Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

C.W. Avery, Central City, Galowich, Morris

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Ignite Your Passion: Carl Smith’s Y Story

When you join the Y, you’re not just joining a gym. In addition to helping members stay healthy, the Y provides opportunities to find a greater sense of community. This is true for individuals like Galowich Family YMCA member and volunteer Carl Smith. Carl is a regular friendly face in the Y’s fitness center, and his passion for the Y can be seen through his volunteer leadership on the YMCA Board of Directors and Galowich Family YMCA Advisory Council. You can learn more about Carl in the Q&A below:

Q: Why did you join the Y?

Carl: I grew up in Channahon and I started coming to the Galowich Family YMCA when it first opened. My friends and I would come to the Y a few nights a week to play basketball. Then, about 13 or 14 years ago, I moved back to the area with my family and we joined on a family membership.

Q: How has the Y impacted your life? 

Carl: The best thing for me in terms of personal growth has been the change to my health that I’ve been able to sustain. I hit a high-water mark of 212 pounds, which was not good for a guy of my height. I kept coming to the fitness center and I would do work on the track. I got down to 182 pounds. When I’m here, I like to do a lot of the things I remember from the fitness training I did when I was in the military, things like chin-ups and leg raises. It’s rewarding now to hear people say I don’t look my age.

Q: Why were you interested in becoming a volunteer board member? 

Carl: Years ago, I became good friends with Fred Wells. Fred is a great guy and he was a member of the Galowich Advisory Council. He would always ask for feedback and one day he said ‘Is anyone interested in helping our Y move forward and improve?’ When I said ‘yes’, he actually invited me to one of the council meetings. I enjoyed it, and I ended up being able to join the council. A couple years after that, I was approached about joining the Board of Directors. It’s interesting because for a long time I didn’t know all of the things the Y did in the community. Now I wear the Y on my sleeve. I’m very proud of the Y.

Q: What do you think is the most important way the Y impacts the community?

Carl: YMCA programs are great for the entire family and, as a parent, that has always been important to me. At the Y, kids are safe, they’re respected, and they are going to learn. That’s what the Y has given to our communities and that’s why I enjoy being involved with the Y.

Q: Why are you excited about the future of the Y? 

Carl: I’m a member of the Facilities Committee, which I absolutely love, and this is an exciting time to be a part of this organization. The Morris Hospital YMCA is coming online, and I’ve been so impressed with the work President and CEO Katy Leclair and Chief Operating Officer Missy Durkin have done to get us ready for this project. I can’t wait to see construction begin on that building.

Q: Do you have any advice for those interested in joining the Y?

Carl: For every person who walks through the door, the Y has a way to help. So don’t be afraid to ask questions. The staff here at the Y are just like you, they know what you’re going through, and they can help you find what you need.

We are so proud to have Carl in our YMCA community and thank him for his enthusiasm, leadership, and continued support.

If you are looking to start your Y journey, there is no better time to join than during our extended New Year’s Membership Sale. Join by February 6 and you’ll pay a $0 Joiner’s Fee, a savings of up to $120! 

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Greater Joliet Area YMCA Offering College Finance and Scholarship Awareness Workshop on February 11

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA is excited to host a free workshop for area students on Saturday, February 11.

Free and open to the community, the Y’s ‘Planning For Your Future – College Financial Awareness’ workshop will be offered in partnership with the Give Back scholarship program. Participants will learn about the Give Back scholarship process and identify additional financial resources that may be available to them prior to entering college.

Refreshments will also be served.

Location:
Galowich Family YMCA
749 Houbolt Road
Joliet, IL 60431

REGISTER TODAY

To learn more about the YMCA’s Teen Achievers program click here or contact: 

Stephen Franklin
Teen REACH and Teen Achievers Director
[email protected]
(815) 726-3939, ext. 315

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Meet Morris Community YMCA Membership Manager Irene Aguilera

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA is incredibly proud of the work our employees do to ensure a high quality experience for our members. One of the newest full-time employees at the Morris Community YMCA is Membership Manager Irene Aguilera. Irene joins the Morris team with a wealth of Y experience, having previously worked at the Galowich Family YMCA for nearly five years. Irene’s kind and helpful personality makes her perfectly suited to welcome members to the Y. You can learn more about Irene in the Q&A below. 

Q: How did you first get started with the Y? 

Irene: In June of 2018, I lost my job. To relieve the stress I was going through, I would take my kids to go swim at the Galowich Family YMCA. I was talking to the front desk staff at the time and I ultimately applied to join the membership team. By the end of July, I was hired. Now, four and half years later, I am excited to join the Morris Community YMCA as Membership Manager.  

Q: What do you enjoy most about working at the Y? 

Irene: The one thing I enjoy the most would be meeting new people. Every day there is someone new to talk to and I love hearing everyone’s stories.

Q: What are you looking forward to most in your new role with the Morris Y? 

Irene: I am new to Morris and the idea of being in a new city, meeting new people, is exciting. I’m already getting to know the members.

Q: What are some of your favorite Y memories?  

Irene: I have so many memories of the Y including Halloween Truck-or-Treats and the time the ‘Grinch’ visited the Galowich Y at Christmastime. One thing I will never forget is having my daughters learn how to swim at the Y. When they first started swim lessons, they were so scared to jump into the shallow end of the pool. By the end, they were jumping into the deep end without any hesitation. 

Q: What are some of your hobbies outside the Y? 

Irene: When I am at home, I try to do as much as I can with my daughters. Right now they are at an age where they want to learn how to cook, so most of our time is spent in the kitchen. 

Q: What are some helpful tips you would give to someone looking to join the Y? 

Irene: The Y is more than a place where you can come in to workout or take a group fitness class. The Y is a place where you meet new people. Everyone here is so friendly and willing to help.

We encourage members to meet with Irene or anyone from the membership team when visiting the Y. They are a great resource and always ready to help provide the best possible Y experience.

And, if you are looking to start your Y journey, there is no better time to join than during our January Membership Sale. Join by January 31 and you’ll pay a $0 Joiner’s Fee, a savings of up to $120!

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Morris Community YMCA Receives Approval from City’s Development Review Committee

The Morris Community YMCA’s Capital Campaign celebrated a significant milestone earlier this month when the City of Morris’s Development Review Committee approved the site and facility plan for the new Morris Hospital YMCA. Construction of the new YMCA facility, which will be built in partnership with Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers on land adjacent to Morris Grade School, will begin later this year.

For more than a decade, the Morris Community YMCA has been serving residents in Grundy County by offering programs in the areas of youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. To further grow its impact in the community, the Y announced plans in 2018 for the development of a new 50,000-square-foot YMCA and healthcare center in partnership with Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers. While the YMCA plans to open this new facility within the next several years, the size, scope, and timing will ultimately be determined by the generosity of the community in support of this project.

To learn more about the Morris Community YMCA’s Capital Campaign, please contact Chief Operating Officer Missy Durkin at (815) 513-8080.

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We Appreciate You: February Check-In Challenge

At the Y, you’ll find countless opportunities to get moving and experience the joy of better health. All it takes is one first step! To help you along your health and wellness journey, we are excited to announce our February Member Appreciation Check-in Challenge.

Facility members who check into any Greater Joliet Area YMCA branch eight times during the month of February will be entered for a chance to win three personal training sessions. Stop by and see us!

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Healthy Lifestyles Happen Here: Dave Maresca’s Y Story

At the Y, we are focused on providing a welcoming environment where members can pursue their passion for healthy living. In the case of longtime member Dave Maresca, a part-time job with the Y’s fitness team helped him embark on a career in physical therapy. Dave now works as a physical therapist with the Y’s healthcare partner, Edward-Elmhurst Health (EEH), and his commitment to helping members of all ages maintain a healthy and active lifestyle has had a positive impact on our community. Throughout the week, Dave can be found working in EEH’s physical therapy clinic, which is located adjacent to the Y’s fitness center. You can learn more about Dave in the Q&A below.

Q: Did you have any experiences with the Y before joining the C.W. Avery Family YMCA?
Dave: When I was a kid in North Carolina, we belonged to the YMCA but I don’t remember much more than playing some basketball and baseball on occasion. I really didn’t become a consistent member of the Y until starting here in Plainfield in 2006.

Q: Why were you interested in joining the Y?
Dave: I actually worked at the Y when I was in physical therapy school. I was looking for a part-time job and I remember (Executive Director) Lisa Behounek was the fitness director at that time. She hired me and I got to work in the fitness center and do a little personal training.

Q: What has it been like to see YMCA services and facilities evolve?
Dave: When I worked for the Y, the fitness center was much smaller than it is now. It was enough to get by, but in years since, its growth has expanded opportunities and horizons for members. Right now our clinic offices give me a literal window into the fitness center and I’m always impressed with the volume of people that the Y serves. It’s inspiring to see people take the time to pursue a healthy lifestyle and be physically active.

Q: What makes you excited about the partnership between Edward-Elmhurst and the Y?
Dave: We’re working hard to integrate programming and services to improve community health and wellness. Whether it is short seminars on specific topics, or long-term health programs, it’s really important to take a purposeful approach to helping the community.

Q: What do you think sets the Y apart from other health centers?
Dave: The Y is family centered and it gives all ages plenty of ways to stay engaged. There is a family-friendly togetherness that a lot of other places don’t always have.

Q: How has your family stayed engaged with the Y?
Dave: We’ve always enjoyed using facilities like the family pool and my kids play sports at the Y. My son has played in the Y baseball leagues and my daughter is on the JETS Swim team.

Q: What would you say to someone thinking about joining the Y?
Dave: A lot of people start their journey this time of year and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. If you stick with it, it gets easier. You are never the only one going through challenges. The Y is a pillar of the community and is always here to help when needed. Whether it’s in the pool, group fitness classes, or other activities, there are so many options that you can always find something that meets your needs.

Members looking to learn more about EEH’s Physical Therapy Clinic at the C.W. Avery Family YMCA are invited to stop by during open hours. Assessments are available by appointment Monday-Friday. To schedule an appointment for physical therapy at this location, please call (630) 527-3375 or click here.

And, if you are looking to start your Y journey, there is no better time to join than during our January Membership Sale. Join by January 31 and you’ll pay a $0 Joiner’s Fee, a savings of up to $120!

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