Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

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Friends and Fellowship: Join the Y for Exciting Fab 50 Events and Programs This Fall

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA has an exciting lineup of events and programs seniors can enjoy this fall at our Y branches! See below for details.

Fab 50 Adventures: Jacob Henry Mansion
Join us for an exciting afternoon at the Jacob Henry Mansion in Joliet for a group Medium reading. Take a chance and see if you get a personal reading, lunch and self guided tour of the mansion is included. Transportation not provided. 
Date: Thursday, October 29
Time: 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
Cost: $55, open to the community
REGISTER TODAY

Fab 50 Adventures: Pinot-Pallet
Join us for a fun morning at Pinot Pallet in Naperville for a private painting class of a winter scene. Transportation not provided. 
Date: Friday, November 13
Time: 10:45 a.m.-3 p.m.
Location: 
20 S Eastern Avenue
Joliet, IL 60433
Cost: $55, open to the community
REGISTER TODAY

C.W. Avery Family YMCA

Fab 50 Crafters
Join us to create a full fall craft!
Date: Friday, November 6
Time: 11 a.m.-Noon
Cost: Free and open to the community
REGISTER TODAY

Fab 50 Walkers
Exercise the easiest way, with a group of your closet friends! Program is weather permitting.
Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:15-9 a.m.
Location: Various, meet at the C.W. Avery Family YMCA
Cost: Free and open to the community
REGISTER TODAY

Fab 50 Social Hour
Join this social group that meets weekly for fun and fellowship.
Time: Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m-Noon
Cost: Free and open to the community
REGISTER TODAY

Morris Hospital YMCA

Mahjong for Beginners and Mahjong Open Play
New to Mahjong? Come learn the basics in a fun, relaxed, and welcoming environment! This beginner-friendly session will introduce you to the game, including the tiles, rules, setup, and basic strategies. No experience is necessary – just bring your curiosity and a willingness to learn. Whether you’re looking for a new hobby, a fun way to socialize, or a chance to meet new people, this is a great place to start!
Date and Time: Tuesdays, 1-3 p.m.
Cost: Free for Facility Members/$10 for Community Members
REGISTER TODAY

Pickleball
Invite a friend and join us for a game or two of this popular paddle sport designed for players of all skill levels.
Dates and Times:
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
Open Pickleball (8-9 a.m.)
Advanced Pickleball (9-10 a.m.)

Tuesdays and Thursdays
Open Pickleball (7-8 p.m.)
Advanced Pickleball (8-9 p.m.)
Cost: Free for Facility Members

Village of Shorewood YMCA

Fab 50 Potluck
Join us for a special Chili Cook-Off!
Date: Friday, November 20
Time: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Cost: Free and open to the community
REGISTER TODAY

Fab 50 Social Hour
Join us for weekly fun and fellowship!
Date and Time: Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-Noon
Cost: Free and open to the community
REGISTER TODAY

Fab 50 Walkers
Come join us for an outdoor walk! Program is weather permitting.
Date and Time: Tuesdays, 8:15-9 a.m.
Cost: Free and open to the community
REGISTER TODAY

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2027 YMCA Gala Slated for February 27

Sponsorship Opportunities Coming Soon

Mark your calendars and plan to attend the 2027 YMCA Gala on Saturday, February 27, at the Bolingbrook Golf Club. This elegant evening, which is generously presented by Midland States Bank, celebrates charitable giving at the YMCA by showcasing the Y’s impact in our community and the generous donors, like you, who help to make our mission come to life each and every day. Festivities will include dinner, silent and live auctions, exciting raffles, and entertainment.

Now in its 19th year, the YMCA Gala has raised more than $2.3 million to benefit children, adults, and families living in our community. Funds raised from the 2027 Gala will benefit the Y’s Mission Strong Fund, which helps to ensure that no one is turned away from the YMCA due to the inability to pay.

Tickets for the 2027 YMCA Gala will go on sale in January. Exciting sponsorship opportunities for the Gala will be available beginning next week.

To learn about this year’s event, please visit our Event Headquarters or contact:

EVENT INFORMATION
Dori Fugate
Volunteer and Special Events Director
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (815) 782-0502

SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION
Donnie Chestnutt
Mission Advancement Director
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (815) 782-0800

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YMCA Invites Troy School District 30C Families to Special Open House Event

In appreciation of our valued partnership with Troy School District 30C, YMCA is excited to host a special Open House for Troy students and families. This is a wonderful opportunity to explore our new Village of Shorewood YMCA facility, meet our dedicated team, and discover the expanded programs and services offered by the Village of Shorewood YMCA and the Joliet Community YMCA to support your family.

Date: Wednesday, October 21
Time: 5-9 p.m.
Location: 
Village of Shorewood YMCA
1801 W. Jefferson Street
Shorewood, IL 60404

Plan to join us for this fun-filled evening to learn more about what the Y can do for your family!

-Play in the gym

-Make crafts and play games in the Activity Center from 5-8 p.m.

-Visit with the Y team from 5-7 p.m. and learn more about Joliet Community YMCA programs

-Swim in the lap pool (Open Swim begins at 7 p.m. Open house guests are invited to use the lap pool until the pool closes at 8:30 p.m.) *

*SAFETY FIRST: Per YMCA policy, swimmers under the age of 15 will be swim tested by a YMCA lifeguard and will be required to wear the appropriate wristband for the duration of their visit. Red wristband swimmers must be accompanied in the water by an adult at all times.

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Translation Services Now Available for Greater Joliet Area YMCA Policy and Etiquette Signage

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA is committed to creating welcoming, inclusive spaces where everyone feels they belong. That’s why we’re proud to announce new translation capabilities for signage at the C.W. Avery Family YMCA, Morris Hospital YMCA, and Village of Shorewood YMCA. This new resource will make important information more accessible to members and guests in the languages they use most. Here’s how it works:

1. Signs outlining facility and visitor etiquette policies are posted in spaces throughout each Y location.

2. Scannable QR codes are posted on each sign that sends visitors to our website.

3. To utilize this new tool, members and guest can scan the posted QR code using their mobile phone. Once the webpage opens, users can scroll down to review the policy and etiquette signage of the area they are currently using. To translate sign content into the preferred language, visitors can use their device’s translation tool or select their language using the button in the bottom right corner of the screen.

More than 100 languages are available in our translation system.

Visitors needing any additional assistance for translation services are welcome to visit the Membership Desk.

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YMCA Junior Wolves Program Set to Host Youth Basketball Clinics on December 12

The YMCA’s Junior Wolves program is here to help youth basketball players prepare for the upcoming YBL season by hosting special clinics this December! These FREE co-ed clinics will be taught by JJC’s Head Women’s Basketball Coach Shaun Sanderson and Head Men’s Basketball Coach Danny Turner alongside members of their respective teams.

Youth Basketball Clinics

These sessions will focus on teaching young athletes the fundamentals of the game of basketball, including dribbling, passing, shooting, and ball handling.

Saturday, December 12
Grades 5-12
8:30-9:30 a.m.
REGISTER TODAY

Grades Pre-K-4
9:30-10:30 a.m.
REGISTER TODAY

Location:
Joliet Junior College Event Center
1215 Houbolt Road
Joliet, IL 60431


ABOUT COACH SANDERSON
As the winningest coach in the program’s history, Coach Sanderson has been at the helm of the JJC women’s basketball program for 18 seasons. Since becoming the head coach at JJC, Sanderson has helped more than 50 athletes extend their playing careers at four-year institutions and was named the 2025 Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Collegiate Women’s NJCAA Division III Coach of the Year.

 

 

 

 

 

ABOUT COACH TURNER
Coach Turner became the head men’s basketball coach at JJC in 2022, bringing more than 30 years of coaching experience at both the high school and collegiate levels to the Wolves program. Turner has also worked as an instructor at several high-profile camps in the Chicagoland area, including the Chicago Bulls Basketball Academy, Northwestern University, and DePaul University basketball camps.

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An Evening of Gratitude: Heritage Club Dinner Celebrates a Century of Charitable Giving at the Y

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA hosted its 2026 Heritage Club Dinner at Mistwood Golf Club on Tuesday, September 29. Held annually, this evening celebrates charitable giving at the YMCA and recognizes those donors who have chosen to make a legacy gift to the Y. 

Heritage Club membership is granted to those individuals who have included a gift for the YMCA in their will or estate plans. Many Heritage Club members have also generously established a named endowment fund or supported the YMCA’s General Endowment Fund, which helps to ensure that no one is turned away from the Y due to the inability to pay.

Message of Thanks

The evening began with Greater Joliet Area YMCA Endowment Development Committee Chair Susan Lee welcoming those in attendance and thanking them for their continued support of the Y’s mission. Lee also thanked her fellow committee members for helping plan this annual event and previewed the stories of impact that would be shared throughout the night. Lee then invited Endowment Development Committee Volunteer and YMCA Board Member Jackie Bersano to the podium to offer the evening’s invocation.

Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Katy Leclair led a special toast in recognition of the Y’s Centennial, a milestone officially reached the same evening as the Heritage Club Dinner, and reflected on the incredible support the Y continues to receive from the community. She recognized past YMCA donors, volunteers, and employees whose foresight and vision laid the groundwork to shape what the organization has become today. 

Celebration of Charitable Giving

Following dinner, Leclair welcomed YMCA Endowment Development Committee and Heritage Club member Donna Zanzola, who spoke about the inspiring impact of charitable giving and how it has shaped a century of service for the Greater Joliet Area YMCA. 

Leclair was then joined at the podium by Joliet Community YMCA Advisory Council Chair Larry Wiers and Greater Joliet Area YMCA Director of Competitive Aquatics Dave Hedden to present the William R. Lauer Service to Youth Award to longtime YMCA volunteer and donor Bob Baish. Baish has been a supporter of the YMCA’s JETS Swim Team for more than 30 years, helping lead the Friends of Swimming volunteer group responsible for transporting and operating the electronic timing system used at swim meets. 

Baish addressed guests for brief remarks, giving credit to fellow volunteer Lee Rakoski for opening the door to support the JETS. He added that, in addition to providing the best possible experience for YMCA athletes, the fellowship built by more than three decades of volunteering has been equally rewarding. 

The event concluded with Leclair announcing the establishment of the Safe Waters, Strong Futures Endowment Fund, which will help to create a permanent source of support for YMCA aquatic programs.

“At the Y, we believe that everyone deserves the chance to feel safe, confident, and capable when they are in and around the water,” Leclair said. “As we step forward into our second century of service, we have an incredible opportunity to work together to make an investment that can help save lives and create a legacy of safer waters in our community for generations to come.”

An Invitation for Impact  

Chief Business Development Officer Missy Durkin closed the evening by explaining the mission of the Heritage Club and invited guests to explore opportunities to leave a legacy gift to the YMCA.

The YMCA’s doors continue to expand with open arms and it is through gifts like those provided by Heritage Club members that make this possible.

To learn more about Heritage Club membership and making a legacy gift to the YMCA, please click here or contact Missy Durkin, Chief Business Development Officer at (815) 513-8210. To make a donation to the Safe Waters, Strong Futures Endowment Fund, select the fund from the donation dropdown of our online giving portal.

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United Way