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Press Releases
December 5, 2008
Sessions Announces Military Outreach Initiative with the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas
Dallas, Texas – U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions (R-Dallas) today joined Gordon Echtenkamp, President and CEO of YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas, and military families to announce the YMCA and Department of Defense $31 million Military Outreach Initiative. Underwritten by the Department of Defense and designed for eligible military families of deployed or relocated service members, the YMCA Military Outreach Initiative will provide military families with access to youth development, family strengthening, and health and well-being programs at community YMCAs nationwide – including 22 North Texas YMCA locations.
“Dallas YMCA has helped build a brighter future for thousands of North Texans through physical, mental and spiritual growth, and I applaud Dallas YMCA’s leadership in our community and support for military families,” said Sessions. “Now through the YMCA Military Outreach Initiative and Defense Department sponsorship, children and adults in military families will also have access to the YMCA’s excellent community support and development opportunities.”
The announcement took place this morning at a press conference at the YMCA at White Rock, 7301 Gaston Ave, Dallas, TX. In addition to Congressman Sessions and Gordon Echtenkamp, several local military families of deployed service members joined the announcement event to highlight the importance of the YMCA Military Outreach Initiative to their families.
“The Dallas YMCA is happy to help meet the critical needs facing families of deployed military service members,” said Gordon Echtenkamp, President and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas. “Families are the most affected when a loved one gets deployed, so we are deeply committed to providing them with the support they need.”
The Military Out Reach Initiative is a joint partnership between the YMCA of USA, Armed Services YMCA, the Department of Defense, and Military OneSource, an information and referral service for military families. Under direction of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008, the Secretary of Defense developed the Military Out Reach Initiative to ensure that military family readiness programs and activities are available to all military families, including those who may not have access to military facilities.
“As a nation, we have a responsibility to support our troops and to ensure that their families have the resources they need to succeed—especially when a spouse or parent is deployed. The Dallas YMCA is stepping up to help meet the military family needs in our community, and I look forward to working with Dallas YMCA in the future to support the efforts of the Military Outreach Initiative,” Sessions concluded.
The YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas serves over 290,000 members and participants through a broad range of programs, including childcare, health and wellness, teen leadership and volunteerism. The Dallas YMCA is comprised of 25 locations serving Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Kaufman, Palo Pinto and Rockwall Counties. For more information about YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas, visit www.ymcadallas.org.
