson. Technical Sergeant Chante’ Richardson is accepting the Angels of the Battlefield Award on behalf of the Air Force Reserve Medics around the world. Richardson has served a total of eight years and has deployed to Incirlik Air Force Base in Turkey. She has also been awarded two Achievement Medals. Richardson is originally from Oxon Hill, Maryland and is currently stationed at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. She is currently a PhD. Student in Molecular Medicine at the University of Virginia.

 

 

Celebrating Military Children in the Great Outdoors

 

The Armed Services YMCA exists to make military life easier for our military families. Deployments, relocations and school changes can take a stressful toll on the military child, and part of our core mission is to outfit military youth with the tools they need to cope and thrive in what can be a very challenging situation.

That is why we are excited to further partner with our long standing supporter, the Sierra Club, and 20 + organizations with fun outdoor activities that are going to help strengthen military families with Armed Services Y core values of family bonding, healthy living and youth enrichment. At the “Celebration of the Military Child Outside” event on April 1st, military families can engage their families in a fun afternoon of trail hikes, fishing, kayaking demonstrations and much more as non-profits partner in this Joining Forces National Initiative.

Military Families can register online here.

The Armed Services YMCA offers junior enlisted families the chance to participate in family, youth, and teen camps year-round at their 33 branches and encourages healthy living as part of their core mission of making military life easier.  Armed Services Y camps and free programs, in partnership with groups like the Sierra Club, provide much needed support to military families. One military mom shared after the Armed Services Y Operation Outdoors program, “My daughter was fortunate to experience that last week and the benefits of one day, let alone a week, are huge in her world right now. With all the challenges our kids face, this helped her tremendously with her coping skills and self esteem issues she’s currently having. She was provided with many tools and resources she can use now and in the future. “

By joining forces with other worthy non-profits such as  Blue Star Families, the National Military Family Association, the Outdoor Alliance for Kids, and the National Park Service, we look forward to showing military families healthy living, youth enrichment and family bonding in action on April 1^st   at Prince William Forest Park from 12pm to 4pm. We hope you will join us!

 

Posted on 2/29/12 by Brittany Catton. Please contact bcatton@asymca.org for more information.

 

 

OPERATION: LIGHTEN THE LOAD

The Armed Services YMCA is excited to launch our new campaign — OPERATION: LIGHTEN THE LOAD! Our goal is to capture as many stories from military families and services members as possible to raise awareness, understanding and appreciation of military life, and show what we can all do to make life easier for those who are dedicated to serving our nation.

 

Visit www.operationlightentheload.org to learn all about the campaign

WATCH the stories of our troops and their families

Or SHARE YOUR OWN STORY!

ASYMCA Achieves Highest Rating from Charity Navigator

The Armed Services YMCA has achieved the highest 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for the sixth year in a row.

In its letter to our national executive director, Charity Navigator said this of the Armed Services YMCA:

“We are proud to announce Armed Services YMCA has earned our sixth consecutive 4-star rating. Receiving four out of a possible four stars indicates that your organization 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. Only 3% of the charities we rate have received at least 6 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that Armed Services YMCA outperforms most other charities in America. This “exceptional” designation from Charity Navigator differentiates Armed Services YMCA from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust.”

Click here to read the full letter.