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!
February 2010 Volume 5, Issue 2
Dress Drive & Neighborhood Exchange
The Neighborhood Exchange was yet another suc-
cess on January 28th. In 2009, from May through
December, the San Diego ASYMCA delivered 2422
bags of food to over 1280 households.
In preparation for an
exciting evening of
twirling and dancing,
girls searched
through frills and rib-
bons to try to find
that special dress to
wear to the Father &
Daughter Dance.
This Dress Exchange
was a unique addi-
tion to the January
Neighborhood Ex-
change.

Father & Daughter Dance Welcome

February may be a short month, but we
still packed our days with fun programs and
Keep your eyes open for a Special Edition 2010 “Father &
events for the entire family... Please enjoy
Daughter Dance” two-page Snapshot with a slew of pic- our pictures!
tures from the fun evening. Thank you TriWest!
In this issue ______

Dress Drive & NEX…...........................

Family Outreach
Father & Daughter Dance………..........
Youth & Community Outreach
ASYMCA Annual Meeting……………......
ASYMCA Board and Staff
Disneyland & Valentine’s Day……......
Naval Medical Center Programs
Camo for Kids………………………….………...
Special Event
Valentine’s Day Party……………………….
Special Event
Fond Farewell to ASYMCA Staff……..
ASYMCA Staff
Freedom Festival San Diego………......
Compiled & Edited by Katie DesBois Special Event
 Page 2

Armed Services YMCA Annual Meeting

On January 22nd, San Diego Armed Services YMCA Board of Management, Staff, and Volunteers gathered for
the 2010 Annual Dinner. Key Board Members, volunteers, and staff were recognized for their contributions to
the ASYMCA and to San Diego military families; and new Board Members received a warm welcome.

The Masters Family at Disneyland
NMC
ASYMCA Volunteer Dian Self and chil-
dren from the San Diego community
created 200 special valentine bags and
boxes of homemade cards for Active
Duty military at Naval Medical Center.
The festive bags and decorative cards
were delivered to patients in the hospi-
tal as well as the Wounded Warriors
living on base. Thank you!

"My father and I participated in the Disneyland "Give A Day, Get A Day"
volunteer program. We worked the ASYMCA Neighborhood Exchange for
a day. It was a lot of fun and I really felt a sense of community as I was
helping the people through the lines and to their cars. As a family with my
hubby about to be gone for a little while, receiving these tickets was
great! Now we can take our two daughters to Disney as a fun family trip
before he has to leave.” Valentines Day Party Volunteer

On February 6th, Camouflage Kids and

Camo for Kids USD partnered to provide over 625 kids
and their families with a fun “game day”
at USD. The afternoon included a pre-game pep talk from Bill Grier,
the USD head men’s basketball coach, free tickets to the University
of San Diego Men’s Basketball game against Santa Clara, back-
packs, food, t-shirts, and a full afternoon of family bonding!
 Page 3

Valentine’s Day Party

for Families of Deployed
Red and pink covered the tables, walls,
and guests at the recent Valentine’s
Day Party for Families of Deployed at
the downtown USO. Chocolate, crafts,
and entertainment— what more could
you ask for on Valentine’s Day?!

ASYMCA staff gathered to give a fond farewell to staff members Sarah, Karena, & Ashley.
Thank you for everything you have done for San Diego military and families!! You will be missed!

Freedom Festival San Diego Calendar of events

on the Midway—May 29, 2010 March
19th— ASYMCA/ USO Golf Tournament
Join us on Saturday, May 29, 2010, as The American Free- 24th— Computer Giveaway
dom Foundation brings Nashville to San Diego for the 1st an- 25th— ASYMCA Neighborhood Exchange
nual American Freedom Festival San Diego to be held aboard 30th— KUSI Shopping Spree
the USS Midway Museum. Country Superstar, Ronnie Milsap, April
will headline and the evening will include a reception, old 3rd— Operation Eagle Father & Kids Fishing Trip
fashioned country BBQ dinner, entertainment, and exclusive 17th— Healthy Kids Day
after party with songwriting greats Sam and Annie Tate, 22nd— ASYMCA Neighborhood Exchange
Georgia Middleman and Gary Burr. This tribute will benefit 23rd— KUSI Shopping Spree
the Veterans Village of San Diego, Big Brothers Big Sisters of 29th— Computer Giveaway
San Diego County, and The San Diego Armed Services YMCA!
Visit our Website Event Calendar
Visit www.americanfreedomfoundation.org for tickets!! for updates and free ticket giveaways!
 Page 4

Our Latest donors and

contributors…
Union Bank Foundation
California Foundation for Stronger
Communities
Sundt Foundation
Clark C.A.R.E.S Foundation
TriWest
BAE Systems
Southwest Airlines
The University Club
Charlie King of DLK Investment
Vons La Jolla
The USO
Singing Solo
Chopper the biker dog
La Jolla New Generations Rotary
Canyon Crest Interact
Heroes to Hometowns
CA National Guard
Lockheed Martin
Duncan Hunter's Office
University of San Diego
Jeff Nix and Camo for Kids
Steve Bevar and USD Athletics
Thank you Corporate Partner Members...
 Final thoughts...
From the Desk of Executive Director Paul Steffens:

Each and everyday we have the privilege of assisting our men and women who wear the uniform of
this great country and their families. We are energized by the bright smiles on the faces of the
many young children who participate in programs designed to enrich their lives. Seeing the many
spouses who build strong friendships and develop support groups in our programs designed to bring
military spouses together energizes us to continue to develop unique programs that result in strong
families and mutual support groups. To understand the satisfaction we receive from our efforts,
one must only gaze at the pictures in this SHAPSHOT—the smiles on the faces of the daughters par-
ticipating in the Valentine’s Day Party to the Camo for Kids event and the special bonding between
fathers and daughters at our annual “Father & Daughter” Dance. The smiles tell it all. We will con-
tinue to seek avenues to improve our current programs and develop innovative new programs to
meet family needs in 2010. We are most thankful to all our donors who help us with material and
monetary support. With out this generous support, we would be very limited in what we could pro-
vide to military families. We work hard to ensure that our overhead costs remain low and this al-
lows us to put eighty-nine cents of every dollar we receive directly into our programs. If you have
not attended one of our monthly “Neighborhood Exchange” programs (4th Thursday of every
month) in Murphy Canyon, you are missing a fun event. This partnership with the San Diego Food
Bank helps junior enlisted military families stretch their paychecks . The event also offers books,
clothing, and information to military families. Since the program started in May 2009, over 7,000
have participated in the program. Come join the fun! ……. We are experiencing some changes on
our team as three of our Super Stars are moving due to military transfers. We bid farewell to
Karena Vigliotti (Director, Youth and Community Outreach Programs), Ashley Sherman
(Director, Active Duty Programs) and Sarah Derequito (Office Manager, Naval Medical Center Pro-
grams). One cannot measure the outstanding contributions they made to our operations. We will
miss them and wish them Fair Winds and Following Seas. We are most fortunate to welcome their
replacements who bring outstanding experience and will continue the outstanding work. We are
pleased to announce that Lyndsay Calhoun has been promoted to Director, Youth and Community
Outreach Programs, and Cathy Tann has been promoted to Youth and Community Outreach Pro-
gram Leader taking Lyndsay’s position. We also welcome Corey Arkush as Director, Active Duty
Programs and Jane Palencia, Office Manager, Naval Medical Center. Welcome Aboard!!

Don’t forget the USO/ASYMCA Annual Golf Tournament—Admiral Baker Golf Course on
Friday, March 19, 2010.

For more information on how YOU

can make a difference…

info@asymcasd.org
858.751.5755
www.militaryymca.org