Soliders boarding an plane for deployment

About Us

The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) is the constant in a military family’s life: on the home front and during deployment, when transitioning between bases, and in times of conflict and peace.

The ASYMCA is an Association of the YMCA of the USA, specifically dedicated to serving active duty junior enlisted military service members and their families of all six armed services: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. The oldest military support organization in the U.S., the ASYMCA has been “Strengthening Our Military Family®” since 1861 through its 12 branches and 24 affiliate partners, serving 87 military installations and facilities nationwide. Our nationally and locally tailored programs and services for our nation’s troops and their families are offered at no or low cost and require no dues or membership fees.

The Armed Services YMCA Twentynine Palms was established locally in 1992 with a mission to assist and serve active duty military members and their families stationed here at MCAGCC (Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center).  We celebrate our 30th year of providing this support to active duty military families!

Staff

Patrick Byrne

Executive Director

Alyvia Jones

Operations/Finance Manager

Miros Waite

Programs Manager/Interim Assistant Director

Heather Kines

Thrift Store Manager

Sara Beams

Director of Marketing

Louise Jenson

Events and Volunteer Coordinator

Athena Glover

Programs Facilitator

Board of Management

Our Board of Management is a dedicated group of individuals that donate their time and trust to assist in our mission!

 

Darlene Casella
Board Chair since August 2022, Member since 2019
VP Rancho Mirage Republican Women Federated

Diane Keate
Board Vice Chair August 2022, Member since 2016
Sodexo Regional VP

James Irwin
Board Member since 2019
LtCol USMC Ret.

Kristina Suydam
Board Member since 2020
Manager, Navy Federal Credit Union 29 Palms

Carol Manners
Board Member since 2022
Nurse Practitioner in Private Practice

Stanley Manners
Board Member since 2022
Nurse, Army Veteran

Marco Contreras
Board Member since 2022
Regional Director, First Command Financial Services

OUR AREAS OF FOCUS

Physical and mental health are critical for Twentynine Palms military families, which is why we offer a variety of programs for the whole self and the whole family.

Health and wellness services include:

  • Emergency Assistance
  • Resiliency Programs for School-Age Children
  • Community Engagements & Events
  • And more!

Children are the heart of our organization because they are the ones who often sacrifice the most. We are honored to provide programs that educate, engage, and entertain children of all ages.

Youth development programs include:

  • Early Education Programs
  • Summer Camps
  • Resiliency & Homework Assistance for School-Age Children
  • And more!

Mission readiness is as much of a mindset as it is a tactical operation. It’s critical that service members know the home front is safe and sound when they deploy for duty.

Social Responsibility initiatives include:

  • Emergency Food Relief for Military Families
  • Holiday Travel Assistance for Military Families
  • Thrift Store for Clothing, Household Items, and Uniforms
  • And more!

OUR MISSION IMPACT

The Armed Services YMCA 29 Palms provides free or low-cost programs and services for military children, spouses, and the family unit to help ease the unique challenges of military life. This is how we strengthen our military families.

Our Annual Mission Impact for 2022:

130K

Families provided with critical services

550K

Points of Service delivered to military families

2.5K

Youth enrolled in education and skill-building programs

News, Info, & Stories

Our mission is hard at work. Read about our how our local and national programs and services are making a difference in the lives of young military families, or find informative contributions from military spouses across the country.

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Financials

We Take Accountability Seriously

The Armed Services YMCA is proud of our fiscal responsibility and the designation as a top- rated charity. Our consistently outstanding results are based on all aspects that determine the value of a nonprofit: fundraising expenses, administration, transparency of finances, good governance practices, and other leading benchmarks.

The Armed Services YMCA prides itself on using our generous donor contributions wisely and sharing how donations are strengthening our military family through quality programs and services.

Our Charity Ratings

Charity Navigator

4-Star Rated

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Charity Watch

A Grade

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Candid Guidestar

Platinum Seal of Transparency

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