Salem YMCA Supports Military Families as part of $31 Million National Initiative

Armed Services YMCA and Department of Defense partnership gives military families access to youth development, family strengthening, and health and well-being programs.

Those eligible to participate in the new initiative include families of joint deployed National Guard and Reserves of all military branches; Active Duty Independent Duty station personnel and their families; and Relocated spouses and family members of deployed Active Duty personnel.

(SALEM, Ore.) - As part of the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) and Department of Defense (DoD) Outreach Initiative, the Salem Family YMCA will provide military families with access to youth development, family strengthening, and health and well-being programs. Membership fees will be underwritten by the DoD and administered through Military OneSource, an information and referral service for military families.

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.

Locally, the Salem Family YMCA has joined the national movement and has already begun offering memberships to eligible military personnel. The program is expected to serve several hundred eligible military personnel and their families in the Salem area.

Eligible military families participating in the initiative can register 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; * Active Duty Independent Duty station personnel and their families; and * Relocated spouses and family members of deployed Active Duty personnel.

Eligible families will participate in all local YMCA membership benefits, such as group exercise programs, discounted rates for swim lessons, youth basketball, youth soccer, and others.

More information about the ASYMCA-DoD Outreach Initiative can be found by visiting youry.org or by calling Janice Naimy at (503) 588-4302, or asymca.org.

The Salem Family YMCA has been serving the Salem community since 1870. Each year, your YMCA teaches over 2,200 children to swim, provides summer camp opportunities for over 2,500 children, and gives nearly $500,000 in program and membership scholarships to men, women and children in need. In Marion & Polk Counties, YMCA Child Development programs reach nearly 600 children each day. For more information about your YMCA, please visit www.youry.org.