Altus ASYMCA selected One Awards finalist

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  • By Altus Armed Services YMCA
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The Altus Armed Services YMCA has been selected as a finalist for the Oklahoma Nonprofit Excellence Awards in the Community category.

The fourth annual ONE Awards, sponsored by the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits, will take place at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla., April 2. The event serves to honor and recognize some of the best nonprofit organizations in the state.

"The Altus Armed Services YMCA is celebrating 150 years of 'Serving those who serve America,' and is our community's warm embrace to our young military families," said Mrs. Joan Wilcoxen, Altus ASYMCA executive director. "Being chosen as a finalist for the Oklahoma Nonprofit Excellence Awards is a tremendous honor."

Out of 70 organizations nominated for this year's awards, 27 were named finalists. Awards are presented to a winner and two finalists in each of the following nine categories - arts and humanities, community, community health services, education, health services, self-sufficiency, seniors, sports and recreation and youth development.

The winners in each category are awarded $7,500 and two finalists in each category receive $5,000. At the conclusion of the program, one nonprofit organization is selected as the overall winner and receives $10,000. A total of $160,000 will be awarded to nonprofit organizations across the state that evening.

"Many people are not aware that the Altus Armed Services YMCA is a nonprofit organization, so the ONE Awards are an excellent platform to share our mission of service to our military families."

"All the finalists for this award deserve praise and recognition for the admirable service they provide to their communities," said J. Jerry Dickman, ONE Awards Selection Commission chairman. "These nonprofits represent some of the best in the state."

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Altus Armed Services YMCA serves all military service families by making personal contact and offering programs that enhance their quality of life, with special focus on the young junior enlisted families.

"Thanks to local folks who truly care about our young people in the military, we are able to provide our programming," Mrs. Wilcoxen said.

The Annual Appreciation Luncheon for everyone who contributes to this outreach for Altus Airmen is set for April 5 at the Western Oklahoma State College Multipurpose Center. This is an opportunity for financial supporters of the ASYMCA to meet with the Altus Air Force Base families and the military volunteers who assist with the many ASYMCA activities and programs. This year it will be held in partnership with the Altus Rotary Club, with Chief Master Sgt. Robert Austin, 97th Air Mobility Wing command chief, as the keynote speaker.