NEWS

YMCA’s Strong Kid’s Charity Golf Tournament  Raises Funds For Children and Families

Ocean Springs, MS… A night of “Boogie and BBQ” at Gulf Hills on Friday night, July 24th, signaled the beginning of the Blossman Family YMCA’s Second Annual Strong Kids Charity Golf Tournament. With two great bands, BBQ from the Shed, and a room full of auction items, including sports and entertainment memorabilia, the stage was set for a great tournament.  On Saturday, July 25th, a field of 100 golfers enjoyed the day at The Preserve Golf Club in Vancleave while raising money for a worthy cause. Proceeds from both events benefit the YMCA’s Strong Kids Campaign. This campaign underwrites the organization’s important assistance program, which last year provided over $125,000 to low income families, enabling them to participate in YMCA activities, such as swim lessons, preschool and school age childcare.
“We would like to thank the Palace Casino, Preserve Golf Club, and Gulf Hills Hotel and Conference Center and their staffs for their generosity and hard work,” said Nancy Harris, Director of Marketing for the Mississippi Gulf Coast YMCA. “This is the first year we have included a pre-party with the golf tournament. Gulf Hills and their staff guided us every step of the way to ensure everyone had a great time. The Palace donated the use of the beautiful Preserve Golf Course to us again this year, and their staff was instrumental in making this a fun and successful event.”
The First Place Gross team prize of engraved crystal boxes went to the foursome of Tommy Fortenberry, Diann Smhid, Rich Westfall and Mike Bruffey.
The top prize of First Place Net went to the team sponsored by the Island View Casino. Players were Rick Quinn, Rich Chase, John Carter and Joel Carter. Their names will be engraved on the crystal trophy on permanent display at the Preserve.
Prizes were also awarded to Austin Price, winner of the Putting Contest, Lance Monk won the Closest to the Pin contest, and Joel Carter won the Longest Drive Competition.
The YMCA would like to thank the generous sponsors who helped make this event possible, including The Palace Casino Resort, Gulf Hills Hotel and Conference Center, Blossman Gas, M&M Bank, Bacot/McCarty Foundation, the IP Casino Resort Spa, Biloxi Regional Medical Center, Newcomers and Visitors Guide Mississippi Magazine and First American MarketWorks.

YMCA SETS GOAL OF $115,000.00 FOR SCHOLARSHIP CAMPAIGN

Annual Strong Kids Campaign Helps Kids in Need Join YMCA Programs

Ocean Springs, MS…The Mississippi Gulf Coast YMCA is in the midst of its 2009 Strong Kids campaign, a fundraising effort to increase support for the YMCA’s scholarship fund.  Proceeds from the Strong Kids Campaign will fund scholarships that allow children and families who otherwise may not be able to, to benefit from family strengthening YMCA programs such as child care, day camp and programs for at-risk youth.

YMCA Regional Board Chairman Scott Walker is leading the campaign effort as the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign Chairperson. “This campaign is so important because it keeps our young people involved in positive programs, which in turn benefits the entire Gulf Coast community”, said Walker. “It allows the YMCA to honor its commitment to never turn a child away due to their inability to pay.”

At the heart of community life along the Gulf Coast, the mission-driven YMCA is “a place to belong” and to live the values that guide and unite our members: caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.  The YMCA provides a special opportunity for kids and adults to join life-changing and life-saving programs such as day camp, child care, youth sports, water safety, before and afterschool care, and summer camp.

“I believe in the YMCA because I personally benefitted from these programs”, said Walker. “I was raised in the YMCA after-school and summer programs. I also witnessed the positive effects from these wonderful programs in many of my friends.”

The YMCA offers kids and families the chance to make positive choices: Quality child care opportunities mean parents can work to improve their quality of life; youth sports programs give kids the chance to belong to a team devoted to making a positive difference; and healthy lifestyle programs give everyone in the family the chance to lead healthier, more productive lives.

Last year, 338 individuals were provided $125,000.00 in program and membership financial assistance through the Mississippi Gulf Coast YMCA. The majority of these funds go to provide single-parent and economically-dependent working families critical preschool and after-school programs. For many parents, this is their only safe and meaningful alternative to having their children stay home alone.

Others on the campaign committee this year include Jeanne Luckey, a community leader from Ocean Springs, who is the YMCA Regional Board Major Gifts Chairman, Robert Maxwell, of Robert Maxwell and Associates, is acting as Major Gifts Co-Chair, and Roland Weeks, Community Leader, is the YMCA Regional Board Gifts Chairman. Adele Register, Ocean Springs School District, is the Blossman YMCA Board Major Gifts Chairman, and Dr. Lawrence Leake, Singing River Health Systems, is the Blossman YMCA Board Gifts Chairman.

YMCA Preschoolers Make Trip to Post Office to Mail Valentines

OCEAN SPRINGS, MS– The Ocean Springs Post Office was a bit busier than usual on Tuesday, February 10th. A group of twenty-eight 3, 4 and 5 year olds from the YMCA Preschool Childcare Center were there mailing their Valentine’s Day cards, learning how the postal system works, and sharing one of the YMCA’s core values – caring.

The children made the Valentine’s Day cards, and then took the field trip to the Post Office to send the cards to their families. All these activities were part of the YMCA‘s Preschool Childcare Center’s curriculum. The children have been practicing the heart shape as part of their pre-math learning. Studying the job of the mail carrier, learning their address, and exploring the theme of friendship and sharing as related to the Valentine’s Day holiday were all part of the learning experience for February.

Ocean Springs Postmaster George Craig came out to join the children. He posed for a photo and answered questions (“Do a lot of people mail Valentines?” and “Can you mail big stuff and little stuff?”).

When asked what he learned at the Post Office, Jacob Engel, 4, said “I learned where to put the money to buy stamps.”

The trip to the Post Office made quite an impression on the children. Jane Hardesty, YMCA Preschool Director, said one student, Tyler Owens, 3, did not want to come to school on Wednesday – he wanted to stay home and wait for the mail carrier to deliver his Valentine.

YMCA receives $250,000 Anonymous Donation
Friday, September 26, 2008

By FRANK STUMBO, for The Mississippi Press
OCEAN SPRINGS Board members of the Mississippi Gulf Coast YMCA said they are trying to contain their excitement as they begin planning the best way to use $250,000 that an anonymous donor sent this week.

The gift arrived in Wednesday's mail from a donor, who had previously been in contact with Dan Hecker, the president and chief executive of the Mississippi Gulf Coast YMCA.
Hecker said the donor gave the board unrestricted use of the money. A note accompanying the check said the money was "given with deep appreciation of the work your organization has done."

Hecker, who has been with the YMCA for 33 years, said it is quite unusual to receive a donation of that size from an anonymous source.

"The fact of the matter is this person was more interested in the work that we are doing on the coast than their own notoriety, which is the very heart of philanthropy," he said. "They felt that the work we were doing needed some help, and they wanted to help us."

Scott Walker, the board's vice president, has been involved with the YMCA since he was a lifeguard at age 15. He said the donation is the most exciting thing he has witnessed during his time with the YMCA.

"I, personally, am not over the excitement yet," he said. "And it is going to take a lot of conversation (between the board) to decipher where that money should go because the needs of the YMCA are endless. But really, I think it will be spent appropriately and quickly because the needs don't end here."
The Mississippi Gulf Coast YMCA is an association of YMCAs that run from state line to state line.

Hecker said the board would determine what the money is used for, "but certainly it is going to underwrite programs and services up and down the coast."

David Keith, president the YMCA's board of directors, agreed with Hecker that the board will have to decide the best way to distribute the funds.

"Most of the board members are just finding out (about the donation) ... so we really need to talk to them about what our highest priorities are," he said.

Hecker added that the YMCA has many opportunities to grow and the large donation could help spark more interest in the YMCA and what it is doing in the community.

The YMCA is operating with a $3.5 million budget, he said, and about $1.2 million of that is from government grants that the YMCA uses to underwrite its Families First program, Adolescent Offender program, Drug-Free program and its Tobacco Prevention program.

The rest of the money comes from memberships, program fees and contributions.
Reporter Frank Stumbo can be reached at fstumbo@themississippipress.com  or at 228-934-1475.

YMCA Strong Kids Charity Golf Tournament Raises Funds for Scholarships

Ocean Springs, MS… A field of 116 golfers enjoyed a day at The Preserve Golf Club in Vancleave on Saturday, August 16, while raising money for a worthy cause. The Mississippi Gulf Coast YMCA hosted the Inaugural Strong Kids Charity Golf Tournament at the Preserve, with proceeds from the event going to the Y’s annual Strong Kids Campaign. This campaign underwrites the organization’s important assistance program, which last year helped over 180 low income families participate in YMCA activities.

The tournament was sponsored by the Palace Casino Resort, Blossman Gas, the City of Ocean Springs, REX Distributing, Newcomer’s & Visitors Guide magazine, and GoToPlaces Monthly.

George Conwill, CFO of the Palace Casino Resort, chaired the event. “Not only does this event help the YMCA support underprivileged families, but it brings attention to the terrific work the YMCA does up and down the Gulf Coast with kids and families,” says Conwill.

“Our inaugural tournament was a huge success – we made approximately $20,000 to support our after school and summer camp scholarship programs that touch the core of our mission, had a good time, and saw some great golf,” said David Keith, President of the YMCA Board of Directors. “We really appreciate the Palace Casino Resort and the Preserve Golf Course for donating the venue, and of course – extra kudos to all of the volunteers that made this such an enjoyable event. Hopefully, we can build on our success for an even better tournament next year.”

First place went to the team sponsored by Roy Anderson Corp. The four man team consisted of Mark Schloegel, George Zorn Sr., George Zorn Jr., and Chris Marro. They were presented the tournament trophy by Board President David Keith. “We had a great time,” said Mark Schloegel.

Top prizes also went to Michael Sunderman as winner of the Putting Contest, Bill Descher won the Closest to the Pin contest, and Brett Greene was winner of the Longest Drive Competition.

The Mississippi Gulf Coast YMCA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The mission of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Blossman YMCA is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. YMCAs serve 20.1 million people, including 9.7 million children, through a broad range of programs. YMCAs are for people of all faiths, races, ages, incomes and abilities. Financial assistance is available.

Visit us on the web, www.msgulfcoast-ymca.org.

The team sponsored by Roy Anderson Corp. was the winners of the Inaugural YMCA Strong Kids Charity Golf Tournament, and were presented the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign Tournament Trophy. Pictured (left to right) are George Zorn, Jr., George Zorn, Sr., Chris Marro, Mark Schloegel, & YMCA Board President David Keith.