EVENTS:

“Sizzling Summer” Celebration Continues July 1-31, 2008 Have a sizzling summer by joining the YMCA! Participate in Water Aerobics or just enjoy our two swimming pools. Work out in our newly remodeled Fitness Center complete with new equipment. Meet new friends and discover a “new” you! Stop by the Member Services desk for a tour. And during the month of July, there will be no joiner fee (an $85 value)!

YMCA Strong Kids Charity Golf Tournament Registration July 1-31, 2008 Registration Deadline: August 8, 2008. Tournament: August 16, 2008 Join us for our inaugural Mississippi Gulf Coast YMCA Strong Kids Charity Golf Tournament! Tournament will be held August 16, 2008, at The Preserve Golf Club in Vancleave, MS, compliments of the Palace Casino Resort. Format is a 4 man scramble, with shotgun start at 9:00 a.m. $500 per 4-man team to play. Entry fee includes registration, green fees, cart, lunch, gift bag, range balls, and post-event awards. There will also be a silent auction, putting contest, and other events throughout the tournament. For tournament information, contact David Keith at 228-224-2983. We are also seeking sponsors: $200 Hole Sponsor, $500 Team Sponsor, $1,000 YMCA Strong Kids Sponsor. For sponsorship information, contact Scott Walker at 228-324-3999. 100% of the proceeds of the tournament benefit the YMCA Strong Kids Fund. This fund provides scholarship opportunities for pre-school care, before- and after-school care, summer camp, and more. Download a tournament flyer and registration form here.

Final Day for Applications for Earl Wyman Performance Achievement Award July 1-31, 2008 The Early Wyman Performance Achievement Award is a $500 award to a deserving male and female between the ages of 15 and 18. Other eligibility requirements for the award are as follows: applicant must have a present association or be otherwise involved with an organization or program that benefits the community; must presently be a full-time student in high school, vocational, technical or parochial school. Anyone interested in applying for the award must fill out the application, which may be picked up at YMCA Member Services, 1810 Government Street, Ocean Springs. Completed applications must be returned to Shan Hudlow by July 1.

28th Annual Wesson Memorial Run July 4, 8:00 a.m. Get a running start to your 4th of July at the 28th Annual Wesson Memorial Run. The race is a 2-mile health run/walk along a beautifully scenic course, starting at the Mississippi Gulf Coast YMCA, 1810 Government Street in Ocean Springs. Runners will proceed to Shearwater Drive, then along East Beach in Ocean Springs, and finish back at the Y. The race starts at 8:00am, with late race-day registration from 7:00 – 7:45am. Cost is $10 for GCRC and YMCA members, $11 for non-members, and $12 for all on race day. Early registration must be postmarked by June 28th. A quarter-mile Children’s Health Run/Walk will begin at the YMCA at 8:30am. This event is for children 12 years and under, and costs $7. Hosted in conjunction with the Gulf Coast Running Club, proceeds of the race are used to improve the Wesson Memorial Wellness Center, to better serve area youth. All participants will have free access to the YMCA facilities following the race. For more information, contact Leonard with the GCRC at 875-6855 or YMCA Member Services at 875-5050. Download entry form here.

Get Fit in July at Indulgence July 10, 2008, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Indulgence, 1306 Government St., Ocean Springs, MS 39564 Bra Specialist and owner of Indulgence, Yvette Champagne, will discuss how to measure for your correct bra size, how to get the right fit, how to wear a bra and how often you need to replace your bra. Food and drinks will be provided. All attendees will receive 20% off all bra purchases that evening. Free to attend.

Kids Night Out July 13, 2008, 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. MS Gulf Coast Blossman YMCA, 1810 Government St., Ocean Springs Treat your kids to a night out – without you! From 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. the kids get to play games, watch movies, and participate in arts and crafts projects. Children ages 5-11 may swim. A healthy snack and drink provided. Kids Night Out is for children from 1-11 years old. Cost is $15 for the first child, with each additional sibling $5 each. Space is limited, so sign up early! Call Member Services at (228) 875-5050.

CPR/First Aid/AED Training July 14 and 15, 2008, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. MS Gulf Coast Blossman YMCA, 1810 Government St., Ocean Springs Cost: $30/YMCA Members; $40/Non-members

KaBOOM! Playground Build Saturday, July 19, 2008 8:30 AM – Kick off and volunteer deployment 2:30 PM – Ribbon-cutting ceremony to dedicate new play area (Note: all times approximate) Marsha Barbour Community Resource Center, 6846 Kiln-Delisle Road, Pass Christian, MS 39571 We need volunteers to help us build a playground. The new playground will provide 1,000 children who frequent the center with a safe place to play. The playspace is one of more than 15 that will be built by KaBOOM! with funds from the Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund, the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Fannie Mae and the Foundation for the Mid South this year and one of more than 225 KaBOOM! will lead across the country in an effort to provide a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America. The new playground’s design is based on drawings provided by children who attended a Design Day event in May. For more information or to volunteers, contact Mindy Pizzetta, 228-255-3773.

CPR/First Aid/AED Training :July 25, 2008, 9:00 – 11:3- a.m. or 4:00 – 6:30 p.m. (Recertifications only); July 26, 2008, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. MS Gulf Coast Blossman YMCA, 1810 Government St., Ocean Springs Cost: $30/YMCA Members; $40/Non-members; Recertifications: $25