It was truly a night to remember as a sold-out crowd of more than 500 supporters came together and helped the Greater Joliet Area YMCA raise more than $295,000 at its 2026 Gala on Saturday, February 28, at the Bolingbrook Golf Club. Guests enjoyed an elegant evening that included dinner, entertainment, the opportunity to bid on exciting silent and live auction items, as well as a spectacular celebratory fireworks show. Funds raised from this year’s Gala will benefit the YMCA Mission Strong Fund, helping to ensure that no one is turned away from the Y due to the inability to pay.
Generously presented by Midland States Bank, the 2026 YMCA Gala celebrated not only another impactful year of charitable giving, but also a remarkable milestone – the Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s Centennial Anniversary.
For 100 years, the YMCA has worked hand in hand with our neighbors to strengthen our community and create meaningful, lasting change. From our facilities in Joliet, Plainfield, Morris, and soon Shorewood, to more than 50 program sites throughout Will and Grundy Counties, the YMCA’s reach and impact continues to grow. And now in its 18th year, the Y’s signature fundraising event has raised more than $2.3 million to provide financial assistance for children, adults, and families living in our community.
At this year’s Gala, the Y proudly presented the C.W. and J.L. Avery Philanthropic Award to Paul Gantzert in recognition of his generous and longstanding support of the YMCA’s capital and planned giving initiatives.
During the “Raise the Paddle” portion of the evening, the Y’s mission was brought to life by showcasing a century of service to the community. Guests generously raised their paddles in an auction-style format with individual contributions ranging from $50-$5,000. In total, “Raise the Paddle” contributions eclipsed $100,000 in support of the YMCA’s Mission Strong Fund.
Erick Deshaun Dorris served as the evening’s volunteer auctioneer with assistance from Sounds Abound DJ Tony Ho. Eleven exciting packages were sold during the live auction. Items included weekend trips to Boston and Savannah, Georgia, donated by the Greater Joliet Area YMCA Board of Directors and Friends of the YMCA; a four-day getaway to a beautiful vacation home in Minocqua, Wisconsin, generously donated by Judy Avery; a one-of-a-kind concert experience to see Ariana Grande perform in Chicago, donated by Old National Bank; The top-grossing items of the night were: an evening of culinary excellence featuring a six-course gourmet meal for 10 guests donated by Stepen LeRoy; and a Disney World Vacation including air fair vouchers and a three-piece luggage set, generously donated by Ray and Kristin Orban, Al and Donna Zanzola, and Friend of the YMCA.
Following the live auction, guests were invited to the outdoor balcony to view a special fireworks display in celebration of the Y’s Centennial Anniversary.
This year’s Gala volunteer planning committee members included: Erica Garvey, Sarah Kinsella, Maria Macris, Kristin Orban, Kari Ramirez, Whitney Valdivia, and Barb Ziegner. Donnie Chestnutt, Dori Fugate, Carolyn Hamilton, and Sarah Slomka provided staff support.
Sponsors Included:
Presenting Sponsor
-Midland States Bank
Legacy Sponsor
-Old National Bank
Diamond Sponsor
-Narvick Bros. General Contractors & Construction Managers
Ruby Sponsors
-Canadian National
-Edward Jones
-Hollywood Casino Joliet
-NorthPoint Development, LLC
-Pursuit Wealth Group
-Stockton Wealth Management
Emerald Sponsors
-Aux Sable Liquid Products/Pembina
-Busey Bank
-C. and J. Avery Family Foundation
-ComEd – An Exelon Company
-D’Arcy Buick GMC
-ExxonMobil
-Grundy Bank
-Guy and Jan Christensen
-Hometown National Bank
-J. Russ and Company
-Joliet Bank & Trust, A Wintrust Community Bank
-Joliet Junior College
-PFG Therapy
-Plainfield Shorewood Area Chamber of Commerce
-Ron Tirapelli Ford
Sapphire Sponsors
-Lori Bonarek Realty
-Rathbun, Cservenyak & Kozol, LLC
-Rod Baker Ford
-Village Flower Shop
-The Ziegner-Orban Family
Pearl Sponsors
-Baish Excavating, Inc.
-Business Knowledge Systems
-Commerce Bank
-Dr. Theresa Rouse
-L. DeGeus & Associates, Inc.
-Prime Healthcare Saint Joseph Medical Center
-R.L. Sohol General Contractor, Inc.
-Turk Furniture
-UChicago Medicine | AdventHealth Bolingbrook
-W Financial Services
Opal Sponsors
-Chicago Blackhawks
-DeBold Services, Inc.
-Helm Group
-Law Offices of John F. Argoudelis, LLC
-Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers
-State Farm Office of Howard Wright
In-Kind Support
-Graphic Promotions, Inc.
Save the date and make your plans to join us for the next YMCA Gala, which will be held on Saturday, February 27, 2027. We also invite you to participate in the 2026 YMCA Mission Strong Golf Classic, which will be held on Monday, August 31. Foursomes for the YMCA’s fifth annual outing will go on sale this summer.
There is still time to support this year’s Gala by making a tax-deductible donation in support of the YMCA Mission Strong Fund. You can donate online by clicking here.
Shorewood residents are invited to take advantage of exclusive savings opportunities when joining the new 
The 2026 YMCA Gala will be held on Saturday at the Bolingbrook Golf Club. Even if you won’t be attending this year’s event, you can still support the YMCA by bidding on items in our Silent Auction.
