YMCA of the USA and Annie E. Casey Foundation Honor Five YMCAs for Family Strengthening ...( Award recognizes ...),Health

Award recognizes local initiatives that improve lives of children and families

CHICAGO, Sept. 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- YMCA of the USA today announced that five YMCAs have been named recipients of the 2009 YMCA-Annie E. Casey Foundation FAMILIES COUNT Family Strengthening Award in recognition of their exemplary work to strengthen and support families in their communities.

This is the fourth year that YMCA of the USA, with the support of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, has presented the award to YMCAs offering exceptional programming that develop strong, capable and financially stable families. In recognition of their accomplishments, the selected YMCAs will receive $15,000 each to enhance their family strengthening initiatives and will serve as models for YMCA family strengthening programs throughout the United States.

The five award recipients were chosen from submissions from local YMCAs across the country that serve low-income, disadvantaged families and provide intentional family services that make a positive difference in their lives.

"We are very proud of the accomplishments of the 2009 Family Strengthening Award recipients and are grateful to the Annie E. Casey Foundation for their support of the YMCA's work, and for helping to stimulate discussions and activities in support of family strengthening," said Neil Nicoll, President and CEO of YMCA of the USA. "Each of the recognized programs this year is a reflection of the meaningful - and so often life-changing - work YMCAs are doing in communities all across the country. Each program underscores the YMCA's commitment to help every family build stronger bonds, achieve greater work/life balance and become more engaged with their communities."

Award recipient YMCAs and their programs include:

Burlington County YMCA, Mt. Laurel,
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