Raytheon Program Achievement Awards
The YMCA National Armed Services Committee initiated a Blue Ribbon Recognition Program in 1964 as an incentive for Armed Services YMCA branches to develop creative and innovation programs for military personnel. The emphasis is still the same: recognizing those efforts that can make the Armed Services YMCA an important part of many junior enlisted families.
Raytheon provides a grant to financially reward the branches providing these special programs, under the Raytheon Program Achievement Awards. The 2010 Raytheon Awards are presented in three categories: 1) Best New Program; 2) Best Use of Volunteers; and 3) Most Improved Program. The Best New Program is being honored at this year’s luncheon.
In addition, monetary awards are presented to YMCAs not affiliated with the Armed Services YMCA for programs supporting the military. These community YMCA awards demonstrate America’s resolve to support its service members.
2010 ASYMCA Branch Awards
Best New Program
The ‘Tween’ Activity Center
Fort Bragg/Pope AFB Armed Services YMCA
Fayetteville, NC
The Tween Activity Center offers the opportunity to follow the mission of the Armed Services YMCA by serving our soldiers and their families. Currently there are no supervised after school activities in place on Fort Bragg that cater to the ‘tween’ population. Day care is available but is very expensive for parents who only require a few hours per week. By opening the Tween Center, we are demonstrating to the families that we care about their dilemma and feel it is our responsibility to assist them in any way possible. We will operate the center using our core values: responsibility – to be accountable for their behavior and obligations to the facility; respect – to each other and themselves; honesty – to be trustworthy when checking out equipment and in competitive events; caring – to be sensitive to others feelings.
Best Use of Volunteers
“Twentynine Palms Volunteer Program”
Twentynine Palms ASYMCA
Twentynine Palms, CA
The objective of the Armed Services YMCA of the USA Twentynine Palms Volunteer Program is to provide the active duty, spouses and families of active duty and the civilian community a chance to give back to those who serve America and their families.
The mission of the ASYMCA is to provide programs to develop a healthy mind, body, and spirit for the military personnel and their families stationed at 29 Palms.
Through the ASYMCA’s Volunteer Program, we meet that mission for our volunteers. For the active duty that train daily to defend our country and deploy to Afghanistan and various other locations, whether for the first time or the fifth time, the ASYMCA Volunteer Program provides an opportunity to focus on giving back to their brothers-in-arms. For the spouses and families of active duty the ASYMCA provides spouses and families an opportunity to give back to the community. But most importantly, because typically the spouses and families come from all over the country, isolation is a major component, volunteering provides an opportunity to meet other spouses and families. For the civilian community, the program provides an opportunity to support the active duty and their families by volunteering.
Most Innovative Improvement
“Teddy’s Child Watch”
Armed Services YMCA of Alaska
Anchorage, AK
The Teddy’s Child Watch program provides free short-term childcare to military parents while they attend their medical appointments. We provide a safe haven for well-children while the parent receives treatment for themselves or a sick sibling.
While the children are being cared for, the parents have a chance to focus on their personal health or that of a sick child without the distraction that a well-child or children can create in the examining room. Teddy’s Child Watch saves the parents from the stress of trying to find short-term childcare and its associated cost.
2010 Community YMCA Awards
South Mountain YMCA / Camp Conrad Weiser
“A World Apart, A Weekend Together”
Wernersville, Pennsylvania
The American Red Cross, Berks County Chapter, and the South Mountain YMCA are initiating two weekend (Friday evening through Sunday morning) sessions at Camp Conrad Weiser in Wernersville, PA designed to provide educational and recreational activities, as well as relaxation for military families in May and September as part of a series of quarterly activities we have designed to assist the families of our communities military members stationed overseas, the military personnel themselves, and area veterans.
One weekend is open to immediate family members of the military service men and women currently deployed overseas. The other weekend is structured to accommodate service men and women about to be deployed and their families.
Each family has its own cabin. The weekends provide both educational and recreational activities to help military service personnel and their families cope with the extreme stress that can accompany military service.
YMCA of Greater Syracuse
“Chicken BBQ & Military Appreciation Day”
Syracuse, New York
Every year we hold a special event for adults and families on the first Saturday in June. This year it is a Chicken BBQ and Military Appreciation Day on June 5th held at our North Area YMCA branch. We have a large contingency of Reserve Units as well as Air Force units that run out of Hancock Field in Syracuse, NY as well as the local recruiting offices. In our YMCAs we have more than 400 military adults and children who participate in our programs. Through this event, we will be educating other YMCA members and the community about their presence as well as showing our appreciation for their service. Chicken dinners are provided through a local restaurant who will be cooking on-site.
Greater Manchester Family YMCA
“Military Membership Program”
Manchester, New Hampshire
The Greater Manchester Family YMCA is fortunate to be able to provide a comprehensive Military Membership Program. The objective is to honor those serving on active duty by supporting them with free access to our facilities. We also provide support to their families during their deployments by providing their loved ones with free access, along with an array of family time programs. Our goal is to help give these service personnel and their families a place where they can feel welcome and stress free while their loved one is away. We also collaborate with local recruitment agencies by allowing them free access to our facilities which they use as a training site for incoming recruits.
YMCA of Greater Des Moines
“Honor Iowa National Guard Troops”
Des Moines, Iowa
During the week of April 9, 2009, YMCA childcare centers in Ankeny, Des Moines and Waukee participated in Global Youth Services Day by creating cards and letters of support for Iowa National Guard Troops stationed overseas. Three to four hundred children gained a fuller appreciation for volunteerism and service to others. Teachers incorporated this learning component into their existing curriculum while reinforcing the YMCA core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.
Tri-County YMCA
“Military Family Inflatables Party”
Scott Depot, West Virginia
Our most successful military event in 2009 was our Military Family Inflatables Party. We had the party on a Friday evening from 6 – 8 pm at our 52-acre camp facility. The Day Camp had rented the inflatables for use during the day so that cost was already absorbed. We provided pork BBQ, buns, baked beans, potato salad, watermelon and soda. We asked each family to provide a dessert or kids’ beverage. We were fortunate to have dedicated volunteers and staff support. The weather cooperated and families had a blast on the inflatables. The hula hoop contest and water balloon toss were a hit as well. We definitely feel this program was a success and plan on repeating it in 2010.
Rockbridge Area YMCA
“The Military Appreciation Group of Rockbridge County”
Lexington, Virginia
Lexington, Virginia is full of people who are passionate about honoring and serving our military and their families. The YMCA currently serves sixty-four military members and their families with free memberships, but the support doesn’t stop there. In 2009, the YMCA started having monthly support meetings with childcare provided so that more folks would attend. In the Fall, and as part of Military Family Month (November), we held a special event (“Food, Fun and Footrubs”) to honor military moms, wives and grandmas. Healthy snack food was served and several craft stations were in operation. The biggest draw was that each attendee enjoyed a relaxing foot rub. Everyone took home a pink carnation and a poem.