Expanding Child Development Programs for Military Families

A new partnership and grant will help the Armed Services YMCA Camp Pendleton increase capacity and improve curriculum at the Fisher Children’s Center at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

At an event held at the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, United Health Foundation announced a $150,000 grant to the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) to provide access to quality, affordable child care services for military families. The grant, which expands on an existing United Health Foundation partnership with Fisher House Foundation, will help ASYMCA build upon YMCA best practices and meet or exceed Department of Defense requirements for child care services.

“We hope that the enhanced curriculum and additional staffing resources as part of this program will enable more families here at Camp Pendleton to benefit from these important services,” said Chris Stidman, president, United Health Foundation, during the grant announcement event. California State Senator Patricia Bates attended the event and presented a resolution thanking United Health Foundation for providing valuable resources and services to the community.

This grant is the result of a collaborative effort with Fisher House Foundation – a United Health Foundation grant partner since 2014 – to support military families staying at Fisher House Camp Pendleton. In 2014, Fisher House Foundation received a $2.65 million grant from United Health Foundation to support the construction of Camp Pendleton Fisher House which provides military and veterans' families no cost housing on base while their loved ones are receiving treatment at the nearby Naval Hospital.