Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

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YMCA Supporters Raise Nearly $74,000 During 2023 Send a Kid to Camp Campaign

Each summer, nearly half of the children who attend Greater Joliet Area YMCA summer camp programs receive assistance through the YMCA’s financial assistance program. This wouldn’t be possible without the incredible generosity of our Y community. Over the last several weeks, YMCA supporters joined together to raise nearly $74,000 to help send kids to YMCA camp this summer!

We want to thank everyone who made a donation, shared information about the Y’s mission on your social media networks, or invited friends or family members to learn more about the Y’s youth development work, as every contributions made a HUGE difference for kids in our community. Thanks to this overwhelming generosity, our 2023 Send A Kid to Camp Campaign raised enough funds to provide 1,639 days of camp for children in our community.

THERE’S STILL TIME TO BE A YMCA HERO 

Although this year’s Send a Kid to Camp Campaign has come to an end, you can still pledge your support for the YMCA’s mission by visiting your local branch, making a tax-deductible donation online, or by texting YMCACAMP to 243725. Message and data rates may apply.

DONATE TODAY

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, all gifts to the Greater Joliet Area YMCA are tax-deductible.

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Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage at the YMCA

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a time to celebrate our diverse Asian Pacific Islander communities and elevate the Y’s continuing journey to foster greater inclusion for all. Learn more about the Y’s connection to Asian American and Pacific Islander history below.

Did you know that the first Chinese American YMCA was founded in San Francisco in 1911? The Y held lectures on health, education, classes in English and Mandarin and even had a machine shop! To this day, the Chinatown YMCA plays a pivotal role in the community.

 

 

Duke Kahanamoku was a gold medal Olympic swimmer who trained at the Central Y in Honolulu, setting world records for the 400 and 500 relay races in 1916. Following his Olympic career retirement, Kahanamoku traveled and conducted swimming exhibitions—it was during this time that he popularized the sport of surfing in the United States, which previously had only been known in Hawaii.

 

Born in 1914, Fred Hoshiyama worked for the YMCA full time for 39 years—from 1941 through 1980—except for his time in a government internment camp during WWII. While in this camp, Hoshiyama created YMCA-based programs to help address the social, educational and recreational needs of the Japanese Americans held in the camp. He was also instrumental in revitalizing the YMCA student movement in the 1970s, and a scholarship in his name provides professional development for Y staff of Asian Pacific Islander heritage to this day.

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Try New Things: Summer Membership Opportunities Available

At the Y, we exist to strengthen community. With a mission centered on balance, the Y brings families closer together, encourages good health and fosters connections through fitness, sports, fun and shared interests. As a result, millions of people, just like you, are receiving the support they need to engage in healthy and active lifestyles.

BEAT THE HEAT AND SPEND A FANTASTIC SUMMER AT THE Y!

  • Affordable prices
  • Family, Adult, Teen and Youth Membership options
  • Full-Member rates for YMCA programs
  • Opportunities to connect with family, friends and neighbors
  • Access to three Greater Joliet Area YMCA branches and amenities
  • Free Child Watch Services for Family Memberships (program availability varies by branch)

Your membership also gives you opportunities to save on YMCA programs like summer camps, youth sports and preschool programs, and access to our wellness centers and free fitness classes.

Summer memberships expire after 90 days or on August 31, 2023, whichever comes first.

Join Today

Summer Membership Rates

TypeDescriptionC.W. Avery Family YMCAGalowich Family YMCAMorris Community YMCA
Family Plus3 Adults & Their Dependents$425$325$280
Family2 Adults & Their Dependents$335$250$210
One Adult Family1 Adult & Their Dependents$300$215$190
Two Adult2 Adults in Same Household$290$200$180
AdultAge 26 and older$215$155$135
Young AdultAges 19-25$150$115$110
YouthAges 0-18$125$90$80
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Morris Community YMCA Selects General Contractor for New Full-Facility YMCA in Grundy County

The Morris Community YMCA announced today that it has selected Narvick Bros. as the general contractor for its new full-facility YMCA in Grundy County. Construction of the new Y, which will be built in partnership with Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers on land adjacent to Morris Grade School, will begin this summer. A groundbreaking ceremony for the new Morris Hospital YMCA will be held from 3:30-5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 31.

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA Board of Directors, acting on recommendations from the Morris Capital Campaign Building Task Force and the Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s Facility Committee, unanimously approved the hiring of Morris-based Narvick Bros. as the project’s general contractor at a meeting earlier this year.

“We are very excited to announce the hiring of Narvick Bros. as the general contractor for the new Morris Hospital YMCA,” said Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and Chief Executive Officer Katy Leclair. “As we prepare to celebrate the groundbreaking for this new facility later this month, it is wonderful to know that we have selected a trusted and very capable partner in Narvick Bros. to build Grundy County’s very first full-facility YMCA.”

About the Y
As one of the nation’s leading nonprofit charities, the YMCA is committed to strengthening local communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. A branch of the Greater Joliet Area YMCA, the Morris Community YMCA brings families closer together, encourages good health, and fosters connections through fitness, sports, fun and shared interests. Through its financial assistance and scholarship program, the YMCA works to fulfill its mission of ensuring that its programs are available to everyone and no one is turned away due to the inability to pay. 

About Narvick Bros.
Founded in 1933, Narvick Bros. is a general contracting and construction company that specializes in carpentry, masonry, concrete, design/build, and construction management. Based in Morris, Illinois, Narvick Bros. is family-owned and operated and is committed to providing superior, creative, and distinct construction services.

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

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2023 YMCA ‘Earn Your Shirt’ Summer Fitness Challenge

JUNE 5-JULY 31

The Y wants to help you stay committed to a healthy lifestyle this summer and that is why we are excited for our ‘Earn Your Shirt’ Fitness Challenge.

Here’s how it works:

Check in at the YMCA at least 20 times between June 5 and July 31 and you’ll earn a special YMCA t-shirt. Participants will receive their shirt after their 20th visit.

Registration for the challenge is underway and will continue through June 11. Open to YMCA Facility Members only.

Cost: $25

REGISTER TODAY

C.W. Avery Family YMCA

Galowich Family YMCA

Morris Community YMCA

To learn more about this challenge visit the membership desk or contact your local Y branch.

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Working Together to Make Your Y Better: Facility Improvements at the C.W. Avery Family YMCA

We are excited to share that we will be installing new flooring in the C.W. Avery Family YMCA’s fitness center next week. We thank you in advance for your cooperation as we work with our vendor to complete the installation in a timely manner.

Wednesday, May 17

  • New flooring will be installed in the fitness center. The fitness center will remain open for member use, but some areas and equipment will not be accessible during installation.

Thursday, May 18

  • Flooring installation will continue. Members looking to access the fitness center between 8-5 p.m. will need to enter through the emergency exit door on the north side of the Y. Representatives from our membership team will be located at the entry door to welcome you and scan your membership tag.
  • The cycle room will be closed from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Thursday. Classes will run as-scheduled.
  • Fitness Studio #1 will remain open. Members will be able to access this space through the main hallway.
  • Members requiring access to the Kids’ Corner Supervised Playroom, restrooms, or locker rooms will need to exit through the emergency doors and utilize the main entrance. Portable restrooms will be available outside. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Later this month, we will also be installing new equipment in the fitness center. Please watch for more information coming soon on these improvements.

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