San Diego Armed Services YMCA

Serving 9,000 active-duty junior enlisted military service members and their families each month!

January 2012

Volume 7, Issue 1

SuperParent Holiday Program

The San Diego Armed Services YMCA headquarters office could not have been more festive on December 14th and 15th during our 25th Annual SuperParent Holiday Program sponsored by the Spiva Family Foundation. A thousand mini trees lined the walkways, wreaths and holiday decorations covered the windows and doors, and Christmas music could be heard by everyone who gathered for this years SuperParent Holiday Program. Personal shopper volunteers along with a few San Diego Padres helped parents shop for gifts for their children during this two-day event. An incredible 5,904 gifts were distributed to 1,283 families during our 2011 SuperParent Program - our biggest holiday event yet!

In this Issue
Happy New Year! SuperParent Holiday Program
Family Outreach Department

Holiday Programs at NMC

Wounded, Injured and Ill Programs

Christmas at the Hard Rock

Active Duty Programs Youth and Community Outreach

Ernst & Young Bike Giveaway Over 4,000 Quilts! Bonita Baskets
Special Event
Compiled & Edited by Katie DesBois

Youth and Community Outreach

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Holiday Programs at NMC

During December patients in active treatment at Naval Medical Center received an abundance of holiday cheer thanks to the efforts of ASY staff and volunteers, and the generosity of the San Diego community. Santa, carolers, treats and gifts, and 20 separate visits, all resulted in patients feeling appreciated and cared for during this holiday season. On Christmas morning Santa made a special visit to the childrens ward, and in the afternoon elves delivered stockings to wounded, injured and ill adults. Special guest Tony Hawk took part in the Holiday Salute, the largest holiday event at Naval Medical Center San Diego for over 220 patients. The gym was transformed into a festive dining facility where patients enjoyed a tasty holiday lunch and received a gift bag, and 110 excited children were presented with shiny new bikes.

The Mission Valley Marriott also hosted another holiday party for over 45 military families who have children with permanent disabilities or life threatening illnesses. To top off an already exciting holiday season at the Naval Medical Center, the Warrior Foundation donated $100,000 to programs that support wounded, injured and ill service members; and the ASY completed 128 airline reservations so patients could be reunited with their families this holiday season.

Christmas Morning at the Hard Rock Caf

On Sunday, December 18th, the Armed Services YMCA hosted Christmas at the Hard Rock. Breakfast, a visit from Santa, music and holiday entertainment was provided at no cost to 100 military children who currently have a parent deployed this holiday season. Children and their parents were presented with $50 Walmart gift cards to help alleviate some of the stresses that come with deployment and the holidays. Thank you Rod Luck, SDG&E, the Nice Guys and all military volunteers for making this a wonderful event for our ASY families!

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ASYMCA and Ernst & Young LLP Bike Giveaway

2011 marked the 2nd annual Bike Giveaway with Ernst & Young LLP. Over 100 volunteers participated in a building 100 bikes for military children this year, an increase from the 25 bikes built in 2010. One family wrote, With their father being deployed, it will be nice to give them something special that is memorable this holiday. They have never been away from their father for the holidays and I would like to make it as fun and special as possible. If I could buy bikes for us all, I would, but I can't. Thank you.

4,000 Quilts!
Thanks to the hard work of the American Sewing Guild and Tuesday Ladies Club quilters, the San Diego Armed Services YMCA has reached 4,055 Operation Kid Comfort quilts to date! This is an amazing testament to the hard work and dedication of our volunteers and staff! This program has assisted over 2,270 families as they handle the emotional struggle of being away from a loved one.

Learn more about the San Diego ASYMCA Operation Kid Comfort Program on our website.

Bonita Holiday Baskets

Thank you to the Bonita Optimist Club for donating full holiday dinners to 50 military families in addition to making a donation to our Family Outreach programs!

Calendar of events
January
26 ASYMCA Neighborhood Exchange 30 Computer Giveaway

February
2 Camo for Kids at USD 18 Father & Daughter Dance 23 ASYMCA Neighborhood Exchange 27 Computer Giveaway Visit our Website Event Calendar for more events, updates, and free ticket giveaways!

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Our Latest donors and contributors

Edward G. & Ellen G. Wong Family Foundation Masserini Trust Union Bank Foundation The Country Friends Boys and Girls Foundation San Diego Padres K.I.D.S.--Kids in Distressed Situations AT&T Advertising Solutions San Diego Alumni of Kappa Alpha Psi USO San Diego in partnership with BAE Systems, Inc. LAFRA Unit 289 Girl Scout Troop 11645 Coronado Navy Girls' Club Avant Garde Airgain Bonita Optimist Club

Hanson Family Foundation

Thank you to all of our GiveBIG donors! Your donations helped the San Diego Armed Services YMCA raise over $7,000 for our programs for military families thank you!

Thank you Corporate Partner Members and Major Donors...

Sutherland Management Company The Spiva Family Foundation

Final thoughts...
From the Desk of Executive Director Paul Steffens: I think that, as you read about all the wonderful events in this SNAPSHOT, you will agree with me that the San Diego Community truly appreciates our military and their families. I want our donors to know we truly appreciate their support that enables us to provide a wide range of programs for military families. We cannot do it without your support. I also want to thank all of our volunteers, military and civilian, who truly help us make all these things happen.

We especially want to thank the SuperParent Holiday Program Title Sponsor the Spiva Family Foundation! THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING MILITARY SUPERPARENTS!

For more information on how YOU can make a difference

info@asymcasd.org 858.751.5755 www.militaryymca.org

Thank you SuperParent donors for your support for our 2011 SuperParent Holiday Program!

Abegglen & Ruch Family San Diego Kiwanis Club FounGay Weston Michael Dwyer American Sewing Guild dation/Downtown Gifts in Kind Michelle Menvielle Angela Jones & Friends San Diego Lions Welfare Good Samaritan Church Mike "Lefty" Churchill Ann and Donald Evans Foundation Harbor Packaging Inc Mission Beach Woman's Club Anonymous Harry Eastus Mission Valley Christian Fellow- San Diego Mission Bay Boat & Armed Forces Interest Group at Ski Club Harvey Stewart ship the Rancho Santa Fe FoundaSan Diego Padres Hogrewe Family Molly Moores & John Poutsch tion San Diego Spine & Rehab ITT Exelis Motorhead Misfits Avant Garde Sandra Howes James C. Poe Musick, Peeler & Garret Bank of America (Military SD Assoc of Realtors James Martello/Heather KoNadine Bangsberg Support Affinity Group) SD Golden Triangle Lions Club erner Nancy Heinrichs Barb & Steve SpivaSDG&E James Poe Network in c/o Patti Mocock Spiva Family Foundation Sean Parker Jeff & Marsha Alison Northrop Grumman Brian Susson Sempra Energy Foundation & Jim Walsh OMBAC Carol L. Welch Employees Joan Ahlstrom OMBAC Members Charles & Joan Howe Serco Inc. Judith A. Splitgerber OMWD Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Sharon & Garry Hays Julia Castlen Otis Spunkenmeyer -day Saints Sharon Siegfried Juvenile Court & Community Pain Care of San Diego, AMC Clairemont Republican Women Schools San Diego County OfShella Uyesugi Parents Association Francis Federated Sidnay Bagley fice of Education Parker School Clark Builder Group St. Therese Academy Kathie Riesgo Patricia Goodermote Classic American Chairs Stella Weil Kathy Clark Paul Bledsoe CNRSW Holiday Committee Steve Sloan Kevin Coughlin Paula Taylor Pekin Family Council of Community Clinics Tadpoles Group Kirk Clemmensen Peter Di Renza Craig Post The Brewer Family Kiwanis Club of La Jolla Phyllis Barber Debbie Montez Balloon SensaThe Pinery, LLC Krispy Kreme Rancho Bernardo Woodcrafters tions The Smith Family Lambs Kin Class Emannuel Reynolds Communities Dicie Rose Tierrasanta Junior Women's Faith Comm. Church RJ&J INC Ed & Rachel Van Houten Club Larry Ayo Robert & Molly Schulze Elaine Alvarez Toy Walker Linares DAR (Daughters of the Rotary Club of San Diego Ellen Person TW Telecom American Revolution) Chapter San Diego Association of RealEWGA USS Freedom Linda Farmer & Pat Burns tors Focus VFW Ladies Auxiliary Post 9578 Linda Lofgren San Diego City Schools Hearing Francis Parker School Viejas Linda Small & Friends Clinic Frank & Joanne Kingkade W.H. Cox & Penny Cox Lofgren Family San Diego County Office of Friarhood Welcome Club of Scripps Ranch Lucy/ Szczepanowski Education Friends Network/Patti Mocock Wesley Family Madres San Diego Hospice & the InstiGary & Esperanza Hunter Woman's Day Maria Montessori School tute of Palliative Medicine Gary Rodemeyer Women in Defense Maruta Gardner

Thank you to our SuperParent Holiday Program Title Sponsor The Spiva Family Foundation!