Blog — Page 184 — Greater Joliet Area YMCA

A Giver Who Keeps On Giving

April 8, 2014

Mynne Schmidt, who is simply known as Sis around the Y, is a sweet woman with a big heart and an even bigger passion for swimming.

“I’ve been a swimmer for most of my life,” Sis said. “I learned to swim at five-years-old in the DuPage River. It put me onto a lifetime of swimming.”

For more than a decade, Sis has been a generous donor at the YMCA, where she’s had a membership since 1998. Each year, she donates at least $1,000 to benefit those who need membership and program scholarships. Recently, Sis decided to add to her legacy by giving an endowment of $10,000.

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What Sets The Y Apart

April 1, 2014

2014-06-24_AOF_7896_RGB The Greater Joliet Area YMCA has served families in local communities for nearly nine decades. It is our hope that we can continue to impact lives on a daily basis for years to come, firmly establishing ourselves as more than just a gym, but as a place where people can learn, grow and thrive.

Making a lasting difference within our community is a top priority. At the Y, we work hard to ensure that no one is turned away due to the inability to pay. We accomplish this goal by raising funds each year during our Annual Campaign, which runs now through April 26. With your help, local families will continue to have access to much-needed before and after school care, summer camps and fitness programs that are essential to living a healthy lifestyle. Every gift matters!

Did You Know?

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization. Each year, the Y provides hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarship funds to those in need of financial assistance.

A donation of $100 allows a child to participate in the Y’s youth basketball league for eight weeks to learn new skills and experience the joy of being part of a team.

In 2013, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA provided nearly $750,000 in financial assistance for program and membership scholarships, and free and subsidized programs for youth and seniors. Funds raised during our Community Campaign will help to support these efforts and benefit the Y’s scholarship fund.

In February 2014, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA raised more than $96,000 at its seventh annual Giving Gala, with all proceeds benefiting the Y’s scholarship fund.

Any donation made to the Y is 100 percent tax deductible.

YMCAs are the largest providers of child care in the nation. The Greater Joliet Area YMCA provides child care for hundreds of kids throughout Will and Grundy counties. An annual donation of $1,000 provides two children with six weeks of before and after school care, assuring working parents that their children are safe, happy and healthy.

With more than 2,000 pools in the U.S. alone, YMCAs maintain the largest number of swimming pools in the world. A donation of $200 gives four children a chance to learn to swim, gaining confidence and skills that will last a lifetime.

When you donate $25 during the Annual Campaign, you’ll get a complimentary t-shirt as a reminder that you have changed lives for the better.

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Nourishing Thoughts

March 24, 2014

A Case For Saturated Fats

Americans have long been told that saturated fats are to be avoided, because they lead to increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. New studies are emerging, however, that suggest they aren’t so bad after all. Looking carefully at both sides of the debate can help shed light on which choices are best.

Saturated fats are mainly found in animal products, such as butter, bacon, fatty meats, lard and milk fat. However, they can also be found in some plant products, most notably coconut oil and palm oil. If it is a natural product and is solid at room temperature, it is most likely a saturated fat.

According to the USDA Dietary Guidelines, published in 2010, we should strive to get fewer than 10 percent of our calories from saturated fats. Given an average 2,000-calorie diet, that’s about 22 grams of saturated fats per day. Most of the saturated fats in American’s diets come from regular cheese, pizza, grain- and dairy-based desserts, chicken and chicken mixed dishes, sausages and bacon, and burgers. For comparison’s sake, an ounce of Cheddar cheese contains 6 grams, a Big Mac has 10 grams and a 10-ounce ribeye has 28 grams.

The dietary guidelines state we should avoid foods containing saturated fats when possible, and strive to get most of our fats from unsaturated sources, such as those found in seafood, nuts, seeds, and oils. Historically, these were shown to have a protective effect on the heart.

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Top 5 Reasons You Should Join the Y

March 15, 2014

The Staff

At the Y, you’re more than just a customer—you’re a friend. Furthermore, you’re a part of a strong community. Our staff is the piece that binds that community together, helping you achieve your goals and encouraging you every step along the way. That’s what sets the Y apart. We’re willing to go the distance to help our members learn, grow and thrive.

The Cause

The YMCA is more than just a gym. It’s a cause. As a nonprofit organization, we raise funds and provide assistance to those who need it most. At the Y, no one is turned away due to the inability to pay. And because of that, families can come to the Y for much-needed before school and after school programs, summer camps, youth sports, group fitness classes and swim lessons.

The Programs

Catering to all ages, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA offers a seemingly infinite amount of programs taught by hard-working, dedicated individuals. For health enthusiasts, we offer group fitness classes and private personal training sessions. For youngsters, we have youth sports leagues, swim lessons and a wide variety of camps. For seniors, we offer low-impact fitness and aquatic classes and much more! With so many offerings, we are sure to have programs and classes that fit your family’s needs and busy schedules.

The Facilities

Aside from a gymnasium, each of our facilities has a wellness center ideal for any workout routine, a lap pool for swim enthusiasts and a supervised playroom for before and after school needs. The Galowich and Smith Family YMCAs have all of the aforementioned amenities, along with a racquetball court. The C.W. Avery Family YMCA, the largest of our three branches, includes a renovated, state-of-the-art wellness center, an indoor running track and a family aquatic center with a water park, among many other amenities.

The Results

As mentioned before, we’re here to help you achieve your goals. Join our Y family and you’ll see the results! When you walk out the door, you’ll feel a sense of pride, accomplishment and pure joy.

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Staff Q&A: Melissa Parker

March 10, 2014

1231-YMCA As a teenager, Melissa Parker volunteered at the Y as a junior camp counselor and helped out with youth basketball games, keeping score and running the clocks. Nowadays, she (officially) works at the Smith Family YMCA, where she’s one of the first faces you see when you step through the door. Although Melissa mainly works at the membership desk, in the past she has worked as a camp counselor and offsite coordinator for the Central City YMCA. All in all, Melissa is a dedicated, enthusiastic Y staff member, who is truly a joy to be around. Check out our Q&A below!

The Y: Were you in any Y programs growing up?
Melissa Parker: I participated in cheerleading in fourth and fifth grade and I was actually a part of the first Teen Achievers class. The very first year—it was kind of like an ‘experiment.’

Wow, that’s super cool.
I actually chaperoned a trip for them last year. I loved it. Those kids are amazing. It was fun. It was a pretty cool trip. We visited between seven and nine colleges. I was grateful for the experience. I was glad to be a part of their learning experience.

What about nowadays? Do you use the facilities at the Y?
My family and I come to work out every morning. My parents get in the water. My sisters and I will go back in the gym and work out. We get up at like 6:30 a.m. It’s rough, but we make it! Five days a week.

If you’re not at the Y, what are you up to?
Church. That’s it. I go from work to church to home. That’s kind of like my life. Church and the Y.

Excellent. What’s your most memorable Y Story?
A story that I’ll keep with me is a story of one of my campers. He started when he was six. He had been with me for like seven years. He had some self-esteem issues and there were certain things we could never get him to do. We’d try to push him every year! There was an ice skating trip during my last year as an offsite coordinator and I asked him to go around the rink just one time. So he put his ice skates on and we went around half way and he was like “Okay I need to go back.” I said “You can’t, you might as well finish! You’re half way there!” So he finished it and I was so proud. I said “You did it! That’s all you had to do!” He was happy with himself. He stopped saying “I can’t” and he actually did it. It was a boost of confidence for him. This is why I do this—to see these kids’ faces. To see their reactions. To try to get them to just try something new. It was an achievement for the Y. It was an achievement for me. It was especially an achievement for him, which is what’s most important. I was happy for him. To this day I am.

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