The Greater Joliet Area YMCA raised nearly $140,000 in scholarship funds at the 11th annual Giving Gala held Feb. 24 at the Bolingbrook Golf Club. The event included dinner, auction and live entertainment for 365 guests.

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA has been serving families, regardless of age, income or background, from throughout Will County and its surrounding areas for 90 years. Since its inception, the Giving Gala has raised more than $875,000 to benefit families within those communities, helping to ensure that no one is turned away from the Y due to the inability to pay.

The evening’s mission focus was brought to life by three videos that shared YMCA stories of impact. Guests were then asked to “Raise the Paddle” in an auction-style format to support the Y’s scholarship program. Contributions ranging from $5,000 down to $50 were made, totaling a record-high $50,000 in YMCA scholarships. One featured story was of Patrick, a Morris Community YMCA summer camper and Gala guest who delivered a surprise invocation after the audience viewed a moving video detailing how the Y’s scholarship program provided him with the “Best Summer Ever.”

Oswego’s Randy Miles volunteered his time as the event’s auctioneer. The top auction item was a two-week stay in a Hawaiian condo. After a lively bidding war, the package was auctioned twice, raising a total of $5,000. Other live auction items included a Chicago Entertainment package with “Hamilton” tickets and a Maserati Levante rental provided by Continental Auto Sports, as well as unique Cubs and White Sox experiences that included game tickets, transportation and signed memorabilia. Prior to dinner, guests also had the opportunity to bid on more than 100 silent auction items while enjoying complimentary cocktails and appetizers. The Gold Coast Orchestra gave a dance-inducing performance to end the night.

In the fall of 2019, the Y will host an all-new fundraising event that will lift up its mission and honor YMCA Annual Campaign supporters, while also continuing the Giving Gala’s tradition of excellence. Additional information will be announced at a later date.

This year’s Giving Gala volunteer committee members included: Annie Barrins (Morris), Rob Epley (Plainfield), Kathy Goeken (Shorewood), MaryKay Hrdina (Plainfield), Mark Johnson (Plainfield), Maria Macris (Joliet), Nick Macris (Joliet), Mary Olson (Morris), Kristin Orban (Joliet), Ryan Peterson (Plainfield), Karen Rouse (Plainfield), Adam Underhill (Minooka), Mike Wickkiser (Morris) and Barb Ziegner (Joliet). Senior Development Director Julie Wilkinson and Annual Giving Manager Brittney Halliday provided staff leadership.

Sponsors Included:

PREMIUM SPONSOR
DIAGEO

PLATINUM SPONSORS
Caterpillar, Inc.
WeatherTech

BAR/COCKTAIL SPONSOR
DIAGEO

CASH RAFFLE SPONSOR
BMO Harris Bank

MOBILE BIDDING SPONSOR
CITGO Lemont Refinery

DIAMOND SPONSORS
41 North Contractors LLC
Edward Jones
First Midwest Bank
D’Arcy Buick GMC
Grundy Bank
Law Offices of Samuel J. Erkonen, P.C.
Midland States Bank
Morris Hospital and Healthcare Centers
Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce
Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center

PHOTOGRAPHY SPONSOR
Hometown National Bank

APPETIZER SPONSOR
DeGeus & Associates, Inc

BID PADDLE SPONSOR
Mahoney, Silverman & Cross Law Firm

ENTERTAINMENT SPONSOR
Rathbun, Cservenyak & Kozol Law Firm

GOLD SPONSORS
Charles Vincent George Architects
Coilplus Illinois

SILVER SPONSORS
Edward – Elmhurst Health
JP Morgan Chase
Rod Baker Ford

FRIENDS OF THE Y
Connelly Electric
Friedrich-Jones & Overman-Jones Funeral Homes & Cremation Services
Hamilton & Antonsen

SPONSOR’S CHOICE
Barvian Realty – Coat Check
Carlson Holmquist-Sayles Funeral Home – Wine Pull
Edward Jones – Check Out
Heartland Bank and Trust – Silver Circle
Laurie Peyla Rambo, Spring Realty – Heads or Tails
Lucas, Thompson & Wise, LLC – Champagne Display
SERVPRO of Joliet – Valet
State Representative Mark Batinick, 97th District – Check-In

IN-KIND MEDIA SPONSORS
Alpha Media- WJOL AM
Impact Outdoors
Morris Herald News
Herald News
Joliet Chamber
Plainfield Chamber
Shorewood Chamber
Grundy County Chamber
New Lenox Chamber
Graphic Promotions

From left to right: Maurice Fears, Dan Vera and Jim Watts

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA received a generous $68,000 grant from Joliet Township to fund youth programs and services. Joliet Township Supervisor Dan Vera presented the donation to YMCA President and CEO Jim Watts and Executive Director of Teen and Young Adult Advancement Maurice Fears during a March 22 Board of Directors meeting.

Part of the gift will fund a service-learning trip for a group of Joliet high school students who participate in the Y’s Teen Achievers program. This summer, the students will travel to Houston, Texas to work alongside teens from other YMCAs across the country and help rebuild communities devastated by Hurricane Harvey.

The donation will also allow the YMCA to revamp the supervised playroom at the Smith Family YMCA, located at 1350 S. Briggs Street. This high-usage space is home to hundreds of area youth who attend the Y’s before and after school care program. The space will receive a facelift that includes new paint, furniture and a refrigerator, and additional games, storage and technology.

Lastly, the gift will provide summer camp scholarships for low-income families. For 10 weeks during the summer, YMCA camp provides area kids with a safe, stable place to learn and grow, and receive a healthy meal and snack when school is not in session.

As one of the nation’s leading nonprofit charities, the YMCA is committed to strengthening local communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Through its financial assistance and scholarship program, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA works to fulfill its mission of ensuring that its programs are available to everyone and no one is turned away due to the inability to pay.