As a non-profit, community-based organization, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA relies on the support of its members and generous supporters to provide services and financial assistance for children, adults, and families living in our community. And we are proud to have the support of Dan and Jeanette Stevenson, who recently made a $5,000 donation to the YMCA Mission Strong Fund, helping to ensure that no one is turned away from the Y due to the inability to pay. You can learn more about Dan and Jeanette in the Q&A below.

Why are you passionate about supporting the Y through charitable giving?

Dan: “We feel very blessed to be a part of this community and we feel we have a duty to give back in some form. When it comes to the Y, the biggest driving factor is what they do for kids. Whether it’s Teen Achievers, Kid Zone, or summer camp, the Y provides opportunities to learn and socialize that many kids wouldn’t otherwise have.”

Jeanette: “I grew up in Joliet, lifetime born and raised here. I went to the Y and it’s where I learned to swim. It’s always been a great organization.” 

What do you think separates the Y from other organizations? 

Dan: “The staff at the Y are very passionate about the programs they offer. It’s one thing to strive to be an organization that cares, it’s another thing to actually be as caring and empathetic as the Y staff have been. That message comes through loud and clear when I’m interacting with them.”

Jeanette: “I’ve never seen a staff member at the Y who isn’t excited about what they are doing and who they can help. It plays out with how they serve children and others in the community.”

Do you have any favorite Y memories that have kept you connected to Y programs?

Jeanette: “Our son did many camps at the Y and our daughter was a counselor at the Y. She would always come home with stories about how great the kids were and how attached they had become. I’ve also been at events where parents have been very open about how much the Y has helped them in times of need.”

Dan: “I remember going to the Teen Achievers banquet for the first time and the high self esteem that many of the students had when they were speaking was incredible. I firmly believe that would not have happened for them without Teen Achievers. That’s our mission right there.”

What message would you give to someone looking to support the Y?

Dan: “We live the mission. There are some organizations where you give and you don’t see the direct result. At the Y, you see the direct result.”

Jeanette: “If anyone wants to see where their donation is going all you have to do is walk into the Y. You’ll see the kids who are being helped through the scholarship program. You’ll see the impact it is having on their lives, and why it’s so important to give.”

The Y would like to thank Dan and Jeanette for their generosity and commitment to the Y. To pledge your support through a charitable gift to the YMCA Mission Strong Fund, click here.

Pictured above (left to right): Greater Joliet Area YMCA Mission Advancement Director Donnie Chestnutt, Jeanette Stevenson, Dan Stevenson, and Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Katy Leclair