EAST COUNTY FAMILY YMCA `URBAN BRANDING' A SUCCESS RAISING FUNDS TO HELP YOUTH AND FAMILY PROGRAMS

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Hundreds of East County residents and YMCA members attended event,
which raised $176,000

Halle Aiken serves food to Branding guest, Phil Conard.
Picture taken by Brian Blue.

November 1, 2008 (Rancho San Diego) - East County
residents shined their belt buckles and donned their best pairs of jeans
for East County Family YMCA’s annual fundraiser, The Urban BRANDING
on September 27. More than 450 attended the event, which raised $176,000
for the East County Family YMCA to make more resources available for programs
that continue to build strong kids, families and communities throughout East
County. This includes the East County YMCA’s 10 childcare sites, more
than 30 specialty day camps, swim lessons, a variety of teen leadership programs,
youth sports, family events and the capital campaign for the new McGrath
Family YMCA, which will begin construction in a few months.

Susan Botticelli is an East County Family YMCA Board
member. Picture taken by David Knoll.

The 2008 Urban
BRANDING was held in a new “urban” venue, the athletic
fields of the new McGrath Family YMCA Sports Complex in Rancho San Diego. Previously,
the fundraiser took place at the Deerhorn Valley Ranch of Paul Jacob and San
Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob, for 14 years. The East County Family
YMCA’s Pacific Spirit Cheer Team and the Cameron Comets Gymnastics Team
performed demonstrations and greeted guests. Attendees savored food prepared
by the event’s presenting sponsor, Sycuan Resort and Casino, along with
wine and beer, live music and dancing under the stars. Many also took their
chances riding a mechanical bull. Theme entertainment and games, live and silent
auctions, and a grand prize drawing rounded out the night’s offerings.

Steve Nichols is in the band “Crosswinds”.
Picture taken by Brian Blue.

Established in the 1950s, the John A. Davis Family YMCA was the first YMCA
in East County. Today, two other facilities, the Cameron Family YMCA in Santee
and the McGrath Family YMCA Sports Complex in Rancho San Diego, compliment
it. For more information on the East County Family YMCA please visit eastcounty.ymca.org.


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