Blog — Greater Joliet Area YMCA

Morris Hospital YMCA Set to Host 2026 Corn Fest Pickleball Tournament

August 12, 2026

Calling all pickleball enthusiasts and competitors! Join the Y for an exhilarating day of skill, strategy, and good old fashioned fun at the 2026 Corn Fest Pickleball Tournament. Mark your calendars and get ready to serve, volley, and smash your way to victory!

Date: Saturday, September 26
Time: Check-in begins at 8 a.m., games begin at 9 a.m.
Location:
Morris Hospital YMCA
2200 W. Dupont Avenue
Morris, IL 60450

ADULT TOURNAMENT
Ages 18 and up, teams must be co-ed

Format: Double elimination tournament. Pick your partner or register as an individual and be paired with another player. Each player will receive an official tourney t-shirt. Each member of the winning team will receive a trophy and a $25 gift card.

Entry Fee: $35 per player

SPECIAL OFFER

YMCA Facility Members can save $5 by entering YMCA5OFF when registering for this year’s tourney!

For more information, please contact:
Kaeli Ford, Sports Director
Phone: (815) 513-8080, ext. 514
Email: [email protected]

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Swimming Without Limits: C.W. Avery Family YMCA Announces Upcoming Dates for Sensory Friendly Swim and Adaptive Water Fitness Programs

August 12, 2026

Join the YMCA for a morning filled with joy, support, and celebration, as we create a welcoming space for swimmers of all abilities! Our YMCA Sensory-Friendly Swim is designed to be inclusive and accommodating for kids with diverse sensory needs and their families. The event features a calm, quiet environment with no music and minimal whistle use by our lifeguards, allowing for a more comfortable experience.

Included during this time is our Adaptive Water Fitness Program, designed for participants, ages 13 and up. This program encourages aquatic fitness through alternative movement options that are tailored to meet individual needs. Whether participants are looking to improve mobility, coordination, or simply enjoy a low-impact workout, this program provides the support and space to thrive.

Both of these programs are open to YMCA Facility Members and the community, so we encourage you to invite your family and friends to join along.

Registration is required.

Dates:
October 11
November 8
December 13
January 10
February 21
March 14
April 11

Time:
11 a.m.-Noon

Cost:
YMCA Facility Member Families – Free
Community Member Families – $15 Per Family

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Nicor Gas Foundation Pledges $5,000 in Support of YMCA Mission Strong Fund

August 12, 2026

Every day the Greater Joliet Area YMCA affirms its commitment to making a positive impact in the community. Y programs open opportunities to all generations, ensuring that every individual feels a sense of belonging. And as a non-profit, community-based organization, the YMCA relies on the generosity of its members and the support of charitable giving to offer these services and programs for children, adults and families living in our community.

That is why the YMCA would like to thank the Nicor Gas Foundation, which recently provided a $5,000 donation in support of the YMCA Mission Strong Fund.

“Fulfilling the Y mission is not possible without the kindness of organizations like Nicor,” said Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Katy Leclair. “We are so proud to have Nicor as a strong advocate for YMCA initiatives, and we are inspired by their dedication to our community. This gift will make a significant impact on the lives of the children and families we serve, helping to ensure that nobody is turned away from the Y due to the inability to pay,” added Leclair.

To learn more about the YMCA’s Mission Strong Fund, please click here. To show your support by making a donation, please click here.

Pictured in top photo (left to right): Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Katy Leclair, Nicor Gas Community Affairs Manager Cheryl Denton, Nicor Gas Community Relations Manager Ashley Bennett, Greater Joliet Area YMCA Mission Advancement Director Donnie Chestnutt, and Greater Joliet Area YMCA Chief Business Development Officer Missy Durkin.

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Joliet Community YMCA Teen REACH Program Receives Generous $5,000 Donation from Jackson Generation

August 12, 2026

At the Y, we believe the values and skills learned early on are vital building blocks for life. As a result of the YMCA’s Teen REACH Program, which offers after school care and summer day camp activities for middle school students in Joliet District 86, youth in our community take a greater interest in learning, develop an understanding of positive behaviors, explore their unique talents and interests, and make smarter life choices to help them realize their potential. That makes for confident kids today and contributing and engaged adults tomorrow.

But we can’t do it alone. As a non-profit, community-based organization, the YMCA relies on the generosity of its members and the support of charitable giving to provide services and financial assistance for children and families living in our community.

That is why the YMCA would like to thank Jackson Generation, which recently provided a $5,000 donation to support of Teen REACH.

“Jackson Generation shares the Y’s commitment to service and we know the support of local businesses is what allows Y programs to thrive,” Joliet Community YMCA Executive Director Brooke Hall said. “We are incredibly grateful for this gift and the role it will play in helping the Teen REACH program continue to have a positive impact on youth in our community”

To learn more about the YMCA’s Mission Strong Fund, please click here. To show your support by making a donation, please click here.

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Greater Joliet Area YMCA Receives Generous $10,000 Gift from CITGO Lemont Refinery

August 12, 2026

No matter who you are, or what neighborhood you grew up in, the Y is a place for anyone who needs us. From summer camp to college prep, family events to team building sports programs, we give everyone the opportunities they need to feel like they belong. And as a non-profit, community-based organization, the Y relies on the generosity of its members and the support of charitable giving to provide services and financial assistance for children, adults and families in Will County and Grundy County.

That is why the Greater Joliet Area YMCA would like to thank the CITGO Lemont Refinery, which recently provided a $10,000 donation in support of the YMCA Mission Strong Fund, helping ensure that nobody is turned away from the Y due to the inability to pay.

To learn more about the YMCA’s Mission Strong Fund, please click here. To show your support by making a donation, please click here.

Pictured in top photo (left to right): CITGO Lemont Refinery Community Relations Advisor Mike Jostes, Joliet Community YMCA Junior High Care Director Alana Bailey, Joliet Community YMCA Before & After Care Director Tori Dutkiewicz, and CITGO Lemont Refinery Fixed Equipment Inspector Bob Phelan.

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100 Years, 100 Minutes: YMCA Announces Centennial Health and Wellness Challenge

August 6, 2026

As the Greater Joliet Area YMCA continues our Centennial Celebration in 2026, we want to give members a chance to help mark this incredible milestone with a special health and wellness challenge.

Here’s how the challenge works:

-Participants will register online and then receive a tracking sheet to log their weekly workouts.

-Participants will need to complete 100 minutes of exercise per week for 5 weeks between August 31-October 4.

-Whether you try a group fitness class, complete a personal training session, swim laps in the pool, or take a jog on the treadmill, your workout counts!

-Participants will return their completed sheets by the end of the day on Sunday, October 4.

-One winner from each branch will be drawn to earn a special prize of 3 free months of membership.

The deadline to register is Friday, September 4.

Cost: $25 Open to Facility Members ONLY

Dive in and be part of our centennial celebration!

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