The Y Honors U.S. Representative George Miller with Lifetime Achievement Award for his work on behalf of children and families

U.S. Representative George Miller (D-Calif.) was presented with the YMCA of the USA’s “Lifetime Achievement Award” in Washington, D.C. for his 40 year career in Congress where he has not only championed education and health initiatives that improve outcomes for children, families and the disenfranchised, but also for his long standing support of the work of the Y. Rep. Miller’s advocacy on behalf of the Strong Start for America’s Children Act helps ensure that working families have safe, enriching environments to care for their children.

“Congressman Miller has been a long time champion of children and a friend to families. He has always been there for his community, the Y and the nation”” said Don Lau, Executive Vice President of the YMCA of the East Bay.  “We are fortunate to have elected officials like Representative Miller who share our passion. His support of the Strong Start for America’s Children Act is just one example of his commitment to improving children’s lives, throughout California and the rest of the country.” 

Representative Miller was a lead sponsor of the Strong Start for America’s Children Act, which proposes a 10-year initiative to expand and improve early learning opportunities for children across the birth to age 5 continuum. The bill would establish a new federal-state partnership to provide access to high-quality prekindergartenprograms for all low-income and moderate-income children to ensure kindergarten readiness.

Rep. Miller was recognized on Capitol Hill at a breakfast reception on February 26, 2014. Don Lau, Executive Vice President of the YMCA of the East Bay, presented the award during the YMCA of the USA’s 21st annual National Advocacy Days. At the conference, more than 250 YMCA leaders from across the country traveled to visit members of Congress to discuss the vital role the Y plays in communities nationwide and to urge them to advance policies that support nurturing youth, promoting healthy living and fostering socialresponsibility. YMCA leaders also heard from national experts about issues important to their mission.

The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Across the U.S., 2,700 Ys engage 21 million men, women and children – regardless of age, income or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. Anchored in more than 10,000 communities, the Y has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change. ymca.net

 About the YMCA of the East Bay: 

The YMCA of the East Bay is one of Northern California's largest non-profit trainers and deployers of volunteers.  Last year, the East Bay YMCA trained more than 500 volunteers in programs ranging from childcare to teenenrichment, health and wellness and cultural harmony.  With nine branches and almost 50 childcare centers in operation from Fremont to the Yolo County, the East Bay YMCA Association also has the largest geographic reach of any YMCA operation in North America.  Formed as a 501 (c) (3) corporation on July 20, 1879, the not-for-profit East Bay YMCA operates branches in downtown Oakland, Fremont, Newark, Hayward, Castro Valley, Richmond, and Dublin, as well as camps in Livermore, Pescadero (San Mateo County) andRedway (Humboldt County).  All locations are for youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.

For more information, contact:

Tim Gallen/Nancy Amaral

Gallen.Neilly

(925) 930-9848

tim@gallen.com/nancy@gallen.com