Volume 2, Issue 9

5 October 2007

Compiled & Edited by:

Leslie Gray

Serving 5,000 active-duty junior-enlisted

military service members and their families
each month with over 40 free programs!

Welcome!
The current edition covers events from the last
two months: August & September. Highlights
include our 2nd Annual “All Decked Out”
Fashion Show, more YES Program field trips, a
Military Program Patriot’s Day outing, and
some new Family Outreach offerings. We also
say goodbye to summer and embrace the
upcoming holiday season!

“All Decked Out” Fashion Show

YachtFest 09.14.07
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YES Program 2007
This year’s Youth Enrichment in the
Summer (YES) Program enabled
military children ages 8-13 to
experience some of what San Diego
has to offer. Field trips included visits
to Sea World, the Wild Animal Park,
Legoland, and Breaker’s Beach on
Naval Air Station North Island. Each
group of 35 kids was chaperoned by
volunteers from our own Military
Volunteer Program. Funding for this
program was provided by the
Anderson Children’s Foundation.

Legoland 08.07.07

Breaker’s Beach 08.14.07

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Family Outreach
Free Financial Seminar 09.25.07

Our Family Outreach Department held its 2nd Free Financial Seminar for
Military Families on September 25th at the Murphy Canyon Chapel Fellowship
Hall. Guest speaker George Chamberlain, Money Advisor for NBC 7/39 and
host of “Money in the Morning” on KOGO Radio, lectured about the Earned
Income Tax Credit and smart investing. Additionally, childcare and dinner
were provided. The seminar was made possible through funding from the
Annie E Casey Foundation.

Spanish Speaking Women’s

Support Group
The Spanish Speaking Women's Support
Group hosted their kick off event Wednesday,
9.19.07, in the Murphy Canyon Chapel from
10:00 - 11:00 am. The event included door
prizes, community resource information and
plenty of activities to help military wives for
whom Spanish is their primary language. The
mission of the group is to provide an
environment where women can
meet new friends, build a
support network, and discuss
issues that are important to
them. The group is open to all
military wives and active duty
women who speak
Spanish. Free on-site child care
is provided.
October
3rd - Not to Be Forgotten Rally (Military Programs)
10th - KUSI Shopping Spree
12th to 14th - Miramar Air Show
19th - Operation Liberty Call @ Liberty Station
24th - Computers 2 SD Kids Giveaway
27th - Holiday Treasures Craft Fair
31st - Active Duty Halloween Celebration
November
7th - Holiday Toy Program Registration E4 and below
14th - KUSI Shopping Spree
14th - Holiday Toy Program Registration E5 and below
22nd - Thanksgiving Home Hospitality
27th - Computers 2 SD Kids Giveaway
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Military Programs
Patriot’s Day Outing - 09.11.07

Active duty sailors enjoyed a free

breakfast sponsored by Hometown
Buffet before spending the
afternoon visiting the Mt. Soledad
memorial and parts of La Jolla.

Naval Medical Center

Mr. Nice Guy Robert Rodriquez donated $12,000 to Rescue Task
Force, through the Nice Guys. The funds will be used to provide
backpacks to patients who are medically evacuated to Naval Medical
Center. In addition to hygiene gear and clothing, each backpack
contains a Nintendo Game Boy Advance hand held gaming system
along with a game and personal cell phone with 500 free minutes.
The patients are always thrilled to get the backpack.

The Nice Guys consists of approximately 150 people from all walks
of life. They have helped hundreds of deserving individuals and
families. After 9/11, the Nice Guys established a “Victory Fund” to
help injured military returning from defending our freedom. In
addition to donating $15,000, Nice Guys have made several visits to
Naval Medical Center to give patients tickets to sporting events and
concerts, calling cards, Cricket Cell Phones, and gift cards. Nice
Guys Lynn Cihak and Col Jack Kelly (USMC retired) exhibit
enthusiasm that inspires their membership to actively assist Naval
Medical Center patients and families.
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Thank you for your support...

California Endowment
Peninsula Women’s Soccer League
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Callaway Golf
Boys & Girls Foundation
Cymer Community Giving
County Employees Charitable Organization
San Diego City Schools - CSA
PepsiCo Healthy Living
Raytheon Program Achievement Award
Naval Officer’s Spouses Club
Target Store Grants
Sundt Foundation
Anderson Children’s Foundation
Integrated Sports Marketing
KSON 97.3 FM
House of Blues
FOCUS - Friends of Children United Society
Printed Treasures
Avant Garde
American Sewing Guild - San Diego Chapter
Nice Guys
From the Desk of Executive Director Paul Steffens:
We recently prepared our 2008 Operating Budget. In doing so, we looked both into
the future and at our past in terms of our programming goals - where we have been
and where we are seeking to go. Looking back, we find that our program
participation continues to grow and are thrilled to be reaching more and more military
families. Our average monthly program participation in 2007 is 5,929 individuals, a
growth of 29% over the 2006 average and 162% more than were participating
monthly in 2004. This growth results from new and expanded programs to meet
family needs; a dynamic staff of 24 talented individuals who are dedicated to the San
Diego ASYMCA mission; and from the support of the San Diego military sector and
civilian communities. As we look towards 2008, we predict further growth. We are
hoping to expand our Murphy Canyon facility to provide much needed storage space
and work areas for additional staff. We continue to seek additional locations for our
existing programs and develop imaginative new programs to meet emerging family
needs. We also look to increase our efforts to connect with families of service
members on Individual Augmentation (IA) assignments. Our organization, staff, and
volunteers persist with our efforts due to the strong belief that family readiness
equates to combat readiness. It is our goal to reach every deploying San Diego
service member with the message that we are here to assist military families and
allow them to focus on their mission.
Keep chargin! Paul

For more information on how YOU

can make a difference…

info@asymcasd.org
858.751.5755
www.militaryymca.org