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YMCA provides support to military families

Date: 1/19/2009

GREATER SPRINGFIELD As part of the new Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) and Department of Defense (DoD) Outreach Initiative, the YMCA of Greater Springfield will provide military families with access to youth development, family strengthening and health and wellness 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 YMCA of Greater Springfield is happy to help meet the critical needs facing families of deployed military service members," said James O's Morton, Esquire, President/CEO. "Families are deeply affected when a loved one gets deployed, so we are deeply committed to providing them with the support they need."

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 Morton. "During this time of conflict, it is imperative that we do our part to serve and support families of deployed military personnel."

More information about the ASYMCA-DoD Outreach Initiative can be found by visiting www.asymca.org. For information about participating YMCAs, please visit www.springfieldy.org or www.ymca.net. For location information call 739-6951 or 596-2749.

The YMCA of Greater Springfield was founded in 1852 and is the second oldest YMCA in the United States. Some 27,000 members and program participants are served annually in 11 cities and towns including Springfield and Wilbraham where Health and Wellness branches are located.