Smith — Greater Joliet Area YMCA

Greater Joliet Area YMCA Proud to Partner with ShopRaise

August 6, 2020

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA is excited to begin a new partnership with ShopRaise, an innovative and simple way to turn everyday shopping at over 1,000 participating retailers into support for the Y’s mission.

ShopRaise is an easy way to make philanthropy part of your online purchases. From groceries and apparel to technology and travel – a percentage of almost everything you buy goes to support the YMCA. The best thing is the program is free, you don’t pay any more for the items you buy and you get access to all the best coupons and deals.

Begin supporting the Y today by shopping with ShopRaise in just two easy steps:

1. Download the mobile app on your phone, iPad, or computer

2. Use the app to shop at any participating retailer

To get started, select your local YMCA below and start shopping with ShopRaise today!

C.W. Avery Family YMCA

Galowich Family YMCA

Morris Community YMCA

Smith Family YMCA

Greater Joliet Area YMCA Hiring Before and After School Care Counselors

August 4, 2020

At the Y, we know that learning doesn’t end when the school bell rings. The way children spend time outside the classroom can make a big difference in their personal development and family-life balance. The Y’s Kid Zone and Kid Zone PLUS programs provide a safe place for children to keep their mind and body active while learning social skills and positive values.

Our before and after school team is dedicated to the Y’s mission and works tirelessly to meet the needs of the communities we serve. This group of talented and energetic staff is second to none and we are now currently looking to hire new part-time employees to expand our team.

Positions Available:
-Kid Zone and Kid Zone PLUS Counselors
– Lead Site Coordinators

Part-Time Employees receive the following benefits:
• A free YMCA Membership
• Save 25% off of Y programming
• Have the opportunity to participate in the Y’s retirement plan (when eligibility requirements have been met)

All YMCA Kid Zone and Kid Zone PLUS staff must be 18 years of age or older. Program hours vary by location.

To learn more contact your local Y branch below or apply online today.

C.W. Avery Family YMCA
Trisha Dust
Before and After School Care Director
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (815) 267-8600 ext. 205

Galowich Family YMCA
Brooke Hall
Childcare Director
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (815) 744-3939, ext. 316

Morris Community YMCA
Sarah Porzel
Youth and Family Director
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (815) 513-8080, ext. 513

Smith Family YMCA
Catie Wallis
Youth, Family and Outreach Director
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (815) 726-3939, ext. 417

Will County Board In Partnership With Waste Management Donates $10,000 To YMCA Mission Strong Fund

July 30, 2020

On Thursday, July 30 members of the Will County Board, in partnership with Waste Management, presented the Smith Family YMCA with a check for $10,000 to help support the Y’s Mission Strong Fund. Interim Will County Executive Denise Winfrey as well as District 8 board members Pastor Herb Brooks and Edna Brass were on-hand to present this generous gift to YMCA staff. The Mission Strong Fund was established to help ensure the long-term sustainability of the YMCA in the wake of our COVID-19 related closure and aid continued community service efforts after our reopening. This donation will help support multiple youth development initiatives at the Smith Family YMCA including:

Providing much-needed financial assistance for summer day camp and before and after school care families who are experiencing hardships due to COVID-19.
Adapting our youth programs to incorporate lower staff-to-child ratios to meet social distancing guidelines.
Implementing new safety guidelines in our childcare and youth enrichment programs.

Through its commitment to youth development, the Smith Family YMCA nurtures the potential of every child through its summer day camp and Kid Zone before and after school programs. To learn more about youth programs at the Y, click here.

Pictured in top photo – (L-R) Senior Development Director Julie Wilkinson; Greater Joliet Area YMCA Board President Nick Macris; Membership Director Aracely Rubio; Youth Family and Outreach Director Catie Wallis; Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Jim Watts ; Executive Director Donnie Chestnutt; Will County Board Member Pastor Herb Brooks; Will County Board Member Edna Brass; Interim Will County Board Executive Denise Winfrey

Pictured photo at right- (L-R) Senior Development Director Julie Wilkinson; Will County Board Member Pastor Herb Brooks; Executive Director Donnie Chestnutt; Will County Board Member Edna Brass; Membership Director Aracely Rubio; Youth Family and Outreach Director Catie Wallis; Greater Joliet Area YMCA Board Member Bill Lauer; Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Jim Watts.

Strong Communities Happen Here: Community Appreciation Membership Sale

July 30, 2020

Join the YMCA during our Community Appreciation Membership Sale (August 1-31) and pay a $0 Joiner’s Fee, a savings of up to $120!

Additional Offer For Current Members:
Refer a Friend Special
New members will receive a free gift
Referring members will receive a free month* AND a free gift

*New members must maintain an active, paid membership for two months before the referring member receives his/her free month.

OUR FACILITY MEMBERS ENJOY:

Access to Four Branches
Your membership gives you unlimited use of the Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s four YMCA locations, including:

Three indoor pools and our family aquatic center, all fully programmed with activities for the entire family, including family swim time, swim lessons, aquatic fitness programs and lap lane access.
Four wellness centers, all equipped with state-of-the-art cardio and strength equipment.
Free fitness orientations and daily group exercise classes (programs vary by location).

Quality Programming
In addition to our free group exercise classes, the Y offers year-round swim lessons, sports programs and personal training, among a slew of other options.

So Much More
A complete list of member benefits can be found here.

FOUR CONVENIENT LOCATIONS

C.W. Avery Family YMCA
15120 Wallin Dr, Plainfield, IL 60544

Galowich Family YMCA
749 Houbolt Road, Joliet IL 60431

Morris Community YMCA
320 Wauponsee St, Morris, IL 60450

Smith Family YMCA
1350 S Briggs St, Joliet, IL 60433

Galowich Family YMCA and Smith Family YMCA Committed to Serving Area Families this School Year

July 22, 2020

As a provider of important before and after school care, the Galowich and Smith Family YMCAs have the distinct pleasure of working each day with youth in the Joliet area. With the start of the new school year quickly approaching, we are continuing to monitor updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local, state and federal health officials to ensure our YMCA is prepared to safely welcome students this fall.

Although the start of the school year will look a little different for many of our families, we remain dedicated to working with our partner school districts to provide much-needed child care. We are currently working with these school districts to finalize our plans for the fall, and look forward to sharing these details in the days and weeks ahead.

Families looking to secure child care through the YMCA for the 2020-2021 school year are encouraged to register for the Y’s Kid Zone program online by clicking below:

Smith Family YMCA Kid Zone

Galowich Family YMCA Kid Zone

Because we are anticipating some changes to our traditional Kid Zone program based on the districts’ instructional plan for the fall, registered Kid Zone families will have the opportunity to opt-in or opt-out of the program without penalty once the districts finalize plans for the 2020-2021 school year. By registering for Kid Zone now, families will secure child care for the fall and help the Y plan for staffing in advance of the school year getting underway.

We will share further updates via email, on social media, and on our website when they become available. In the meantime, we encourage all those with questions to contact:

Galowich Family YMCA
Brooke Hall
Childcare Director
[email protected]
(815) 744-3939, ext. 316

Smith Family YMCA
Catie Wallis
Youth, Family and Outreach Director
[email protected]
(815) 726-3939, ext. 417

Members Generously Contribute More Than $55,000 to Support YMCA Mission Strong Fund

July 14, 2020

At the Greater Joliet Area YMCA, we are so excited to be serving the community from inside our four facilities once again. We know that this would not be possible without the continued support of our amazing members.

We would like to send a special thank you to those members who chose to continue paying their membership dues during our COVID-19-related closure, converting them into generous donations to our Mission Strong Fund. These contributions totaled more than $55,000, and helped to ensure that our Y could continue to serve our community’s most critical needs.

Together, we nourished our neighbors by hosting food distribution events, provided ways for kids and adults to stay connected through virtual fitness and youth programs, supported mental health through a conversation series, and created a space to reflect and meditate through daily prayer calls. While our doors were closed, these activities helped the Y remain relevant, and nurture the mind, body and spirit of our community.

In appreciation of this inspiring generosity, we’d like to recognize the following members for their charitable contributions to the YMCA:

Daniel Abbatacola, Luka Acosta, Adam Aguilera, Eduardo Alfaro, David Alford, Sheryl Amico, Dhaval Amin, Marcos Arias, Diane Aros, Dorothy Arrington, Willie Artley, Fred Ashford, Daniele Bacq, Jane Baker, Arnold Baldwin, Daneille Balsano, Margaret Bamford, Trina Bank, Constance Barillas, Elizabeth Bass, Tim Bea, Juli Bednarzyk, Wesley Benzon, Michael Berger, Ted Berman, Barbara Bickner, Ronald Bills, Tom Biskie, Jean Black, Richard Blogg, Stephen Blount, Jina Boerman, Miriam Bolton, Kenneth Bonomo, Arnetta Bosby, Jason Bradley, Christy Brand, Jennifer Brandon, Jennifer Brasfield, David Brooks, Melanie Brown, Jennifer Brunsting, Brian Bukowski, Peter Burbulys, Sharla Burgin, Gerald Businaro, Alexander Butkus, Cindy Butler, Larry Kanada, Janicsia Canales, Mihaela Carasel, Anthony Carcione, Bonita Carlson, Gina Carlson, Samantha Carr, George Carter, Blanca Ceballos, Jen Ceko, Tonya Chagdes, Arturo Chavez, Guy Christensen, Susan Ciarlette, Michael Cichon, Amy Ciesniewski, Kathleen Cindrich, Michael Clancy, Eric Cleghorn, Richard Collette, Sara Conley, Milton Cooke, Carol Cooley, Sheila Corrigan, Robert Cote, Ken Crafton, Peyton Craig, Luke Crandall, Cathy Crawford, Janna Cunningham, Dennis Damiani, Joe Dattilo, Gerald Diederich, Valerie Dierlam, Krystal Dillon, Pia Dipersia, Meghan Dolph, Thomas Domabyl, Madge Douglas, Caryn Drown, Michael Ducato, Jean Dunning, Caitlin Dupre, James Durant, Ronald Durham, Patrick Durkin, Katie Dworak, Lisa Dziedzic, Amanda Eager, Caroline Easley, Elizabeth Elsbree, Charles Enerson, Alice Eyong, Cindy Fahey, Marilyn Fedorchuk, Dawn Fehring, Meredith Feminis, David Ferguson, Jane Ferguson, Alana Ferry, Jim Fiedler, Jennifer Fieldman, Faith Filipiak, Meggan Florell, Bethany Foster, Daniel Frank, Patricia Frauenheim, Teresa Frederick, Brian Froderman, Danielle Garnis, Rocky Garvey, Denise Gaska, Ashlyn Gathman, Guy Geiger, Sheena Gigante, Karen Gladden, Ian Gladding, Alicia Godinez, Frances Gomez, Jacquelina Gonzalez, Susan Graff, George Gray, Erin Greenwood, Mary Greenwood, Joann Grose, Yessenia Guarderas, Marilyn Guerrieri, Andy Guise, Maria Guzman, Robert Hamaker, Robert Hamilton, Patricia Hammerton, Timothy Hanley, Joanne Harms, Stephanie Harrison, Maureen Hatfield, Bob Hayes, Mary Hayworth, Judith Heifner, Hope Heisner, Michael Helgeson, Dennis Henning, Michael Hernandez, Tom Hernandez, Laura Herrarte, Robert Hesch, Katharina Hess, Lawrence Hill, William Holaday, John Hornbogen, Theresa Hudson, Don Hudzik, Angelina Incavo, Shelly Ann Interial, Pamela Jackson, Laurie Jacbosen, Mariscela Jaimes, Amber Jimenez-Mikulich, Judith Johnstone, Charles Jones, Lou Kaducak, Kasia Kamysz, Karyne Kane, Michelle Kelly, Barbara Kesman, Thomas Ketelhut, Thomas King, Lynne Kociss, Barry Kolanowski, Karen Kolasinski, Marian Kopay, Sarah Koplinski, Gloria Kozar, Juliann Kramer, Robert Kramer, Nancy Kruk, Sandra Krzywanos, Pete Kyrychenko, Stan Laken, Benjamin Lammers, Cheryle Larson, John Latimer, Irene Leopold, Raymond Lisy, Colette Loecke, Velma Mabry, Natalie MacPhail, Magdalena Magana, Noah Mahlberg, Jeremy Mancilla, Scott Marks, Paulette Marotta, Margaret Marsaglia, Theresa Maskel, Andrew Mathis, Early Mathis, Lisa Matlock, Maraline Mattke, Tracy Mazalewski, Marcus McCarty, Jeffrey McClain, Mark McClowry, Mary McDowell, Deborah McDuffie, Allison McElfresh, Charity McGee, Dan Medler, Robert Mette, Gary Milkeris, Andrea Miller, Meghan Milnes, Angelique Minett, Robert Mitchell, Sopheap Mitchell, Shellie Molina, Kevin Monk, Paul Moreno, Laura Morin, Kelly Mote, Susan Mulvey, Katie Munsell, Brian Murphy, Lynnen Murphy, Janet Nackovic, Francisco Nevarez, Barb Nice, Joanne Nicholson, Trish Niewoehner, Nancy Norton, Patricia Norton, Cheryl Obenchain, Victoria O’Brien, Ruth O’Hara, Laura Oliver, David Olson, Kevin Olson, Rocio Orozco, Ethan Pajula Shirley Palmerin, Ralph Papesh, Merlin Parkhill, Lois Patnode, Emily Pearson, Judi Petersen, Karen Peterson, Ed Petka, Julianne Pfaff, Deborah Piatak, Sandy Piatak, Okie Picco, Donna Pienta, Pamela Porter, Michaline Posont, Thomas Powers, Dennis Poziombka, Cynthia Proffitt, Amanda Pyzik, Mindy Quail, Laura Ramos, Terese Ramsey, Mike Reed Marcus Rembert, Carole Rich, Chris Richards, Gregory Riebe, Vivana Rios, Shahzana Ripp, Thomas Ristau, Kendall Rizzo, Carol Romberg, Fernando Romero, Cheryl Roth, John Roth Jr., Cheri Rubocki, Donald Ryder, Michelle Salinas, Everett Samms, Shelley Sanders, Gwenn Sanfilippo, Maria Santander, Wendy Satio, Joyce Satorius, Robert Schiavo, Erin Schillaci, Jeffrey Scholtes, Mark Sender, Kathy Sharkey, Danny Short, Thomas Shortley, Cindy Simones, Laura Sirotek, Daniel Skratulia, Mary Jo Slowik, Carl Smith, Saundra Smith, Sheri Smith, Sueanna Smith, Jacolynn Sommer, Julia Sowonik, Bob Squires, Robert Stahl, Tracy Steinbrenner, Brenda Strange, Tonya Strohecker-Burke, Cosandra Summlion, Thomas Sur, Richard Suranovic, Cheryl Tattrig, Thomas Tepper, Craig Thompson, Chandra Thorson, Leona Tichenor, Angela Townsend, Lisa Tram, Kevin Traxler, Andrew Trefonas, Mary Trepac, Beth Trusheim, Kandise Tucker, Rhonda Tuminello, James Ullian, Carla Vacco, Megan Vainowski, David Valdivia, Alex Valencia, Julianne Valentino, Jerry Vance, Erik Vasquez, Patricia Vaughn, Matthew Vaughn, Sunshine Vega, Ryan Vickers, Allan Villegas, Tracy Volkmar, Danielle Wallin, Thomas Walsh, Martha Wassenaar, David Way, Anthony Waznonis, Beverly Webb, Sadie West, Jacki Wickens, Jill Wickens, Emily Wiencek, Ryan Wilkinson, Margaret Williams, Stephany Williams, Madeleine Wilson, Tameka Winns, Claudia Wolf, Mary Wren, Robin Youell, Eric Young Brianne Zaborowski, Angela Zak, Donna Zanzola, Sam Zattair, Yingchun Zhang, Gregory Zipprich

On behalf of the entire Y community, we say thank you.

To learn more about the Mission Strong Fund, or to pledge your support for the Y’s continuing community service efforts by making a contribution, click here.