Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

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Register for 2023 YMCA Spring Sports Leagues

When kids play sports, they do more than just exercise. Besides being physically active, they develop higher self-esteem, perform better in school and work better in groups.  Youth sports programs at the YMCA teach kids the fundamentals of the game while emphasizing the importance of teamwork. Above all, kids who participate in YMCA youth sports have a lot of fun.

And now, registration is underway for YMCA spring sports leagues! As a reminder, Facility and Community Members from all Greater Joliet Area YMCA branches are welcome to participate at all league locations.

REGISTER FOR YMCA SPRING SPORTS LEAGUES BY CLICKING BELOW:

C.W. Avery Family YMCA (T-Ball, Coach Pitch Baseball, Player Pitch Baseball, Soccer)

Morris Community YMCA (T-Ball Tots, T-Ball, Pinto Baseball, Mustang Baseball, 8U Softball)

If you have any questions, please contact:
Myles Turner, Sports Manager
C.W. Avery Family YMCA
[email protected]
(815) 267-8600, ext. 219

Chris Interial, Sports Director
Morris Community YMCA
[email protected]
(815) 513-8080, ext. 514

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Busey Bank Donates $25,000 to Morris Community YMCA Capital Campaign

The Morris Community YMCA’s Capital Campaign, which is raising funds to develop a new 50,000-square-foot YMCA and healthcare center adjacent to Morris Grade School, is excited to announce a generous $25,000 gift from Busey Bank, which will be recognized in the future full facility. 

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. In January, the City of Morris’s Development Review Committee approved the site and facility plan for the new Morris Hospital YMCA, which will be built in partnership with Morris Hospital and Healthcare Centers. Construction is expected to begin later this year. While the YMCA hopes 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.

“We have reached many important milestones over the last year and support from area businesses like Busey Bank continues to move us closer to our ultimate goal with the new facility,” Chief Operating Officer Missy Durkin said. “We are excited for the future of this project and the impact it will have on Morris and the surrounding communities.”

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.

Pictured above (left to right): Morris Capital Campaign Leadership Cabinet Member and Corporate Committee Co-Chair Steve Barr, Greater Joliet Area YMCA Chief Operating Officer Missy Durkin, Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Katy Leclair, Busey Bank Treasury Management Portfolio Manager Paula Mercer, Busey Bank Service Manager Katie Cory, Morris Capital Campaign Leadership Cabinet Member and Corporate Committee Co-Chair John Sparrow, Busey Bank Commercial Loan Coordinator Monica Clark, Busey Bank Executive Vice President – Market President Grundy and Will Counties Jeffrey Rzasa. 

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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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