Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

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Celebrating a Century of Community: Greater Joliet Area YMCA Proud to Highlight Volunteers This September

Throughout the month of September, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA will be counting down to the Y’s 100th anniversary on September 29 by spotlighting the incredible volunteers who have helped shape our Y and strengthen our community. These individuals have been invited to share some of their favorite memories and moments from their Y experience, as well as what the Y means to them and the communities it serves.

Be sure to follow along on our social media pages as we highlight these amazing volunters:

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C.W. Avery Family YMCA
Joliet Community YMCA
Morris Hospital YMCA
Village of Shorewood YMCA

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Greater Joliet Area YMCA

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Greater Joliet Area YMCA

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Celebrate the Y’s Centennial with Special Fab 50 Events

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA is celebrating its centennial anniversary in 2026 and there are plenty of ways to join in on the fun during special Fab 50 events this month! All events are free and open to the community. Space is limited and registration is required. See details below.

Village of Shorewood YMCA

Centennial Potluck
Tuesday, September 15
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

The Y will be providing the main dish and attendees are invited to bring a side dish/dessert of their choice. Stop by for fun, fellowship, and an exploration of 100 years of Y memories.

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Morris Hospital YMCA

Centennial BINGO
Tuesday, September 15
11 a.m.-Noon

Stop by for fun rounds of centennial themed BINGO as well as fellowship and an exploration of 100 years of Y memories. Light refreshments and snacks will be provided.

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C.W. Avery Family YMCA

Centennial Potluck
Wednesday, September 23
10:30 a.m.-Noon

The Y will be providing the main dish of chicken. Attendees are invited to bring a side dish/dessert of their choice. A sign-up sheet to bring a dish will be shared at Fab 50 social hour gatherings leading up to the event. Activities will also include 1920’s themed games of BINGO and ‘The Price is Right.’

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Stronger Today Because of Yesterday: Greater Joliet Area YMCA Unveils History Wall

In celebration of the Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s Centennial Anniversary in 2026, the Y unveiled a new history wall within the Village of Shorewood YMCA this week. This installation celebrates the visionary leaders, pivotal moments, and enduring milestones that have guided the Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s journey and deepened its impact across the community over the past 100 years.

We remain deeply grateful to the members, employees, volunteers, donors and community partners whose dedication to the Y’s mission and the residents of Will and Grundy Counties made this historic milestone possible. As we begin our second century of service, we remain guided by our mission, inspired by our history, and committed to strengthening our community and transforming lives for generations to come.

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Junior Wolves Program Recognized as a 2026 Governor’s Hometown Award Finalist

We are very excited to announce that the Junior Wolves youth sports program, made possible through an innovative partnership between the Joliet Community YMCA (JCY) and Joliet Junior College (JJC), was recognized as a finalist for the 2026 Governor’s Hometown Award. As part of this honor, a delegation from the YMCA and JJC traveled to Springfield on August 19 to present more about the program and the positive impact it is having on youth in our community.

Officially launched in February 2025, Junior Wolves provides year-round YMCA youth sports leagues and camps on JJC’s main campus in Joliet, giving local youth access to high-quality facilities close to home. Through the program, kids of all ages have the opportunity to learn and train alongside JJC student-athletes and coaches, as well as YMCA staff.

The partnership also extends beyond the playing field. Through the Paws on the Street program, JJC student-athletes volunteer in the YMCA’s after-school Kid Zone program, where they mentor, encourage, and inspire younger students. Together, JCY and JJC are creating opportunities for young people to be active, build confidence, develop meaningful relationships and discover their potential – both on and off the field.

Now in its 18th year with Serve Illinois, the Governor’s Hometown Awards continue to bolster the commission’s mission to improve Illinois communities by enhancing volunteerism and instilling an ethic of service throughout the state. ​

To learn more about the exciting programs the Joliet Community YMCA has to offer the community, please click here.

Pictured in top photo (left to right): Joliet Community YMCA Sports Director Zach Jarosz, Joliet Junior College Assistant Athletic Director & Assistant Baseball Coach Nick LoFurno, Joliet Junior College, Director of Athletics & Head Baseball Coach Gregg Braun, Illinois State Senator Rachel Ventura, Greater Joliet Area YMCA President & CEO Katy Leclair, Greater Joliet Area YMCA Director of Branch and Program Operations Lisa Behounek, Joliet Community YMCA Executive Director Brooke Hall,, and Joliet Junior College Dean of Student Success Angie Kaysen-Luzbatek.

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Greater Joliet Area YMCA President & CEO Katy Leclair Named 2026 Recipient of The ATHENA Award By Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry and its Council for Working Women

The Y is proud share that today the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry and its Council for Working Women named Greater Joliet Area YMCA President & CEO Katy Leclair as the 2026 recipient of the ATHENA Award. Leclair will be honored at the Chamber’s 39th ATHENA luncheon on Wednesday, September 23, 11:30 a.m., at the Jacob Henry Mansion Estate’s Victorian Ballroom.

Established in 1982, the ATHENA Award Program recognizes outstanding leaders—women and men—who embody professional excellence, dedicate their time and talents to enhancing the quality of life in their communities and actively support others, especially women, in reaching their full leadership potential.

Katy Leclair has spent more than two decades building a career rooted in leadership, community service and creating opportunities for others to grow and thrive. As President & CEO of the Greater Joliet Area YMCA, she has helped lead an organization that has tripled in size while expanding access to health and wellness, youth development, childcare and community-based programming throughout Will and Grundy counties.

Under Leclair’s leadership, the YMCA has achieved several significant milestones. The organization raised more than $21 million through its Community Grows Here Capital Campaign, leading to the opening of the 60,000-square-foot Morris Hospital YMCA in December 2025. In April 2026, the YMCA also celebrated the opening of the new 60,000-square-foot Village of Shorewood YMCA, which serves as the organization’s Regional Office and provides programs and services to the growing community.

Leclair has also helped expand the YMCA’s impact beyond traditional facilities. In 2025, the organization announced the creation of the Joliet Community YMCA, bringing year-round youth development, sports and family programming into neighborhood locations through partnerships with Joliet Junior College, the Salvation Army, Messiah Lutheran Church and Joliet School Districts 86 and 204.

Her leadership and the work of the teams she supports have earned numerous recognitions, including multiple Chicago Tribune Top Workplace honors, the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s 2024 Social Service Organization of the Year Award and the 2024 Zonta Club Woman of the Year Award.

A longtime advocate for the advancement of women, Leclair has made it a priority throughout her career to create opportunities for women and girls. In 2013, she was selected to serve on the YMCA of the USA’s National Women’s Leadership Network Steering Committee, where she helped identify strategies to support the professional development of women at YMCAs across the country. Through this work, the group established a national book club for female leaders, launched local resource groups and expanded access to leadership development opportunities.

Leclair also works to foster a culture of growth and opportunity within the Greater Joliet Area YMCA. Today, the organization employs more than 1,200 people and has been recognized by the Chicago Tribune as a Top Workplace for four consecutive years. The effort is led by a collaborative team of six women in leadership.

(Information compiled by Sarah Rees from the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce was used in this post.)
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Nicor Gas Foundation Pledges $5,000 in Support of YMCA Mission Strong Fund

Every day the Greater Joliet Area YMCA affirms its commitment to making a positive impact in the community. Y programs open opportunities to all generations, ensuring that every individual feels a sense of belonging. And as a non-profit, community-based organization, the YMCA relies on the generosity of its members and the support of charitable giving to offer these services and programs for children, adults and families living in our community.

That is why the YMCA would like to thank the Nicor Gas Foundation, which recently provided a $5,000 donation in support of the YMCA Mission Strong Fund.

“Fulfilling the Y mission is not possible without the kindness of organizations like Nicor,” said Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Katy Leclair. “We are so proud to have Nicor as a strong advocate for YMCA initiatives, and we are inspired by their dedication to our community. This gift will make a significant impact on the lives of the children and families we serve, helping to ensure that nobody is turned away from the Y due to the inability to pay,” added Leclair.

To learn more about the YMCA’s Mission Strong Fund, please click here. To show your support by making a donation, please click here.

Pictured in top photo (left to right):  Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Katy Leclair, Nicor Gas Community Affairs Manager Cheryl Denton, Nicor Gas Community Relations Manager Ashley Bennett, Greater Joliet Area YMCA Mission Advancement Director Donnie Chestnutt, and Greater Joliet Area YMCA Chief Business Development Officer Missy Durkin. 

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