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Our History
The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA), a non-profit 501(c)3
organization, is a national member association of the YMCA of the USA
and works with the Department of Defense. The Armed Services YMCA of Alaska
operates 5 locations at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson and 3 locations at Fort
Wainwright offering more than 30 critical programs and services.
The Armed Services YMCA’s roots date back to 1861 when some
5,000 dedicated YMCA volunteers took to the battlefields of the Civil War
alongside America’s young men -- an act
that moved President Abraham Lincoln to commend the YMCA for their “benevolent
undertaking for the benefit of the soldiers.” The tradition of the YMCA
following the flag has continued into every war and conflict that the United
States has been involved, making the Armed Services YMCA the nation’s first
volunteer organization to serve the military. The Armed Services YMCA of Alaska
has proudly carried on this fine tradition by serving military members and
their families stationed in Alaska
since 1941.
Our Mission
The mission of the
Armed Services YMCA of Alaska is to provide support to service members and their families through
educational, recreational, and social programs.
The Armed Services YMCA of Alaska is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
organization exemplifying the American spirit of caring. We provide support
services for more than 60,000 military service members and their families stationed
in Alaska,
with a particular focus on junior-enlisted men and women — the individuals on
the front lines of defending our nation. In addition, we offer services to
military members coming home to Alaska
and to those passing through the state on official military business.
Program Description & Beneficiaries
The ASYMCA of Alaska serves military men, women, and their
families serving in Alaska, offering more than
30 critical programs and services in Alaska
that are designed to alleviate stress, assist with life challenges, and
increase the morale and welfare of our nation’s heroes.
With the help of sponsors and volunteers, ASYMCA of Alaska serves our Army,
Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, and Reserve communities in Anchorage, Fairbanks
and outlying areas, with a concentration on the junior enlisted members in pay
grades E-5 and below. In 2010 more than 120,000 members of military
community benefited from our programs and services.
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