CEO Corner
Dear Friends,
Coming from a military family, the love and respect for those individuals risking their lives for our freedom should be given every chance we get. I want to personally thank each individual who has served or currently serves in the armed services. One of the many unspoken aspects of armed services is the impact it has on the family. The commitment results in many relocations, lengthy time away from friends and family, and the need to reacclimate to new communities. April is the month of the military child! There are more than 1.6 million military children who face many challenges and unique experiences as a result of their parent’s service.
At the YMCA, we are honored to be recognized as an Armed Services YMCA Affiliate. This recognition is determined by our YMCA’s commitment to support those military leaders and families with unique programs and offerings. Our Y currently offers numerous opportunities to engage the military with experiences in our community. We are the Adopt A Squadron company supporting the 82nd Force Support Squadron at Sheppard Air Force Base. The Y is a leading partner in the upcoming SAFB “Guardians of Freedom” Air Show for our community. Lastly, we support military families through school age and summer camp programs to support the difficult transition while working to make the experiences amazing in Wichita Falls.
One program I am very proud of our team offering is Operation Hero. Op Hero is an afterschool enrichment program designed to address issues faced by many of our military youth. Operation Hero is unique in that it addresses topics specifically relevant to the military child and their experiences. It provides a fun, safe place for military children to learn and develop the same character development tools that the military teaches their parents. The curriculum offers homework assistance, outdoor activities, and classroom lesson plans. The goal is to provide tools and opportunities for the children to adjust positively to the hardships of a military lifestyle while creating hope and highlighting the positives that military life presents, shifting a potentially negative stigma to an empowering one.
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”
-John Quincy Adams