Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

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YMCA Looks To Expand Programming in Locations Throughout the Joliet Community

Smith Family YMCA to Close on March 26

For nearly 95 years, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA has worked to bring about meaningful change in the community. As a result of the ongoing global health crisis, the YMCA has been challenged to reimagine the ways it delivers services to the community.

After months of thoughtful consideration, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA announced today that its Board of Directors has made the difficult decision to permanently close the Smith Family YMCA, located at 1350 S. Briggs Street in Joliet. The last day of operations at the Smith Family YMCA will be Friday, March 26.

“The challenges of the past 12 months have provided our YMCA with an opportunity to take a long, hard look at the programs we offer in the Joliet community. The Smith Family YMCA has proudly served residents of Joliet since 1978, but in recent years, its most impactful programs have operated outside of our YMCA walls and in the community,” said Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Jim Watts.

In the coming weeks, existing Smith Family YMCA programming will be relocated to sites throughout the Joliet community. Two of the YMCA’s largest youth development programs, including its Before and After School Kid Zone and Summer Day Camp programs, will be moving to the Salvation Army Building in downtown Joliet. Additional YMCA programs will be relocated to other community locations in the months ahead.

“We are excited to partner with area churches, local school districts, and other like-minded community organizations, like the Salvation Army, to make YMCA programming more accessible for Joliet residents. By relocating our most impactful programs to neighborhood locations, we hope to remove the barriers that may have prevented residents of all ages, but especially area youths, from utilizing our facility on Briggs Street,” said Watts.

Beginning on March 27, Smith Family YMCA members will transition to the Galowich Family YMCA, located at 749 Houbolt Road in Joliet. All employees at the Smith Family YMCA will have the opportunity to continue employment with the Y by moving to a new community program site or one of the Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s facilities in Joliet, Morris, or Plainfield.

“Although we are very sad to be retiring the Smith Family YMCA building, we are excited to write the next chapter of the Y’s storied history in the Joliet community. At the YMCA, our mission lives within the hearts of our members, volunteers, and staff, and we know that the spirit of the Smith Family YMCA will live on in our programs for generations to come. We remain committed to providing a YMCA experience for all and serving the Joliet community,” added Watts.

Creativity Happens Here: 2021 YMCA Easter Egg Design Contest

Let your creativity shine and plan to participate in the YMCA’s Easter Egg Coloring Contest! Open to children ages, 5-12, this contest is the perfect opportunity for kids to show off their artistic talents and help spread a little Easter cheer.

Here’s how to enter:

1. Download the blank Easter Egg template below and print it out. You may also create a template of your own, just be sure to include a Y logo in your design.

Download Easter Egg Template

2. Grab some crayons, markers, colored pencils or paint and create an Easter Egg design that you think will inspire the community. From pastel colors and bunnies, to chocolate candies and spring flowers, we can’t wait to see your original designs!

3. Design can be submitted in the drop-off box at the membership desk of your local Y branch. You can also submit your design through a message to your local Y’s Facebook page or send an e-mail to [email protected] Submit your design by Thursday, March 25. Please be sure to include a name and age in the submission. 

4. Designs will be posted on the Facebook pages of the three Greater Joliet Area YMCA branches from Monday, March 29 through Thursday, April 1. The designs with the most combined photo reactions from each of the following age groups will receive a $30 gift card to an area restaurant:

Ages 5-7
Ages 8-9
Ages 10-12

Three lucky winners be announced on Friday, April 2

Good luck!

Greater Joliet Area YMCA Facebook Pages:

C.W. Avery Family YMCA

Galowich Family YMCA

Morris Community YMCA

February Member Appreciation: Bring Your Friends and Family To the Y

In appreciation of our fantastic members, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA is excited to invite members to bring a friend or family member to the Y on Thursday, February 18 and Friday, February 19!

Here’s how it works:

-Limit one guest per Facility Member, per day.

-Members must call the Y to make a reservation for their guest if they will be utilizing an area that requires reservations.

-Guests, ages 18 and over, must present a valid photo I.D.

-All guests must have a signed facility usage waiver on file. This step can be completed online by opening a Daily Visitor Membership below or in-person when checking in at Membership Desk.

C.W Avery Family YMCA

Galowich Family YMCA

Morris Community YMCA

Smith Family YMCA 

We also encourage members to review our health and safety guidelines before bringing guests to the Y. 

Branch Contact Information

C.W. Avery Family YMCA: (815) 267-8600

Galowich Family YMCA: (815) 744-3939

Morris Community YMCA: (815) 513-8080

Smith Family YMCA: (815) 726-3939

Galowich Family YMCA Debuts New Starting Blocks

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA JETS Swim Team is excited to begin using newly installed starting blocks at the Galowich Family YMCA. These starting blocks were made possible through the generous support of Debbie and Warren Thomas, parents of JETS Head Coach Ashleigh Thomas.

Debbie said the idea to provide funding for the starting blocks first came to her after she attended the YMCA Gala in 2019.

“Every year we look for ways to give charitable donations and we asked Ashleigh if there were any particular needs at the Y,” Debbie said. “She mentioned that she was coaching some really competitive swimmers at the Galowich Y and there were no starting blocks. Ashleigh has been in swimming for a long time so we are well aware of the importance of having starting blocks, and we know it’s hard to train for races without them.”

Coach Thomas said that she was moved by the donation from her family and that the starting blocks represent a strong commitment to the Y’s historic swimming program.

“These blocks will have an impact on the JETS program by transforming the Galowich Family YMCA Pool to accommodate competitive swimmers in addition to bringing in new opportunities to our swim lesson program,” she said. “This equipment befits the talent and hard work of our JETS swimmers as they pursue their higher level and national swimming goals.”

The new starting blocks were installed earlier this month and come at a time when the JETS swim team is preparing for an exciting stretch of its competitive season.

“I can finally say that we have several meets on the horizon for the JETS,” Coach Thomas said. “We are currently competing in dual meet competitions, and we have our 2021 Illinois Y State Invitational coming up at the end of April. I think it’s a great way to transition our winter season into spring and keep our swimmers excited for the summer.”

Debbie said she and Warren are excited to finally see the project come to fruition.

“It was a long process to get everything approved, especially as the world was dealing with COVID, but it’s really nice to see the pictures of the starting blocks,” she said. “I know that Ashleigh is excited and all the kids are excited. I really hope they enjoy using them.”

C.W. Avery Family YMCA Member Spotlight: Denise Fudacz


The C.W. Avery Family YMCA is celebrating its 15th Anniversary on Wallin Drive in 2021! To commemorate this milestone, we will be sharing the Y story of one of our fantastic members each month. Today we shine the spotlight on Plainfield resident Denise Fudacz. Denise joined the Y as a Charter Member in 2006 and we are excited to share her Y story with you:

Q: What do you remember about joining the Y?

Denise: We live in the neighborhood. When the Y first opened, we came over to check it out on a tour. We really liked it and we were sold on it from the start!

Q: What are the main ways you have used the Y?

Denise: It’s a great place to come work out. I used to come in and swim every morning at 5 a.m. I think I did that for three years. Recently I got some personal training sessions for Christmas and I’ve started working out again.

Q: What are some fond Y memories you have?

Denise: There have been a lot of great experiences and I have met a lot of wonderful people. I remember doing the first weight loss challenge program. And, I was always afraid of deep water, so I actually took some swimming lessons when I started.

Q: How has the Y impacted your family?

Denise: Our children are older now, but our daughter worked at the Y in Kids Corner when she was younger. It’s been wonderful to see kids who grew up at the Y come through. I’ll run into them from time to time.

Q: What would you say to someone interested in joining the Y?

Denise: It’s a safe place for kids and families, and the Y does so much for the community. It really is a place where it’s like coming home.

We send a heartfelt hank you to Denise for sharing her story, and for being a loyal C.W. Avery Family YMCA member! 

Building a Healthier Community: Celebrating the C.W. Avery Family YMCA’s 15th Anniversary

On February 4, 2006, the C.W. Avery Family YMCA opened its doors for the first time on Wallin Drive. And for the last 15 years, it has truly been a privilege to serve our members and the Plainfield community. 

To commemorate this milestone, the C.W. Avery Family YMCA teamed up with the Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce to host a celebratory ribbon cutting this morning at the Y. Although most guests participated in the event virtually, we were honored to have many special guests on hand to commemorate the day.

This morning’s ceremony began with an invocation given by C.W. Avery Family YMCA Advisory Council Chairman Rob Hamilton before Greater Joliet Area YMCA CEO Jim Watts provided opening remarks. 

Watts shared a summary of the Y’s history in the Plainfield community and acknowledged the tremendous support the Y continues to receive from its community partners, volunteers, and incredible staff team. 

C.W. Avery Family YMCA Executive Director Lisa Behounek then spoke about her own YMCA career, which began with a Y internship in 2000. Behounek joined the team at the the C.W. Avery Family YMCA as Fitness Director in 2006. She thanked the Advisory Council for their support and recognized the importance of staff contributions over the last year in the wake of the Y’s temporary closure due to COVID-19 last spring. 

Maryl Betzwiser, in attendance on behalf of the Clyde and Judy Avery family, gave brief remarks on the impact the Y has had on her family, wishing the YMCA continued success for another 15 years and beyond. 

Plainfield Mayor Michael Collins was also on hand and spoke about the impact of the Y’s presence in the Plainfield community. He noted the Y’s state-of-the-art facility as a point of pride for local citizens, and that he looks forward to continuing the strong partnership between the Y and the Village. 

Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tasha Marsaglia then asked Betzwiser to join Behounek and Greater Joliet Area YMCA Youth Development Operations Director Erin Lightbody for a ceremonial ribbon cutting, which concluded the morning’s festivities.   

On behalf of the YMCA, we would like to thank everyone involved in helping us reach this 15th anniversary milestone. Our efforts would not be possible without the hard work of our dedicated staff, the assistance of volunteers, the kindness of donors, and the continued support from all of our members. We look forward to celebrating throughout 2021. We know that the best is yet to come!

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