May 2009 Asymca Snapshot

San Diego Armed Services YMCA

May 2009

Volume 4, Issue 5

Serving over 6,000 activeduty junior-enlisted military service members and their families each month with free programs!

Welcome! What a month! The beginning of May was stuffed with events such as the Monte Vista Mother Daughter Tea and the Sears Essentials PreMother’s Day BBQ. ASY staff and board members were also happy to honor the many dedicated volunteers within our organization at our annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon. Thousands of volunteer hours were tallied during 2008, a truly extraordinary feat. The ASYMCA is pleased to thank the Ed & Mary Fletcher Fund at the San Diego Foundation for their contribution to the Youth & Community Outreach Department as well as a few notable donors who have made contributions to the ASYMCA for over 20 years!

Military Volunteer Program

Volunteer Luncheon Recognizes ASYMCA Volunteer Efforts San Diego Armed Services YMCA volunteers represent critical pieces of an intricate puzzle. Volunteers connect military personnel and their families with meaningful ASYMCA programs and services. On May 7, 2009 the ASYMCA Annual Volunteer Recognition luncheon recognized the wonderful volunteers dedicated to the military and their families. RADM Christine Hunter, MC, USN was the guest speaker and she recognized the valuable service ASYMCA Volunteers provide to the military in San Diego.

In 2008, ASYMCA volunteers volunteered more than 27,000 hours to the military and their families.

On May 2nd, ASY military volunteers cheered and supported athletes during a Special Olympics track and field event at Point Loma Nazarene University. Volunteers became “buddies” for the day to the participating athletes.

Naval Medical Center Volunteer Hours On The Rise!!!! Naval Medical Center volunteers volunteer seven days a week and can be found in departments ranging from the pharmacy and general surgery to pediatrics and the emergency room. In April 2009, NMC volunteers volunteered a total of 1,179.7 hours. That’s 172 more hours than March 2009! Compiled & Edited by Katie DesBois

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Dorothy, Toto, and the Wicked San Diego Junior Theatre production Witch of the West were brought of Wizard of Oz to life on May 2nd for hundreds of families who gathered for a free performance of the Wizard of Oz in Balboa Park. This wonderful showing was performed by the San Diego Junior Theatre and supported by the Patrons of the Prado. Thank you for a magical evening! “It was priceless to see the smiles and joy it brought to my children as they watched their favorite movie brought to life. Even my husband enjoyed it!!”

MonteVista Mother Daughter Tea MonteVista Village was bursting with hats, gloves, and teacups as mothers and daughters enjoyed a beautiful afternoon together at the 2nd annual Mother Daughter Tea on May 7th. Thank you MonteVista!

“My daughter and I wanted to thank MonteVista & ASYMCA for a beautifully well done Mother Daughter Tea Party. There were more than a couple of moments where I was so overwhelmed by your generosity. When my daughter handed me the mother/ daughter cartoon picture she colored, it brought me to tears. She clearly wrote, "For you, Mommy." And she is only 4! It is events like these I will truly remember and cherish with my daughter. Thank you for helping us appreciate each other and helping to make time with her priceless.”

Pre– Mother’s Day Sears Essentials BBQ Hundreds of hot dogs and sodas lined tables in front of the Mission Valley Sears Essentials store on May 9th for the 2nd Annual Pre-Mother’s Day BBQ and shopping day. Families began arriving early to enjoy a free BBQ lunch, several raffles, entertainment, and discounted shopping. Families also enjoyed performances from Pink Army, a group of three energetic teens who sang for the crowd. Thank you to Sears Essentials and Pink Army for a great afternoon on Mother’s Day weekend!

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Youth & Community Outreach: Operation Hero

The ASYMCA Operation Hero program has been blooming in schools around San Diego county. Due to the programs success, four San Diego Elementary Schools now take part. During each afterschool session, children from military families are given the opportunity to discuss concerns and worries, practice healthy communication and conflict resolution skills, and build bonds with their classmates during a plethora of fun activities. The best way to describe this program, however is by showing the smiles and excitement from those involved. Their energy is almost contagious in these Op Hero graduation ceremony pictures!

Duncan L. Hunter Wounded Marine Golf Classic On May 11th, the Fourth Annual Duncan L. Hunter Wounded Marine Golf Classic began bright and early as over 150 golfers prepared for a great day at the Cottonwood Golf Club. Every dollar raised from this fundraising event will go to support the wounded military personnel at Naval Medical Center San Diego. Cottonwood Golf Club generously donated their course, personnel, and equipment absolutely free so that every penny raised will go to support ill and injured service members.

More news from Naval Medical Center The Coronado Bay Bridge Run/Walk drew great participation from Naval Medical Center, with over one hundred patients and family members running, walking, handcycling, or biking over the Coronado Bridge. It was truly inspiring to see the effort and dedication from the patients, and was a great addition to their rehabilitation as they recover at NMC. May also brought a special visit from a Simpson’s cartoonist, a deep sea fishing excursion, and the chance to watch the Red Bull Air Races from the boats of yacht club members. Spouses of deployed and Wounded Warrior’s family were given a treat to a Mother’s Day Brunch in the House of Puerto Rico located in Balboa Park. We appreciate the continued support the San Diego community extends to our Wounded Warriors!

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ASYMCA Visit Vice Admiral DC Curtis (Commander, Naval Surface Forces) paid a visit to the San Diego Armed Services YMCA on May 1st to recognize the ASYMCA for helping Military Families.

Thank you Fletcher Family Fund!

San Diego Armed Services YMCA Youth & Community Outreach Building

GEICO Car seat Donation

The San Diego Armed Services YMCA is happy to thank the Ed & Mary Fletcher Family Fund at the San Diego Foundation for their generous contribution towards furnishing our Youth & Community Outreach Building. This donation will enable the ASYMCA Staff to finish furnishing the Youth & Community Outreach Multi-Purpose room just in time for our new Neighborhood Exchange events as well as the ever-popular YCO summer programs! As the need for our programs increases, the ASYMCA is committed to expand our outreach as funding provides. It is donations such as this that make this growth possible. Thank you once again to the Ed & Mary Fletcher Family Fund for your support of ASYMCA programs and San Diego military families!

Calendar of events June

Thank you GEICO for your donation of five infant/toddler car seats to our Family Outreach Department and for your continuous support of military families here in San Diego!

13th—NICU Reunion 23rd—KUSI Shopping Spree; NMC 24th—Christmas You Missed Event Set Up 25th—3rd Annual “The Christmas You Missed” 25th—ASYMCA Neighborhood Exchange Event 29th—Computer Giveaway June-August— Camp Opportunities

July

4th—4th of July at ASW Base 15th—Healthy living Walking Group Outing 17th—KUSI Shopping Spree; NMC 23rd—Computer Giveaway 23rd—ASYMCA Neighborhood Exchange Event July—YES Program

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The San Diego Armed Services YMCA would like to extend a special thank you to those who have contributed for over 20 years PARTNER MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS

20 Years        

Gold Star Wives Of American Mr. & Mrs. James Wiesler Reverend Charles Fuld Mr. Harold Sadler Mr. & Mrs. William Fox CAPT Lloyd Cooper, USN (Ret) Ms. Cherri Barnswell Ms. Loree Sowden

25 Years         

Dr. & Mrs. W.W. Spore Naval Base San Diego Chapel Judge David Gill Mrs. Ann Evans SgtMaj Ed Kubow, USMC (Ret) George & Alison Gildred Mrs. Bobby Allen Ms. Lillian Cummings Mr. Emil C. Ghio

30 Years  Mr. E. Miles Harvey  Mr. Francis Derby  LtCol Russ McCreery, USM (Ret)  VADM Raymond Peet, USN (Ret)  Mr. T. M. O’Reilly  Mr. Robert & Barbara Schmidt

Thank you for your continuous support and commitment to the Armed Services YMCA and the many military families of San Diego.

Our Latest donors… American Vietnam Veterans Association Barons Casino Blooms from the Heart Coronado Children’s Home Society Warrior Foundation House of Puerto Rico Petals for Patriots Sears Essentials San Diego Junior Theatre Patrons of the Prado

Sempra Energy GEICO Cottonwood Golf Club Ed & Mary Fletcher Family Fund at the San Diego Foundation Prudential California Realty Lilly Pulitzer San Diego Padres C.S. Keys San Diego Food Bank Live Nation House of Blues San Diego

Thank you Corporate Partner Members...

Final thoughts... From the Desk of Executive Director Paul Steffens: This SHAPSHOT clearly drives home the point that the reason we are able to offer so many programs and reach out to so many military and their families is because so many individuals recognize the need and donate a valuable commodity—their time as volunteers to assist us. In today’s busy world, time is truly a valuable commodity and we certainly appreciate all the time and effort contributed by our volunteers. Just take a minute and visualize 27,000 hours! Then take away those volunteer hours and you quickly see the impact of not having those volunteer hours would have on our operations. Thank you volunteers! Speaking of volunteers, we will definitely miss the many contributions made by Cathe Robling, who was a very active member of both our Program Committee and our Public Relations Committee. Cathe was a driving force in improving our programs and reaching so many families. We wish Cathe and her husband, Major General Terry Robling—soon to be Lieutenant General— success and happiness as they head for further challenges at their next duty station. We will miss you both and look forward to your return! Speaking of helping, in spite of a less than robust economy that is having a negative impact on all businesses, the Cottonwood Golf Course stepped to the plate for the 4th year in a row and donated the entire course, plus carts, for the Wounded Warrior Golf Tournament— and brought forth organizations who donated the food and provided additional support to make this tournament a smashing success with over 150 golfers. Our sincere appreciation goes out to the fantastic team at Cottonwood and Congressman Duncan Hunter and his remarkable staff. This tournament raised over $22,000 for the support of the Wounded Warriors at the Naval Medical Center. The pictures included in this SNAPSHOT also show the contributions made to military families by the Patrons of the Prado, the Monte Vista Village and the Mission Valley Sears. One cannot put into words, but the smiling pictures certainly show the appreciation for the time and energy put into these events. We have many many more special events coming up this year. If you are not involved, you are missing some memory-making moments—join the fun and get involved. Visit our webpage and/or call us. Get involved! Paul For more information on how YOU can make a difference… [email protected] 858.751.5755 www.militaryymca.org