Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

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Fall Registration Now Open for YMCA Members

Fall into fitness this autumn at the Greater Joliet Area YMCA! Whether you’re a young athlete, a busy parent or a health seeker in search of new challenges, the Y has programs that are just right for you.

  • Group Exercise Classes
  • Personal Training
  • Swim Lessons- New curriculum debuting this fall!
  • JETS Swim Team
  • Before and After School Programs
  • Preschool Programs
  • Youth and Adult Sports Leagues

Registration for Facility Members begins Saturday, July 29. Open Registration for Community Members begins on Saturday, August 12.

For more information, take a look inside our 2017 Fall Program Guides:

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Safe Swimmers Start Here

ymca-swimTeaching children how to be safe around water is not a luxury; it is a necessity. Enrolling in YMCA Swimming Lessons can help you make sure they learn essential water safety skills, which can open up a world of possibilities for them to satisfy their curiosity safely.

A typical lesson includes:

  • Exercises to help kids adjust to being in water
  • Specific safety topics, like what to do if you see someone in the water who needs help
  • Fun activities that reinforce skills

Help Keep Your Children Safe
Drowning can happen nearly anywhere with standing water. But, as a parent or caregiver, you can’t keep your children sidelined. You need to equip them with the tools they need to be confident in and around water so they don’t lose out on the health benefits of exercise, the opportunities to bond with family and friends and the sense of accomplishment when they learn new skills.

Register For Swimming Lessons

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Evanston and Joliet Y Achievers Join Forces On College Tour

For the first time, the McGaw YMCA and the Greater Joliet Area YMCA joined forces to send more than 70 Y Achievers high school students on a three-day Spring Break College Tour to seven schools in Tennessee.

The recent tour brought together more than 70 high school students from the two organizations who participate in the Y Achievers program. Y Achievers provides an essential safety net for high school students at risk of not completing high school or continuing on to higher education. Many of those who participate are the first in their families to consider attending college.

The students were immersed in a variety of higher learning institutions to broaden their understanding of possible options. They spent time at private schools like Christian Brothers University, public universities such as Tennesee State, and Historically Black Colleges & Universities like Fisk University.

“The college bus tour is the highlight of the year for our Teen Achievers,” said Maurice Fears, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s Executive Director of Teen and Young Adult Advancement. “The experiences these young people gain over a three to four day span can be life-changing. This year’s trip was made even more special because they got to share this milestone trip with new friends and fellow Achievers from the McGaw YMCA.”

Plus, the two Y Achievers groups got to broaden their friendships by getting to know each other through group “off the record” discussions where they shared their worries, and hopes, for college.

“It gave the students an opportunity to build community together,” said Jace Smith, manager of the McGaw YMCA Y Achievers. “They may come from different parts of Illinois, but they’re experiencing some of the same challenges.”

While freshmen through seniors went on the trip, seeing colleges up close was particularly inspiring for the juniors, who returned facing SAT tests and the prospect of college applications.

McGaw Y Achiever Kirkland Codd, said he learned the most not from college tour guides or professors, but from the students themselves. At each of the seven Tennessee colleges they visited, the Achievers had to approach a student and ask them about their freshman experience.

“The websites don’t always give you the full truth,” Kirkland said, “but the students let us know from their perspective. They kept saying, ‘You really got to stay on top of your books or else you’ll fall behind.’”

The McGaw YMCA (www.mcgawymca.org) is a cause-driven, charitable organization that seeks to strengthen community with a focus on youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Through a continuum of programs, the McGaw YMCA has positively impacted the Evanston community for more than 130 years.

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA has been serving families—regardless of age, income or background—from throughout Will County and its surrounding areas since 1928. A mainstay in the Joliet community for more than 85 years, the Y brings families closer together, encourages good health, and fosters connections through fitness, sports, fun and shared interests.

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YMCA Giving Gala Raises More Than $140,000 in Scholarship Funds

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On a milestone night celebrating its tenth anniversary, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA Giving Gala raised more than $140,000 in support of the Y’s scholarship fund—the most in event history. Held Feb. 25 at the elegant Bolingbrook Golf Club, the annual fundraising event featured dinner, live entertainment and opportunities to bid on an assortment of silent and live auction items.

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA has been serving families, regardless of age, income or background, from throughout Will County and its surrounding areas for more than 85 years. Since its inception, the Giving Gala has raised more than $740,000 to benefit families within those communities, helping to ensure that that no one is turned away from the Y due to the inability to pay.

In an auction-style format, guests were asked to “Raise the Paddle” in support of the Y’s scholarship program. A short video was shown featuring three stories of scholarship recipients whose lives were transformed by their YMCA experience. Following the moving presentation, individuals featured in the video—a struggling single mother from Joliet, a Plainfield father who lost 140 pounds and clients of Illinois Valley Industries in Grundy County—were asked to stand and be recognized. Their inspirational stories inspired Gala attendees to make contributions ranging from $5,000 down to $50, totaling more than $38,000 in YMCA scholarships.

Six exciting packages were sold during the live auction, including a dream Disney vacation for four and a two-week getaway to a condo in Hawaii. The latter was so popular that the package’s donors, Fred and Mara Bliznick, offered an additional two-week stay up for bid. Together, the two Hawaii packages raised $7,200 in scholarship funds. To round out the live auction bidding, baseball fans repping both the North and South Sides of Chicago had opportunities to bid on Cubs and White Sox packages with game tickets and signed memorabilia, among other amenities.

The exquisitely decorated Bolingbrook Golf Club, accentuated by the sounds of the Connie and Johnny Jazz Combo, provided a perfect setting for the evening’s festivities. Prior to dinner, guests reveled in a sea of more than 120 silent auction items, placing bids while enjoying complimentary cocktails and appetizers. The night was capped off by the Gold Coast Orchestra, who took the stage and treated guests to their dance-inspiring tunes.

This year’s Giving Gala volunteer committee was co-chaired by Margie Bonuchi (Plainfield) and Greg Schaefer (Minooka). Committee members included: Fiona Alston (Oswego), Judy Avery (Plainfield), Kathy Blessent (Plainfield), Rob Epley (Plainfield), MaryKay Hrdina (Plainfield), Kathy Kazmar (Plainfield), Maria Macris (Joliet), Nick Macris (Joliet), Dawn Marsaglia (Plainfield), Victoria Matway (Plainfield), Mary Olson (Morris), Ryan Peterson (Plainfield), Laurie Rambo (Crest Hill), Karen Rouse (Plainfield), Adam Underhill (Minooka), Mike Wickkiser (Morris), Barb Ziegner (Joliet) and Kristin Ziegner (Joliet). Staff leadership was provided by Senior Development Director Julie Wilkinson and Annual Giving Manager Brittney Halliday.

Sponsors of the 2017 Giving Gala included:

PREMIUM SPONSOR
DIAGEO

PLATINUM SPONSOR
Ron and Kathy Kazmar
WeatherTech

BAR/COCKTAIL SPONSOR
DIAEGO

CASH RAFFLE SPONSOR
First Community Financial Bank

MOBILE BIDDING SPONSOR
CITGO Lemont Refinery

DIAMOND SPONSORS
Continental Audi of Naperville
Edward Jones
First Midwest Bank
Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce
Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center
BMO Harris Bank
Caterpillar, Inc.
D’Arcy Buick GMC
ExxonMobil
Friedrich-Jones & Overman-Jones Funeral Homes & Cremation Services
Grundy Bank
Hometown National Bank
Law Offices of Samuel J. Erkonen, P.C.
Midland States Bank
Morris Hospital and Healthcare Centers
Springbank of Plainfield

PHOTOGRAPHY SPONSOR
Heartland Bank and Trust

BID PADDLE SPONSOR
Rathbun, Cservenyak & Kozol Law Firm 

ENTERTAINMENT SPONSOR
Edward – Elmhurst Health

APPETIZER SPONSOR
DeGeus & Associates, Inc

GOLD SPONSORS
Coilplus Illinois
Mahoney, Silverman & Cross Law Firm
Mr. and Mrs. Maloney

SILVER SPONSORS
Hamilton & Antonsen
Rod Baker Ford

IN-KIND SPONSORS
Alpha Media- WJOL AM
Graphic Promotions
Grundy County Chamber of Commerce
Herald News
Impact Outdoors
Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Morris Herald News
New Lenox Chamber of Commerce
Shorewood Chamber of Commerce

The 11th annual Giving Gala will be held on Saturday, February 24, 2018. For more information about the Giving Gala or if you’re interested in joining the Giving Gala Planning Committee, please contact the Y at (815) 729-9638.

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All-New Group Cycling Options

Indoor cycling is a great way to get your heart pumping and legs moving. In addition to our everyday group cycling classes, we now offer cutting-edge cycle options that you won’t find anywhere else.

GROUP CYCLING: COACH BY COLOR

This is your standard group cycling class with a twist. Coach by Color employs a new and improved approach to cycling that simulates a real bike ride to help you maximize your workout. Using our new cycles and their built-in state-of-the-art computers, an instructor will lead you on an exhilarating ride while color-coded technology guides you along the way.

What makes Coach by Color truly unique is the ability to sync each workout to your phone. Using the ICG Training app, you’re able to track your progress and receive a ride that’s personalized to your skills and abilities.

Free for Facility Members.
Registration is not required, but space is limited.

Spring 1 Schedule

  • Mondays, 9:30-10:15 a.m.
  • Tuesdays, 5:30-6:25 a.m.
  • Tuesdays, 5:30-6:15 p.m.
  • Fridays, 5:45-6:30 p.m.
  • Saturdays, 7:40-8:25 a.m.

FUNCTIONAL THRESHOLD POWER (FTP) TEST

Learn how to truly customize (and therefore maximize) your Coach by Color workout by taking a Function Threshold Power (FTP) Test. For starters, your instructor will show you how to properly setup and use the ICG Training app that’s used during Coach by Color classes. Afterward, you’ll take a brief test that accurately measures your fitness abilities and determines your personal FTP number. This number is the key to a personalized ride. It will be stored in your app for future Coach by Color workouts, allowing you to ride at your own speed and comfort level.

Registration is required.
FTP Test classes are available during the first week of Spring 1 before select cycling classes.

  • Monday, March 20: 9-9:20 a.m. or 5:30-5:50 p.m.
  • Tuesday, March 21: 5-5:20 a.m.
  • Wednesday, March 22: 9-9:20 a.m. or 5-5:20 p.m.
  • Thursday, March 23: 8:30-8:50 a.m.
  • Friday, March 24: 5-5:20 p.m.

Rates
$5 for Facility Members, $10 for Community Members

Register Now

POWER CYCLE

Power Cycle is a high intensity interval training (HIIT) cycle class designed for health seekers who want to make a significant physical change.

Registration is required.
Purchase a punch pass to receive access to all Power Cycle offerings during the current session. Then pick which classes fit best with your schedule!

Spring 1 Schedule

  • Tuesdays, 8:15-8:45 a.m.
  • Wednesdays, 6:45-7:15 p.m.
  • Thursdays, 10:30-11 a.m.

Facility Member Rates
$25 for 5-Punch Pass, $45 for 10-Punch Pass

Community Member Rates
$50 for 5-Punch Pass, $90 for 10-Punch Pass

Register Now

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C.W. Avery Family YMCA Expansion to Begin in Spring 2017

To better accommodate the needs of our growing membership base, we are very excited to announce that the Y will be completing several renovation projects at the C.W. Avery Family YMCA in the next 12 months.

  • Beginning later this spring, the parking lot will be expanded to include an additional 150 spaces. Construction is anticipated to be completed this summer.
  • In the coming months, renovations will also begin on the Wellness Center. In addition to significantly increasing the square-footage of the Wellness Center, the Y will be adding new group exercise space and increasing the number of cardio and strength machines available to members. This new space will provide health seekers with limitless opportunities to train smarter and more effectively. Construction will get underway this summer and is expected to be completed in early 2018.

Thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation during our construction period. We look forward to celebrating the grand opening of these new spaces with you in 2018.

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