The Fulton Family YMCA Provides Support To Military Families As Part Of New $31-Million Initiative

November 17, 2008 Contributor

Submitted article

As part of the new Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) and Department of Defense (DoD) Outreach Initiative, the Fulton Family YMCA will provide military families with access to youth development, family strengthening, and health and well-being programs at community YMCAs nationwide.  Membership fees will be underwritten by the DoD and administered through Military OneSource, an information and referral service for military families. YMCA of the USA, the national resource office for America’s 2,686 YMCAs, will help launch the initiative at participating YMCAs across the country.

“The Fulton Family YMCA is happy to help meet the critical needs facing families of deployed military service members,” said Kim McPherson, Program Director, Fulton Family YMCA.  “Families are the most affected when a loved one gets deployed, so we are deeply committed to providing them with the support they need.”

The ASYMCA-DoD Outreach Initiative responds to a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008, which requires the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan to support military family readiness and to ensure that military family readiness programs and activities are available to all deployed National Guard and Reserve families, and some active duty families in certain special categories.

Eligible military families participating in the initiative are eligible for YMCA memberships based on participation requirements. Those eligible to participate in the new initiative include:

•    All interested families of joint deployed National Guard and Reserves of all military branches;
•    Families living in newly established Joint Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) bases;
•    Active Duty Independent Duty station personnel and their families; and
•    Relocated spouses and family members of deployed Active Duty personnel.

“The YMCA has a long history of supporting military service members and their families – since the Civil War – so it was natural for us to join this initiative,” said McPherson.   “During this time of conflict, it is more important than ever that we continue providing services and support to these families in the absence of a deployed spouse.”

More information about the ASYMCA-DoD Outreach Initiative can be found by visiting www.asymca.org. For information about participating YMCAs, please visit www.ymca.net.

YMCA MISSION:  “To put Christian Principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all”

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