june snapshot 2009 asymca

8/14/2019 June Snapshot 2009 ASYMCA

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San Diego Armed Services YMCA San Diego Armed Services YMCA San Diego Armed Services YMCA

Volume 4, Issue 6J

Serving over 6,000 active-duty junior-enlisted mili-

tary service members andtheir families each month

with free programs!

NICU Reunion ...2Naval Medical Center2,000th Quilt ..3

Youth & Community OutreachRiver & Beach Clean Ups ....4Military Volunteer Program 20+ Year donors 5Partner Member Program

Plus

Thank you Athleen Bassett, CatheRobling, and Armed Forces Bank

Compiled & Edited by Katie DesBois

This morning was great... my family and I really appreciate all that everyone does for the military...thank you for all you do. The volunteers were helpful and nice. I like being served for a change

In this issue

The ASYMCA Murphy Canyon parkinglot was a flurry of activity on themorning of Thursday, May 28 th . This

marked the beginning of the San Diego ASYMCAs new monthly Neighborhood Exchange Pro-gram for military and civilian families. A generous donation by Sempra Energy and a won-derful partnership with the San Diego Food Bank make this program possible allowing fami-lies to stretch their budgets in this time of increasing gas and food prices.

Hundreds of families gathered at the ASYMCA Paul Hartley Complex for this morningfood distribution event. At points it was difficult to tell that food distribution was the mainactivity as families also spent time drinking donated Starbucks coffee, sifting through freebook bins, and socializing with neighboring families. Children were entertained by energeticballoon artists while parents and their children gathered for a special outdoor Mom & Totsclass. This Neighborhood Exchange will be a monthly Family Outreach Department event,thanks to the support of Sempra Energy and the San Diego Food Bank! Please visit our web-site for more information about our Neighborhood Exchange events.

This monthly event would not be possible without the strongsupport from Sempra Energy and the San Diego Food Bank

Neighborhood Exchange


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40 years at the ASYMCA

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NICU Reunion

Athleen Bassett poses with family, Charty andBrant Bassett, in front of a photo of former

ASYMCA employee and friend Phyllis Mondoc. Athleen began working for the San Diego Armed Services YMCA in 1942 and worked for40 years before retiring in 1981. Athleen joinedthe current ASYMCA staff for lunch on May29th to catch up on programs and be thankedfor her tremendous service to the San Diego

Armed Services YMCA.

Morning drizzle on Saturday June 13 th gave way to abright sunny day when the Armed Services YMCA hostedthe 26 th Annual NICU Reunion. This event brought 120families and more than 500 guests. The Naval MedicalCenter courtyard came alive in the early morning hoursas 54 ASYMCA volunteers helped staff turn the area intoa childrens playground. Starting at 11 a.m., reunionguests listened to live music, ate a BBQ lunch, took fam-ily photos and decorated picture frames. Children atecotton candy and popcorn, jumped in the AstroJump,dunked NICU staff in the dunk tank, rode ponies, andeven won prizes in the raffle drawings. Party guests werealso greeted by Sea Worlds Shamu, Cinderella, TinkerBell, Snow White and Star Wars characters.

This annual event is an opportunity for NICU graduatesand their families to reconnect with NICU staff as well asother graduates from years past. Its a tradition andwhile some families are local many travel from otherstates to attend. Because of the support from volun-teers, the NICU staff, and TRIWEST, this event was onceagain a great success. Smiles all around, families cantwait for next year.

Naval MedicalCenter

Theres nothing like a hug to brighten your day. Thanks tothe Armed Services YMCA & Assistance Leagues of SanDiego and Rancho San Dieguito, 12 Pediatric Patientshugged their new Hug-A-Bear. These stuffed bears aredonated once a month for children in the EmergencyRoom & Pediatrics.


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Thank You Cathe Robling

2000th QuiltYCO

Thank you Cathe Robling for your service tothe San Diego Armed Services YMCA! We alllook forward to welcoming Cathe and GeneralRobling back to San Diego in the future.

2,000 is a large number! But not too large a number for our spectacu-lar American Sewing Guild Volunteers, who have, just this month, com-pleted their 2000 th Kid Comfort Quilt. This June, Rhoda Keegan of the

American Sewing Guild, presented the 2,000th

quilt to Karena Vigliotti, Youth and Community Outreach Director. Since the programs incep-tion in 2005, Operation Kid Comfort has been providing children withfree photo transfer quilts bearing images of their deployed or deployingfamily member. These beautifully hand crafted quilts help childrencope during a parents deployment.

This is one program that the San Diego Armed Services YMCA would not be able to offer without the dedication and support of hun-dreds of volunteers. The number 2,000 is even more remarkable whenyou take into account the time spent on each quilteach volunteerspends 8-10 hours carefully crafting each quilt! Thank you AmericanSewing Guild Volunteers for your time and expertise!

Families, dont forget Get your requests in early via our Operation Kid Comfort webpage!
http://militaryymca.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25&Itemid=51http://militaryymca.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25&Itemid=51


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JulyJulyJuly 4th4th of July at ASW Base15thHealthy living Walking Group Outing17thKUSI Shopping Spree; NMC23rdComputer Giveaway23rdASYMCA Neighborhood ExchangeJulyYES Program

August August August19th KUSI Shopping Spree; NMC27thComputer Giveaway27thASYMCA Neighborhood Exchange

August YES Program August Camp Hero

Visit our Website Event Calenda r for updates and free ticket giveaways!

Calendar of events

Military Volunteer Program

On May 26, 2009 Aynn McGuire presented the SanDiego ASYMCA with a $3,000 donation check from

Armed Forces Bank for ASY Programs. Thank you Armed Forces Bank!

Our San Diego Riversand Beaches are a littlecleaner today becauseof the hard work of many military volun-teers and their families.

In April, volunteers gottogether for the SilverStrand Beach Clean Upand in May, the SanDiego River Park Foun-dation Fashion ValleyClean Up.

Military volun-teers donated

over 620 hoursof their timeduring the

month of May!
http://www.militaryymca.com/index.php?option=com_eventlisthttp://www.militaryymca.com/index.php?option=com_eventlist


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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

Thank you Corporate Partner Members...

30 Years30 Years30 Years Ms. Athleen BassettCapt & Mrs. Charles BishopMiss Jessie BurrowsMrs. Charlotte Hartley Mrs. Vital Haynes, Jr.Mrs. Falck Nielsen

25 Years25 Years25 Years Capt Ernest F. Latham, MC, USN(Ret)RADM Lee L. Levenson, USN(Ret)RADM T.W. McNamara, USN(Ret)Mrs. James Taggart

Judge & Mrs. G. Thompson, Jr.

20 Years20 Years20 Years Mr. Fred HarrisMrs. Sarah BennettMr. & Mrs. Clark HigginsMr. George JessopMr. Donald TartreMr. Vincent NaresCapt C. G. Farnham, USN(Ret)RADM Albert Monger, USN(Ret)Capt John ONeill, USN(Ret)Mrs. Nina SharpRADM William Walsh, USN(Ret)Mrs. Jane BeersMAJGEN Robert & Mrs. Scur lock,USAF(Ret)

PARTNER MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS

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

Naval Officers Spouses ClubRancho Santa Fe Womens Fund at the Rancho

Santa Fe FoundationGEICOArmed Forces Bank Sempra EnergySan Diego Food Bank Rescue Task ForceGold Wing Riders AssociationBlooms from the Heart

Petals for PatriotsLambs Players Theater Lash Foundation

Navy Old GoatsWarrior FoundationSan Diego Yacht ClubLive NationHouse of BluesThe PadresSan Diego Fair KSONStarbucks

Our Latest donors


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Final thoughts...

For more information on howFor more information on how YOU YOUcan make a differencecan make a difference

[email protected]

www.militaryymca.org

From the Desk of Executive Director Paul Steffens:

As I look, again, at the pictures of the many individuals participating in recent events As I look, again, at the pictures of the many individuals participating in recent eventsI am reminded of Ben Steins Final Column. Ben Stein wrote a biI am reminded of Ben Steins Final Column. Ben Stein wrote a bi --weekly columnweekly columncalled Monday Night at Mortons called Monday Night at Mortons -- a famous steakhouse frequented by movie starsa famous steakhouse frequented by movie starsand famous people. His columns were filled with items about the Hollywood stars.and famous people. His columns were filled with items about the Hollywood stars.In his last column, he states that he no longer thinks Hollywood stars are terribly im-In his last column, he states that he no longer thinks Hollywood stars are terribly im-portant and, while they can be interesting and nice they were no longer his heroes.portant and, while they can be interesting and nice they were no longer his heroes.He goes on to note the actions of many military service members and firemen. HeHe goes on to note the actions of many military service members and firemen. Hestates that he came to realize that life lived to help others is the only one that mat-states that he came to realize that life lived to help others is the only one that mat-ters. Ben Stein noted that after he cared for his father as he got sick, entered aters. Ben Stein noted that after he cared for his father as he got sick, entered a

coma and died, he realized that was the only point at which his life touched the livescoma and died, he realized that was the only point at which his life touched the livesof soldiers in Iraq or the firefighters in New York. He came to realize that life lived toof soldiers in Iraq or the firefighters in New York. He came to realize that life lived tohelp others is the only one that matters and that his duty, in return to the good lifehelp others is the only one that matters and that his duty, in return to the good lifethat God gave him, is to help others that God has placed in his path. While the indi-that God gave him, is to help others that God has placed in his path. While the indi-viduals pictured in this SHAPSHOT, as they help each other, may not know Ben Stein,viduals pictured in this SHAPSHOT, as they help each other, may not know Ben Stein,they practice what Ben realizedthey practice what Ben realized that life lived to help others is the only one thatthat life lived to help others is the only one thatmatters. We can all learn from Athleen Bassett who started helping at the ASYMCA matters. We can all learn from Athleen Bassett who started helping at the ASYMCA in 1942 and continued until 1981.. Or from the American Sewing Guild Volunteersin 1942 and continued until 1981.. Or from the American Sewing Guild Volunteerswho recently delivered Operation Kid Comfort Quilt number 2,008!! Then there arewho recently delivered Operation Kid Comfort Quilt number 2,008!! Then there are

the thousands of volunteer hours of service that our military volunteers contribute tothe thousands of volunteer hours of service that our military volunteers contribute tothe San Diego Community and the hours contributed by the volunteers at the Navalthe San Diego Community and the hours contributed by the volunteers at the NavalMedical Center. Yes, life lived to help others is alive and well in the San Diego ArmedMedical Center. Yes, life lived to help others is alive and well in the San Diego ArmedServices YMCA. All our volunteers make it possible for us to maintain our current pro-Services YMCA. All our volunteers make it possible for us to maintain our current pro-grams and introduce new programs to meet the needs of military families. We aregrams and introduce new programs to meet the needs of military families. We arealso dependent on grants and donations. We were most fortunate this past month toalso dependent on grants and donations. We were most fortunate this past month toreceive two grants that are making a positive difference in our efforts. The Ranchoreceive two grants that are making a positive difference in our efforts. The RanchoSanta Fe Foundation Womens Military Fund awarded us $30,000 for our family coun-Santa Fe Foundation Womens Military Fund awarded us $30,000 for our family coun-seling program and Sempra Energy Foundation awarded us $20,000 to support ourseling program and Sempra Energy Foundation aw arded us $20,000 to support our

family support programs, including the Neighborhood Exchange Program shown infamily support programs, including the Neighborhood Exchange Program shown inthis SNAPSHOT.this SNAPSHOT.
http://www.militaryymca.com/http://www.militaryymca.com/

june snapshot 2009 asymca

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