Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

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C.W. Avery Family YMCA Advisory Council Set to Host Celebrity Bartender Event on October 9

The C.W. Avery Family YMCA’s Advisory Council is excited to once again host a special Celebrity Bartender Event! Stop by to see some of your favorite Y friends and support a great cause! All cash tips collected at the bar will benefit the YMCA Mission Strong Fund. Please remember to bring cash for raffles and to tip your bartender. Complimentary appetizers will be served. 

Date:
Thursday, October 9

Time:
6-9 p.m.

Location:
Chop’d
12337 S. Illinois Route 59, Suite #155
Plainfield, IL 60585

Celebrity bartender list still to be announced. Stay tuned for updates!

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Belonging Begins With Us: Celebrate 2025 Welcoming Week at the YMCA

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA will be joining YMCAs across the country to celebrate Welcoming Week from September 12-21! Welcoming Week, an initiative of Y-USA’s national partner Welcoming America, elevates the growing movement of communities that fully embrace new Americans and their contributions to the social fabric of our country. This week-long celebration is an opportunity for neighbors – both immigrants and US-born residents – to get to know one another and celebrate what unites us as a community.

This week, when you visit your local Y branch, you’ll be able to participate in fun activities that will get you in to the spirit of Welcome Week.

EXPAND YOUR WORLD

Members will be invited to participate in fun and easy activities to expand their perspectives and make our community a more welcoming place for all. You can grab an activity card by visiting the Membership Desk.

BRINGING PEOPLE CLOSER 

Members will have the opportunity to pin their country of origin on a map located in the lobby. We are so excited to display a worldwide community throughout the week!

TRY NEW TASTES

Members can sample delicious foods from around the world during our cultural food extravaganzas. Enjoy fellowship with your neighbors, learn about different cultures, and play games with new and old friends. Plus, bring a friend and you can enter to win some fantastic raffle prizes including gift cards and Y swag! Branch specific dates can be found below.

GALOWICH FAMILY YMCA
749 Houbolt Road
Joliet, IL 60431
Friday, September 12
10 a.m.-Noon

C.W. AVERY FAMILY YMCA
15120 Wallin Drive
Plainfield, IL 60544
Wednesday, September 17
10:30 a.m.-Noon

MORRIS HOSPITAL YMCA
2200 W. Dupont Avenue
Morris, IL 60450
Thursday September 18
11 a.m.- 1 p.m.

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Stronger Together: Bring a Friend Fitness Class Opportunities

Grab a workout buddy and join us for special fitness classes at the Y! Facility members are invited to bring a guest for free. Fitness is always better together!

PLEASE NOTE: Guests must present a valid photo ID when checking in. Attendance in these classes will not count against a guest’s total pass usage for 2025.

Cardio Interval
You’ll alternate between cardio intervals and strength moves to achieve the maximum results, increased cardiovascular fitness and calorie burning.
Date: Friday, September 12
Time: 4:15-5 p.m.
Location: Morris Hospital YMCA

Bootcamp
A mix of strength and cardio drills, using circuits and intervals.
Date: Monday, September 15
Time: 9-9:45 a.m.
Location: Galowich Family YMCA

Cardio Mix
This class will feature 30 minutes of WERQ, 30 minutes of Butts and Guts, and 30 minutes of stretching
Date: Friday, September 26
Time: 6-7:30 p.m.
Location: C.W. Avery Family YMCA

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The Dream Starts Here: Illinois YMCA Statewide Football Skills Challenge Coming This Fall

As part of the Illinois State Alliance of YMCAs dynamic collaboration with the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) and Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA), the Greater Joliet Area YMCA invites youth athletes to participate in the Illinois YMCAs Statewide Football Skills Challenge.

Event Details:

Boys and girls divisions are available for Grades 5, 6, 7, and 8. 

Participants will compete in passing, punting, kicking, and agility drills during a preliminary round, hosted by local YMCAs. The top scoring athlete from each division will then have their score entered into the statewide contest to be compared to winners at other event sites.

Cost: Free and open to the community.

Please Note: Registration is required. 

Host Sites:

Joliet Junior College – Event Center
1215 Houbolt Road
Joliet, IL 60431

Date: Wednesday, October 15
Time: Participants will compete sometime between 6-7:30 p.m. Upon completing registration, participants will be contacted to confirm their competition time slot.
REGISTER TODAY

C.W. Avery Family YMCA
15120 Wallin Drive
Plainfield, IL 60544

Date: Sunday, October 19
Time: Participants will compete sometime between 9 a.m.-Noon. Upon completing registration, participants will be contacted to confirm their competition time slot.
REGISTER TODAY

Morris Hospital YMCA
2200 W. Dupont Avenue
Morris, IL 60450

Date: Sunday, October 19
Time: Participants will compete sometime between 9 a.m.-Noon. Upon completing registration, participants will be contacted to confirm their competition time slot.
REGISTER TODAY

The top three statewide scores from the 5th and 6th grade divisions will advance to compete in the event finals during the IHSA Football State Championship Games in Normal on November 28, 2025.

The top three statewide scores from the 7th and 8th grade divisions will advance to compete in the event finals during the IHSA Football State Championship Games in Normal on November 29, 2025.

COMPETITION RULES and FAQs 

To learn more, please contact:

Maria Freeh, C.W. Avery Family YMCA Sports Director
[email protected]
(815) 267-8600, ext. 217

Zach Jarosz, Joliet Community YMCA Sports Manager
[email protected]
Phone: (815) 744-3939, ext. 317

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

*Under the statewide theme, “The Dream Starts Here,” this collaboration brings together the resources and expertise of YMCAs across Illinois, the IHSA, and the IESA to inspire a new generation of leaders and athletes by promoting participation in youth sports statewide. Additionally, the initiative encourages young people to consider jobs and volunteer opportunities at the Y where they can gain valuable skills and hands-on experience to pursue career pathways in sports-related fields like coaching, officiating, and sports administration.

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Greater Joliet Area YMCA Hosts Wall Signing Ceremony for Future Village of Shorewood YMCA


The Greater Joliet Area YMCA welcomed supporters to the site of the future Village of Shorewood YMCA for a special wall signing ceremony on Thursday, August 28. 

YMCA President and CEO Katy Leclair kicked off the event by welcoming guests and thanking members of the building team, including Narvick Bros. General Contractors, for their round the clock work to construct the facility in preparation for its planned opening in spring 2026.   

Leclair also recognized the YMCA’s Board of Directors, the Village of Shorewood YMCA Advisory Council, the Village of Shorewood leadership team, mayor and trustees, and YMCA employees and members for their support of this exciting project. 

“At the Y, we are so blessed to have the very best team of staff, volunteers, members, donors, and community partners working together to create thriving spaces and engaging programs to serve our community,” Leclair said.

Leclair then introduced Village of Shorewood Advisory Council Chairman Dr. Karla Guseman, who provided the morning’s invocation. 

Shorewood Mayor CC DeBold then stepped to the podium to speak about the Village’s vision for the future facility. He emphasized that Y programs will provide fun activities like youth sports leagues for kids, as well as important health, wellness, and recreation opportunities for residents of all ages, all while creating employment opportunities within the Shorewood community. 

DeBold then welcomed YMCA Board of Directors Chairman Cheri Rubocki, who described how the opening of the Shorewood facility will serve as one of the highlights of the Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s Centennial Celebration in 2026. 

“As our YMCA prepares to celebrate our 100th anniversary in 2026, we are very excited to create more opportunities for our friends and neighbors to learn, grow, and thrive at the YMCA,” Rubocki said. “Like all of you, I am counting down the days until we can cut the ribbon, open the doors, and officially welcome our community to the new Village of Shorewood YMCA!”

Illinois State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel, who helped to secure grant funding for the project from the State of Illinois, followed with brief remarks about the importance of investing in our communities.

Village of Shorewood YMCA Executive Director Trisha Dust closed the event by sharing her excitement for the ongoing preparations and thanking everyone for attending. She then invited guests to enter the facility and ceremoniously autograph their name on a wall located at the heart of the new facility, securing a legacy of collaboration that will last for years to come.  

To learn more about the future Village of Shoewood YMCA, visit the branch homepage today!

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Staying Active for Life: Sid Skidmore’s Y Story

At the Y, we are proud to support members as they reach their goals and mark important health and wellness milestones. And that is why we are so excited to shine the spotlight on Morris Hospital YMCA member Sid Skidmore, who celebrated his 100th birthday on August 29. 

Sid, a retired engineer, moved to Morris a few years ago to be closer to family and said he has been a member of various YMCAs over the years. When the new facility opened in Morris last December, he saw the perfect opportunity to get back into working out. 

“I realized I had lost a lot of my strength so I thought I better try and get some of it back,” he said. “They’ve done a great job with this brand new Y. It has everything you need.”

Sid visits the Y multiple times per week, arriving at 7 a.m. for each visit, and completes a regimented workout using the strength machines in the wellness center.  

“When you get old, you find you have to have a routine or you’ll forget something. I have routines for everything.” he said. “The Y is definitely the best place to go for exercising and for meeting other people, too. I’ve made a lot of friends here. It’s fun to chat for a few minutes each morning while you’re working out.”

According to Sid, the secrets to turning 100 are more than just an active lifestyle; good genes and a lifetime of healthy eating play a big role as well.

“When I was a kid, my mother would go shopping every other day so we always had fresh vegetables and fresh meat. And we never had anything like soda or fountain drinks, so I never got in the habit of drinking any of that stuff. I think that’s part of it,” he said.

Sid said working out at the Y helps him with his other interests of playing golf and making stained glass windows. He also shared that he passed a recent driver’s test, a sign that he doesn’t have any plans of slowing down, even after hitting the century mark. 

“I used to plan out five to ten years ahead. Now that I’ve hit 100, I think I can still plan for five years ahead,” he said.  

On behalf of the entire Y community, we would like to wish Sid a very happy 100th birthday and thank him for being a part of our YMCA family!

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