NEWS RELEASE _______________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release Contact: Alison Elsner-AEPR February 17, 2015 760-413-5053, allalis@aol.com

**Invitation only – not open to public – media encouraged to attend**

YMCA’S JEAN BENSON CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER TO CELEBRATE 18TH BIRTHDAY AT FAMILY FUN NIGHT

$100 Incentive Offered for New Enrollments and Referrals Date: Friday, February 20, 2015 Time: 6:00pm – 7:00pm Location: Jean Benson Child Development Center

75-433 Orange Blossom Lane Palm Desert, CA. 92211 760-836-3336

Cost: FREE Ages: Children and family members of all ages Event Information: The Family YMCA of the Desert’s Jean Benson Child Development Center will recognize its 18th birthday with a Family Fun Night for children and their families this coming Friday evening from 6:00pm – 7:00pm. Family Fun Night activities will include movies, crafts, and games such as bean bag toss, skee ball, face painting and tattoos. There will also be a silent auction. Rob Ballew, CEO of the Family YMCA, said, “This event is a great way for families to spend some fun time together and for parents to see the valuable way their kids are learning at the Center every single day. It is also a tribute to former Palm Desert Mayor and City Councilwoman Jean Benson, the namesake of the Center, who has had such a positive impact on our organization for the past two decades.”

-more-

YMCA Jean Benson Child Development Center Hosts Family Fun Night – February 20, 2015 - page 2 The Family YMCA is currently offering an incentive of $100 off of childcare fees for new enrollments and for referrals to friends that result in enrollment at the Jean Benson Child Development Center only. Sign-ups for preschool and kinder programs will be offered during the Family Fun Night. The incentive will continue through March 6, 2015, and the credit will be applied after 60 days of preschool participation. Preschool and kinder programs are available Monday through Friday (5 day plans and 3 day plans), from 7:00am to 6:00pm. Financial assistance is always available for those who qualify. FAMILY YMCA OF THE DESERT The Family YMCA is the largest provider of licensed childcare in the valley, having been in the desert for 32 years. Nearly 3400 kids and families each day are served at 43 sites, with many opportunities in youth and family programming. The primary focus of the Family YMCA is to reinforce caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility while allowing kids to develop social skills, confidence, leadership, and fitness. Programming includes before and after-school care, dance and performing arts, production arts and computers, basketball, flag football, youth and government, karate, gymnastics, senior activities, swimming, camps, Y Rookies sports leagues, and many others. More than one third of the children participating in the YMCA of the Desert programs receive financial assistance, making community support a vital element in the ability to offer help to kids and their families. No child or family will be denied services because of an inability to pay. James T. Latting (Roemer and Harnik LLP) serves as President of the Board of Directors for the Family YMCA of the Desert, and Rob Ballew is the YMCA’s valley-wide Executive Director and C.E.O. The Palm Desert YMCA (central administrative office) is located at 43-930 San Pablo Avenue, Palm Desert, CA. 92260. (Phone: 760-341-9622). The Family YMCA of the Desert is one of 2700 YMCA’S nationwide, which focus upon youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. For more information please visit: http://www.ymcaofthedesert.org.

# # #