- 2025 YMCA Gala Slated for February 22
Mark your calendars and plan to attend the 2025 YMCA Gala on Saturday, February 22, at the Bolingbrook Golf Club. This elegant evening, which is generously presented by Midland States Bank, will celebrate 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.
Now in its 17th year, the Gala has raised nearly $1.8 million to benefit families living in our community. Funds raised from our 2025 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.
Exciting sponsorship opportunities, ranging from $100 to $15,000, with corresponding benefits will go on sale beginning October 29. Tickets for the 2025 YMCA Gala will go on sale in January.
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) 782-0502SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION
Donnie Chestnutt
Mission Advancement Director
Email: dchestnutt@jolietymca.org
Phone: (815) 782-0800 - Strengthening Our Community: PINK OUT for Breast Cancer Awareness
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the Y wants to help by encouraging our community to wear pink during the week of October 21-27!
Members who wear pink to the Y will earn an entry into a raffle to win special Y swag. (Max. 7 entries.) Daily raffles will be held at each branch.
STOP BY THE Y AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!
- 2024 Heritage Club Celebration Honors Planned Giving to the Greater Joliet Area YMCA
The Greater Joliet Area YMCA hosted its 2024 Heritage Club Dinner at Mistwood Golf Club on Thursday, October 10. 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 Mission Strong 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 Committee Chair Susan Lee welcoming those in attendance and thanking them for their continued support of the Y’s mission. Lee also thanked the Salvation Army Band for providing the evening’s entertainment and previewed the stories of impact that would be shared throughout the night. Lee then invited Endowment Development Committee Volunteer Jackie Bersano to offer an invocation.
Celebration of Charitable Giving
Following dinner, Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Katy Leclair reflected on the incredible support the Y continues to receive from the community. She recognized the Y’s past donors, volunteers, and employees whose foresight and vision laid the groundwork to shape what the organization has become today.
Leclair then introduced Galowich Family Y member Yesenia Dominguez and her daughter Fernanda, who spoke about the impact YMCA programs have had on their family over the years. Yesenia described how her children have had wonderful experiences in the Y’s Summer Day Camp, Before and After School Kid Zone, and Teen REACH programs, and Fernanda shared that one of her future goals is to become a YMCA volunteer. Leclair presented Yesenia and Fernanda with gifts of appreciation and thanked them for sharing their story with all those in attendance.
The evening continued with a celebration of YMCA member, volunteer, and donor Bill Lauer. Lauer, who first visited the Y at the age of 8, is the longest active member at the Greater Joliet Area YMCA and was invited to share stories from his more than 80 years of experience in the Y community. Endowment Committee Volunteer Donna Zanzola was then welcomed to the podium to speak about Lauer’s impact as a volunteer.
Leclair concluded the evening by thanking Lauer for his incredible impact on YMCA staff members and his lifelong commitment to the Y’s mission and our community. She presented him with a gift in anticipation of his 90th birthday, and invited the room to sing happy birthday to celebrate.
An Invitation for Impact
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 the Y’s endowment fund, please visit:
- Registration Underway for 2024 YMCA Holiday Weight Maintenance Challenge
Holiday Weight Maintenance Challenge Starting November 11
Our 8-week Holiday Weight Maintenance Challenge will help you get in shape and keep the weight off during the holiday season. We have a great plan to help you adopt healthy eating and exercise habits while saying ‘No’ to those tempting holiday cravings.
Are you up for the challenge?
If you can maintain your weight within 2 pounds for 8 weeks, you will receive a $20 YMCA credit that can be used towards any fitness program, including personal training. If you gain more than 2 pounds during this eight-week challenge, your fee will be donated in your name to the Y’s Mission Strong Fund.
There will be two mandatory weigh-ins:
Week 1 (some time between November 11 and November 22)
Week 8 (some time between January 2 and January 9)There will also be optional weigh-in:
Week 4 (some time between December 2 and December 8)As part of this fun-filled Holiday Weight Maintenance Challenge, you will receive:
- A one-of-a-kind YMCA Holiday Weight Maintenance Challenge T-shirt
- Weekly emails with workout tips, healthy holiday recipes and special fitness challenges, designed specifically for challenge participants
Let’s have a little fun this holiday season. Together, we will help you celebrate the holiday season happy and healthy!
Registration is now open. Select your branch below and sign up today!
Cost: $30
PLEASE NOTE: Registration closes on November 16.
- The Dream Starts Here: Greater Joliet Area YMCA Set to Host Preliminary Round of Illinois YMCA Statewide 2-Ball Tournament
As part of the Illinois State Alliance of YMCAs dynamic collaboration with the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) and Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA), the Greater Joliet Area YMCA will host a preliminary round of the Illinois YMCAs Statewide 2-Ball Tournament on Sunday, November 17 at Joliet Junior College.
Under the statewide theme, “The Dream Starts Here,” this collaboration brings together the resources and expertise of YMCAs across Illinois, the IHSA, and the IESA to inspire a new generation of leaders and athletes by promoting participation in youth sports statewide. Additionally, the initiative encourages young people to consider jobs and volunteer opportunities at the Y where they can gain valuable skills and hands-on experience to pursue career pathways in sports-related fields like coaching, officiating, and sports administration.
EVENT DETAILS
The Illinois YMCAs Statewide 2-Ball Tournament is open to kids ages 7-14 and registration is underway! Teams of two will be able to “Shoot for State” by entering into a preliminary round hosted by Greater Joliet Area YMCA.Location:
Joliet Junior College- Event Center
1215 Houbolt Road
Joliet, IL 60431Boys and Girls Divisions will be available for each of the following age groups:
7-8 years
9-10 years
11-12 years
13-14 yearsPLEASE NOTE: Registration is required for both team members. Participants can register for one of four time slots between 9 a.m.-Noon. Space is limited. Registration is open through November 15. All players who register by November 4 will receive a competition t-shirt.
Cost: $20 per player, open to the community
HOW IT WORKS
During the qualifying round, each team will have 60 seconds to score as many points as possible, shooting from designated spots on the court. The top scoring team from each division will then have their score entered into the statewide contest to be compared to winners at other event sites.
The top two statewide scores from each girls division will advance to compete in the 2-Ball finals during the championship weekend of the IHSA Girls Basketball Tournament in Normal on March 8, 2025.
The top two statewide scores from each boys division will advance to compete in the 2-Ball finals during the championship weekend of the IHSA Boys Basketball Tournament in Champaign on March 15, 2025.
To learn more, please contact:
Chris Interial
Morris Community YMCA Sports Director
[email protected]
(815) 513-8080, ext. 514