NASHVILLE, TN. (ASYMCA) - The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) today announced that Billboard Country music star
Aaron Tippin will be serving as the organization's national spokesperson. The announcement was made during an event for military families and supporters at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, where Tippin helped to kick off ASYMCA's 10th annual Military Family Month. Formally established by ASYMCA in 1996, Military Family Month is a time to demonstrate the nation's support for and commitment to the families of military personnel.
'With so many troops currently deployed overseas, it is more important than ever for Americans to show their support for our troops and their families,' said Tippin. 'I'm proud to be working with the Armed Services YMCA, an organization that has been enriching the quality of life of enlisted service members and their families for over 140 years.'
The defense community widely recognizes that healthy military families contribute substantially to the success of service members and the entire military, both in peace and in war. ASYMCA offers essential programs to junior enlisted personnel and their families, such as childcare, hospital assistance, spouse support services, food services, computer training classes, health and wellness services, and holiday meals, among many others. In 2004, the ASYMCA served more than 433,340 military family participants.
During the event at Ft. Campbell, Tippin met with the families of the 101st Airborne Division, which is currently deployed in the Middle East. In speaking with the families, Tippin also highlighted the many ways Americans can support military families during Military Family Month and year-round, including donating to the ASYMCA/Woman's Day magazine second annual holiday toy drive to provide toys and holiday meals to benefit military families in need. To donate, please visit www.asymca.org or call 800-597-1260.
'As the holiday season draws near, I urge all Americans to show their support for the military and their families by donating money or time to the Armed Services YMCA,' continued Tippin. 'Together I hope we can make a lot of military families' lives brighter.'
Tippin first worked with the Armed Services YMCA as an artist on Patriotic Country 2, a CD of popular patriotic country songs released earlier this year by Sony BMG Strategic Marketing Group to raise awareness for ASYMCA. The CD is available online at www.patrioticcountry2.com, where individuals can also participate in the "Send a CD to a Soldier" program by purchasing a copy of the CD to be included in care packages that ASYMCA will send to active duty troops overseas.
