San Diego Armed Services YMCA

Serving over 6,800 active-

duty junior-enlisted mili-
tary service members and
their families each month
with free programs!
April 2010 Volume 5, Issue 4
Healthy Kids Day
There was never a dull moment during the afternoon of
April 17th, as 200 families enjoyed activities and healthy
treats at Healthy Kids Day. Family members of all
ages entered in 3-legged race contests, created tasty
healthy snacks, and even watched a helicopter take off
during this year’s event. Thank you to everyone, ven-
dors and volunteers alike, who helped make this a fun
day for military families.

Active Duty at Homecomings Welcome

What a great time of the year to be
outdoors! Between Healthy Kids Day,
In April, along with the a Fishing Trip, Picnic lunch and more;
help of several active the ASYMCA staff and volunteers
spent much of April out in the sun.
duty volunteers, Active
Duty Programs wel- In this issue ___
comed home 3,500
sailors on the USS Carl Healthy Kids Day…………...........
Vinson, as well as hun- YCO Special Event

dreds more from the Homecomings…………………........

Active Duty Programs
USS McCluskey, USS
Fishing Trip………………………….....
Bunker Hill, USS Bon- Special Event
homme Richard, USS Table Dedication………………......
Cleveland, USS Rush- Thank you FOCUS
more, and the USS Donation……………………………….....
Freedom. Thank you Avant Garde
Celebrity Championship…..….
Special Event
Compiled & Edited by Katie DesBois
 Page 2

Fishing Trip
Families began arriving early on the morning of Saturday, April 3rd, for
the very first ASYMCA Father/ Child Fishing Trip. Moments after the
first families arrived, the first fish of the day was caught by one lucky
girl. Throughout the day, families fished, boated, enjoyed a BBQ
lunch, and hustled through the woods during an Easter Egg Hunt.
Thank you very much to life scout Justin Van Bibber, Henry Hall, the
Mataguay Scout Ranch, One Stop Equipment, Heartland Lions Club,
Barnacle Bill's Tackle, Troop 690, and American Legion Post 468 for all
of your hard work planning and carrying out this event that afforded
many families the opportunity to spend a fun day together at Beaver
Lake at the Mataguay Scout Ranch.

Table Dedication
Thursday, April 8th was a beautiful day for
an outdoor lunch at the recently donated
picnic table. The staff of the San Diego
ASYMCA gathered along with Suzanne
Manuel and members of FOCUS to dedicate
the picnic table in honor of Lt. Gary Manuel,
USN (ret.). FOCUS members have gener-
ously supported ASYMCA programs for
many years and we remain incredibly thank-
ful for their heartfelt support.
 Page 3

Thank you
Avant Garde
One can’t help but wonder where we would be
without support from the lovely women of
Avant Garde. At the March Board of Manage-
ment meeting, Avant Garde presented the
ASYMCA with a donation of over $6,000 for
programs. Thank you Avant Garde for your on-
going, generous support for our programs that
support San Diego military families!

Cox Celebrity Championship hosted by Dew Brees

Drew Brees announced on April 6th that a percentage of ticket sales, auction pro-
ceeds and sponsor sales from the Cox Celebrity Championship hosted by Drew
Brees will be donated to the Brees Dream Foundation and dispersed among San
Diego non-profits including Rady Children’s Hospital– San Diego, Friends of Scott,
and the San Diego Armed Services YMCA!
Join us on May 23rd at the Celebrity Championship as we recognize military fami-
lies during the free Military Appreciation Day! Sign up now on our website Event
Calendar to join in the festivities —first 1,000 families to sign up receive a free
lunch.

Join us on the 4th Thursday of
every month for the ASYMCA
Neighborhood Exchange!
Calendar of events
May
6th — Monte Vista Mother Daughter Tea
8th — Pre- Mother’s Day BBQ with Sears Essentials
Mission Valley
10th— Annual Wounded Marine Golf Tournament
14th— Volunteer Recognition Luncheon
20th— KUSI Shopping Spree
20th-23rd— Cox Celebrity Championship Golf Tourna-
ment hosted by Drew Brees
25th— Computer Giveaway
27th— ASYMCA Neighborhood Exchange
29th— Freedom Festival on the Midway to benefit
the ASYMCA
June
22nd— Computer Giveaway
24th— ASYMCA Neighborhood Exchange
25th— The Christmas You Missed
29th— KUSI Shopping Spree

Please visit our website at www.militaryymca.org Visit our Website Event Calendar for more events,
for all Neighborhood Exchange updates. updates, and free ticket giveaways!
 Page 4

Our Latest donors and

contributors…
St Germaine Children’s Charity Henry Hall
San Diego County Chairwoman The Mataguay Scout Ranch
Pam Slater-Price and the County One Stop Equipment
Board of Supervisors Heartland Lions Club
Dr. Seuss Foundation Barnacle Bill's Tackle
FOCUS Troop 690
Avant Garde American Legion Post 468
Padres The Valerio Family
Northop Grumman Sierra Club
Justin Van Bibber

Thank you Healthy Kids Day Sponsors and Contributors...

Fleet & Family Support

Healthy Start, Military Family Cluster
San Diego Spine and Rehab
Boys and Girls Club (Clairemont Branch)
American Red Cross/ WIC
Naval Medical Center Health and Wellness
California Army National Guard Counterdrug Task Force
CADFY Community Alliances for Drug Free Youth
Costco Mission Valley

Thank you Corporate Partner Members...

 Final thoughts...
From the Desk of Executive Director Paul Steffens:
I must start this by noting the continuing and fantastic support the ASYMCA receives
from the wonderful women of Avant Garde. For over 30 years, Avant Garde has sup-
ported the ASYMCA through volunteering to assist at our many events and funding our
annual “Wish List” of items needed for administering our programs. Their donation to
our recent “Wish List” was $6,000. We are very thankful for their support and we are
proud to be associated with an organization so dedicated to assisting military families.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
April was another very busy and productive month. Our annual Healthy Kids Day was a
very successful event with warm sunshine, fun games, face painting, good food and,
thanks to the California National Guard, a special treat for the kids…. The Guard arrived
by helicopter!
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
On 29 April we hosted the 4th Military Family Service Providers Conference at the Santo
Community Center. The 50+ attendees spent the day developing methods to meet the
emerging needs of military families. The major areas discussed were Drop-in Child care,
Transportation, Information Dissemination, Community Children’s Programs and Life
Skills/Financial Management. The conference was kicked off by RADM Bill French, who
expressed his appreciation to the attendees for their efforts to assist military families.
These periodic conferences are important to (1) establish partnership between organi-
zations; (2) identify gaps and overlaps in programs and (3) foster communications be-
tween organizations. We want to express the participants’ appreciation to Lincoln Prop-
erty Management for their support in making these conferences happen.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
We are very excited that the Drew Brees Dream Foundation has selected the San Diego
Armed Services YMCA as one of the charity recipients of the Cox Celebrity Golf Champi-
onship hosted by Drew Brees held in May at the Morgan Run Golf Course. The event in-
cludes a Military Appreciation Day on Sunday, 23 May. Keep your eye on
www.militaryymca.org for details.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Finally we are proud to welcome two new residents to the great city of San Diego:
USS FREEDOM LCS 1 and USS CARL VINSON, CVN 70. We stand ready with over 40
FREE monthly programs and numerous special events for your crews and their families.
Paul Steffens, Captain, SC, USN (Ret.)

For more information on how YOU

can make a difference…

info@asymcasd.org
858.751.5755
www.militaryymca.org