Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

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Chicago Tribune Names Greater Joliet Area YMCA a Winner of the Chicago Area 2026 Top Workplaces Award

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2026 honor by the Chicago Tribune. A nine-time Top Workplace honoree, the Y has provided much-needed programs and services for children, families, and adults living in Will and Grundy Counties for 100 years.

The annual Top Workplaces list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage LLC. This confidential survey measures the employee experience and its component themes, including employees feeling Respected and Supported, Enabled to Grow, and Empowered to Execute, just to name a few.

“Earning a Top Workplaces award is a badge of honor for companies, especially because it comes authentically from their employees,” said Energage CEO Eric Rubino. “That’s something to be proud of. In today’s market, leaders must ensure they’re allowing employees to have a voice and be heard.”

“Being recognized by the Chicago Tribune as a Top Workplace for the ninth time is an extraordinary honor for our YMCA,” said President and CEO Katy Leclair. “Our employees are at the heart of everything we do. Their dedication to serving our community and advancing the Y’s mission is truly inspiring. As we celebrate our Centennial Anniversary in 2026, this recognition is especially meaningful. It gives us another opportunity to recognize the incredible people who bring our mission to life each day and make a lasting difference in the lives of those we serve.”

The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofit organizations, strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. A 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA has more than 1,000 full and part-time employees who work at its three facilities and more than 50 program sites across Will and Grundy Counties. Driven by its mission to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all, the Y brings families closer together, encourages good health, and fosters connections through fitness, sports, fun, and shared interests. But, most importantly, its doors are open to everyone, regardless of age, income, or background. At the Y, no one is ever turned away due to the inability to pay.

To learn more about the working at the Greater Joliet Area YMCA, please visit our employment headquarters.

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We Are Here For You: YMCA Military Outreach Programs Support Service Members and Their Families

The Y understands the challenges that active duty military personnel, veterans, and their families face each day. That is why, as we join the country in celebrating Veteran’s Day, we are proud to highlight programs and services that support service members in our community. As YMCA members, military families can spend quality time together and enjoy fun activities in a warm, supportive environment. It’s also a place to meet other military families who can relate to their unique situation. Special offerings include:

YMCA of the USA Military One Source Program

Who is eligible for membership?*

Title 10 personnel are eligible for a Y membership, including:

  • Family members of deployed National Guard and Reservists
  • Active Duty Independent Duty personnel and their families
  • Relocated spouse/dependent children of deployed Active Duty personnel
    Note: The Relocated Spouse category supports families/spouse who relocate away from an installation/duty station while the active duty service member is deployed. All of the following criteria must be met:

    • The service member is on active duty.
    • The service member is deployed for a minimum of six months (on deployment orders—NOT unaccompanied orders, NOT geographic bachelors).
    • The spouse has relocated away from the military installation where the service member is assigned (most often, back home near family).
    • Wounded service members assigned to a Community Based Warrior in Transition Unit (CBWTU)

How can families apply?

  1. Contact Military OneSource at www.militaryonesource.com or 800-342-9647 to confirm your eligibility and receive an eligibility form.
  2. Fill out and bring your eligibility form, Military ID and any other required documentation (usually, your Deployment Orders or Military Service Headquarters approval letter) to the Y for verification. Please do not leave copies of these documents at the YMCA.

*All active military members who are ineligible for the Military One Source program can still join the Greater Joliet Area YMCA with a $0 Joiner’s Fee and receive one month free per year. If you have additional questions please contact your local Y branch. 

AllenForce Partnership

The Y also extending a special offer to all local military veterans thanks to our partnership with AllenForce. Veterans can enjoy a free 30-day membership to the YMCA and, upon joining the Y, will pay a $0 Joiner’s Fee – a savings of up to $120. (Valid at any Greater Joliet Area location.)

To take advantage of this special offer, contact the team at AllenForce by calling (779) 205-3314.

Blue Star Families Partnership

Through an exciting partnership with Blue Star Families, local veterans, active-duty service members, and their families can enjoy a FREE 30-day YMCA membership at any Greater Joliet Area YMCA location.

After their complimentary membership, Blue Star Families can continue their YMCA journey with a $0 Joiner’s Fee – a savings of up to $120 – when they become Facility Members.

To take advantage of this special offer, simply present your Blue Star Families membership card when joining the Y.

We thank all members of the Armed Services, past and present, who have proudly served and continue to serve our country. We are deeply grateful for your dedication, sacrifice, and commitment to protecting our freedoms.

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Celebrating Our Service Members: C.W. Avery Family YMCA Proud to Partner with United States Navy for Recruit Training Program

As we prepare to join the nation in celebrating Veterans Day on November 11, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA is proud to highlight partnerships and services that have helped the Y support service members in our community. 

This includes the C.W. Avery Family YMCA’s partnership with the United States Navy, which has provided Navy Seal recruits throughout the southwest suburbs with the opportunity to train for physical assessment testing using YMCA pool and wellness center facilities since 2019. 

“It’s a great partnership with the YMCA that has worked really well over the years,” Great Lakes Navy Talent Acquisition Group Public Affairs Officer Andaman Gaines said. “Group workouts range from 5-20 applicants, and trainees are preparing for between one month and up to a full year depending on when they would be scheduled to ship off.”

Navy contractor Marko Allen leads trainees in aquatics and land based workouts with the goal of preparing them for special operations boot camp, which is often considered one of the most challenging in the world.

“The environment they are going to step into is very harsh. It takes a lot of courage to step up to the plate and accept the challenge” Allen said. “And just because you’re a good swimmer does not mean you are comfortable in the water. For example, we do a myriad of tests with flooded masks and see if they can make an adjustment.”

Allen said that workouts last for two hours and that having access to Y facilities is an invaluable resource for the recruitment process.  

“That’s the great thing about having access to this facility. We can hit every bucket we need to hit. It’s all covered here. The Navy wants the best candidates, and the answer lies in investing time and effort in making each applicant the best possible,” he said.

In addition to developing the requisite physical skills of a Navy Seal, Allen also said the Y’s welcoming environment helps recruits gain a sense of purpose.

“The Y is a community based organization and when we are here the trainees are starting to build the bonds of brotherhood that they will carry with them for the rest of their careers. This is their first look at what it means to be in the service,” he said. 

On behalf of the YMCA, we extend our sincere gratitude to the United States Navy for its partnership and to all members of the Armed Services, past and present, who have proudly served and continue to serve our country. We are deeply grateful for your dedication, sacrifice, and commitment to protecting our freedoms.

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Celebrating Our Veterans: YMCA Volunteer Tiffany Allen-Smith

As we prepare to join the nation in celebrating Veterans Day on November 11, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA is proud to honor those who have served our country by sharing their stories. Today we shine the spotlight on Village of Shorewood YMCA Advisory Council member and Army veteran Tiffany Allen-Smith. You can learn more about her in the Q&A below:

Q: Why did you join the armed forces and can you describe your service experience?

I grew up in the inner city, west side of Chicago. I did not have a lot of resources or support. I went to college out of state and, though I had scholarships, I couldn’t afford everything else. I came back home and was devastated. I needed to do something radically different. When I joined the military I was 20. It changed the rest of my life. I ended up serving 15 years in the Army from 2001-2015, working as a chief warrant officer focused on the supply chain and logistics.

Q: What life lessons did you learn from your time in the service?

When you grow up in the inner city you don’t always see what’s going on in the rest of the world. It gave me exposure to other cultures, other people, other places, other things. I was blown away. The second thing that it gave me was confidence in myself. It made me desire more for myself and gave me the confidence to believe I could attain more. It wasn’t just a dream.

Q: Did the Y have an impact on your military career?

Yes. In fact, when I was preparing to go into the military I needed a consistent place to train to build up my endurance to pass the physical tests. I went to the Y in Humboldt Park and, though I didn’t have the income, they let me train on the indoor track. That moment is what keeps me coming back to the Y. I feel like if I had not been prepared to join, I wouldn’t have done it.

Q. Why do you feel a commitment to volunteerism at an organization like the YMCA?

I think that representation and diversity matters. Just because we’re in the suburbs does not mean that everyone has the means to afford everything.  People need to know that there is someone out there that can relate to their circumstances and that those circumstances won’t define them. I’m grateful for institutions that see people that are trying to accomplish something, and don’t turn them away because they don’t have the means to pay.

Q: How would you describe the Y as a community environment?

It is transformational. Whether it be through fitness, sports, socialization, or any number of areas, it can transform someone’s life. I see that when I drop off my son to play basketball with other kids. I see the potential to shape him, to give him the opportunity to do something great, and I want the Y to have a part in that. And overall I feel comfortable here. There are so many servant leaders who get behind the Y and I see myself in them. I feel like I’m a part of a village that consists of people like me. I love the leadership and I love the direction the Y is going.

Q: How can members of the Y community help support veterans?

While there are so many stigmas with veterans, we’re still people. So don’t be afraid to say hi. Just give grace because you don’t know what they have been through. They may have seen things trying to serve and protect this country that everyday people do not see. And we know there are veterans out there struggling to buy groceries, struggling to stay active because they have disabilities, so don’t be afraid to help local charitable organizations if you have the means to pledge your support.

On behalf of the YMCA, we would like to thank Tiffany for her service to our country and contributions to the YMCA community.

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Celebrating Our Veterans: YMCA Volunteer Nick Macris

As we prepare to join the nation in celebrating Veterans Day on November 11, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA is proud to honor those who have served our country by sharing their stories. Today we shine the spotlight on YMCA volunteer and army veteran Nick Macris. Nick became a YMCA board member in 2012 and served as board chair between 2020-2021. You can learn more about him in the Q&A below: 

Q: Why did you join the armed forces and can you describe your service experience?

It was really the influence of having military experience in my family that motivated me. My father retired from the U.S. Navy and my brother served in the navy. I ended up becoming an Army ROTC cadet at Joliet West and continued as an ROTC cadet for four years at the University of Illinois. I began my four years of active service duty in 1975 and then when I moved back to Joliet in 1979 to work for ComEd I joined the reserves. I completed 16 years in the reserves and ended up retiring from the United States Army in 1995 as a Lieutenant Colonel with the corps of engineers.

Q: What life lessons did you learn from your time in the service?

What I took away from the experiences I had over the 20 years of service were things I learned about sound leadership. I think I may have started out thinking that a good leader was the kind of person that rode around on a proverbial white horse. It’s more about learning the needs and the qualities of the people that you lead to inform your leadership. I have always tried to do the best with all of that to become the kind of leader that people want to follow.

Q: Did those life lessons influence your commitment to volunteerism?

Yes. After I retired from ComEd in 2002 that’s when I decided that the most productive use of my time would be to support non-profits and agencies in the community that were near and dear to my heart. This included things like Project Acclaim, Kiwanis Club, and the All Saints Greek Orthodox Church. I also happened upon the YMCA which was one of the biggest blessings I could receive. My experiences in the years I’ve spent with the Y have been among the most enriching years of my life. The Y is such an amazing organization. There is great staff leadership. There is great volunteer participation. And I truly commend the Y for wanting to go the extra step to commemorate Veteran’s Day. 

Q: What does Veteran’s Day mean to you and how can members of the Y community help support veterans?

It’s the sacrifices of veterans that have made such a huge contribution to the success of this country. There’s no way we could ever show them appreciation enough, and we need to do what we can to support them. The key issues that many of our veterans are facing today are things like mental health, suicide prevention, homelessness, and service related injuries. Organizations like Military Outreach USA, Tunnel to Towers, and Wound Warriors help with these issues, as do our local veteran’s affairs facilities in Joliet. Showing your support for those causes can make an impact.

On behalf of the YMCA, we would like to thank Nick for his service to our country and contributions to the YMCA community.

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Save During the Y’s 2026 Thankful for You Membership Sale

Join the Y between November 10-12 during our Thankful for You Membership Sale and pay a $0 Joiner’s Fee – a savings of up to $120!

OUR FACILITY MEMBERS ENJOY ACCESS TO THREE LOCATIONS
Your membership gives you unlimited use of the Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s three YMCA location, including:

  • Three indoor pools and our family aquatic center, all fully programmed with activities for the entire family, including family swim time, swim lessons, aquatic fitness programs and lap lane access.
  • Three wellness centers, all equipped with state-of-the-art cardio and strength equipment.
  • Free fitness orientations and daily group exercise classes (programs vary by location).

Quality Programming
In addition to our free group exercise classes, the Y offers year-round swim lessons, sports programs and personal training, among a slew of other options.

Child Care
If you have a Family Membership, you can drop your child(ren) off at our supervised playroom while you exercise.

Free Basic Access to the YMCA On the Go App
The YMCA On the Go App provides Y members with access to the YMCA 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This new interactive tool is loaded with free workouts, on-demand videos, and nutrition tips.

Free Access to the My Y Rewards Program
Upon enrolling in the My Y Rewards Program, you’ll earn points each time you check-in, take a class, or refer a friend to the Y. In fact, you’ll earn your first 50 points for simply enrolling in the program. You can then redeem your points for fun Y swag and program and membership credits.

So Much More
A complete list of member benefits can be found here.

THREE CONVENIENT LOCATIONS

C.W. Avery Family YMCA
15120 Wallin Drive
Plainfield, IL 60544

Village of Shorewood YMCA
1801 W. Jefferson Street
Shorewood, IL 60404

Morris Hospital YMCA
2200 W. Dupont Avenue
Morris, Il 60450

JOIN THE Y

HOLIDAY FOOD DRIVE AND MY Y REWARDS BONUS

We are also collecting non-perishable food items from November 9-15 with donations benefitting the following organizations:

Plainfield Area Interfaith Food Pantry

Salvation Army Food Pantry

Shorewood-Troy Public Library Little Free Food Pantry

We Care of Grundy County

Members enrolled in the My Y Rewards Program who donate a non-perishable food item during the collection drive will also receive 100 My Y Rewards bonus points. (One-time bonus per member).

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United Way