- Golf and Dinner Tickets for the 2026 Mission Strong Golf Classic Now on Sale
As the Greater Joliet Area YMCA celebrates its Centennial Anniversary in 2026, we invite you to join us for the fifth annual Mission Strong Golf Classic on Monday, August 31 at Morris Country Club. Generously presented by Midland States Bank, proceeds from this year’s event will support the Mission Strong Fund, helping ensure that no one is turned away from the YMCA due to the inability to pay.Now in its fifth year, the Mission Strong Golf Classic has raised more than $250,000 to support children, adults, and families throughout our community.
Make your plans to join us for an exciting day on the course, which will include:
- 18 holes of golf with a cart
- Lunch and complimentary beverages on the course
- A cocktail reception, dinner, and awards
- A welcome gift, course games, prizes, raffles, and more
Secure your foursome or purchase dinner tickets online by clicking below.
PURCHASE FOURSOMES/DINNER TICKETS
We look forward to seeing you on the course for a great day of golf!
To learn more about the 2026 Mission Strong Golf Classic, please contact:
Dori Fugate
Volunteer and Special Events Director
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (815) 782-0502 - Double the Fun at the YMCA: My Y Rewards Special July Earnings Event
My Y Rewards members will have double the fun exercising next week during our Special July Earnings Event!
Greater Joliet Area YMCA Facility Members, ages 16 and up, enrolled in the My Y Rewards program will receive double rewards points for every group fitness class they attend between July 13-19!
Learn how to enroll by clicking below.
Upon enrolling in the My Y Rewards Program, you’ll also earn points each time you check-in, take a class, or refer a friend to the Y. In fact, you’ll earn your first 50 points for simply enrolling in the program. You can then redeem your points for fun Y swag and program and membership credits.
If you should have any questions or any feedback on the My Y Rewards Program, please be sure to stop by the Membership Desk during your next visit or email [email protected].
- Registration for YMCA Pint-Size Pupils is Underway!
Designed for preschool and kindergarten-aged children, the Y’s Pint-Size Pupils Program will help your young learner develop to his or her fullest potential. Through a variety of fun activities that include both structured and open play, our dedicated staff teach, model and reinforce the Y’s Christian character values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.Projects and lessons will explore colors, shapes, letters, and numbers. Classes are small in size and incorporate bright colors, music, and interactive games to help our youngest members develop their socialization skills and academic concepts.
Registration for the 2026-27 school year is underway!
Pint-Size Pupils will be offered at the C.W. Avery Family YMCA and Morris Hospital YMCA. Learn more below.
C.W. Avery Family YMCA
Program closely follows the school calendar for Plainfield District 202. Families can choose a two-day program on Tuesdays and Thursdays or a three-day program on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
HOURS
Morning Class:
9:30 a.m.-NoonAfternoon Class:
12:30-3 p.m.2026-2027 MONTHLY TUITION
Tuition is paid via ten monthly drafts on the 15th of the month (August-May). There is a one-time $50 non-refundable registration fee.Enrollment Plan Facility Member Rate Community Member Rate 2 Days Per Week $170 $340 3 Days Per Week $250 $500 To learn more about the C.W. Avery Family YMCA’s Pint-Size Pupils program, please contact:
James Wagner
Youth and Family Director
[email protected]
(815) 267-8600, ext. 212Morris Hospital YMCA
Program closely follows the school calendar for Morris Grade School and Saratoga Elementary School.
HOURS
9:30-11:30 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays2026-2027 MONTHLY TUITION
Tuition is paid via ten monthly drafts on the 15th of the month (August-May). There is a one-time $50 non-refundable registration fee.Facility Member Rate Community Member Rate $250 $500 To learn more about the Morris Hospital YMCA’s Pint-Size Pupils program, please contact:
Jordan Overton, Youth and Family Director
[email protected]
(815) 513-8080, ext. 513 - Stars, Stripes, and Summer Sports Camps Sale
June 26-July 6SAVE $10 when you register for Summer Sports Camps during this special sale!
Valid for a July or August 2026 summer sports camp at any branch of the Greater Joliet Area YMCA.
Use promo code: SPORTSCAMPS26 when registering online. Register today by clicking below.
PLEASE NOTE: Camps vary by location.
- YMCA Volunteer Spotlight: Youth Basketball League Coach Rayvan Richardson
YMCA sports programs not only provide opportunities for children to stay active, in many instances they serve as a foundation for strong family relationships. In the case of Joliet Community YMCA volunteer Rayvan Richardson, becoming a Youth Basketball League (YBL) coach has opened the door to rewarding experiences with her sons – Corey (age 11), Glenn (age 9), and Josiah (age 7).“The most rewarding part is being able to bond with my sons and connect with them. Basketball is a sport that I played and now they have a passion for it,” Rayvan said.
Rayvan, who served as a volunteer coach for the first time last season, said her decision to get involved at the Y was inspired in part by a conversation with her son, Corey.
“I don’t know if he was joking at first when he said ‘Mom you should coach my team,’ but I thought to myself ‘You know what, I should. I take you to practice anyway.’ And because volunteering is very important to help our youth, I felt I should give back.”
Rayvan said building confidence in children is the most important aspect of YMCA sports programs.
“I feel like the Y brings kids together in a positive environment and allows them to be active. I always use my kids as an example. They stay busy, have fun, and make new friends. It’s important to start them young so as they grow older they’ve had some positivity in their lives,” she said.
She also believes coaching provides an outlet for personal development.
“It does teach you a lot more patience and I learned what helps is being an active participant in practice. Sometimes I’ll get into the drills with them because I feel like, if you put yourself out there, they have a little more fun and a little more inspiration to get the work done. And I end up feeling like a kid again myself.”
The impact of volunteering goes beyond Y programs, as Rayvan said it has strengthened ties to the community in her day-to-day life.
“You meet new people and sometimes I’ll see a family at the store and they go ‘Hey that’s coach!’ It’s a joy to make those connections outside the Y,” she said.
Overall, it’s an experience that has Rayvan already looking forward to next season.
“I love the kids and being around them. I’m so excited to come back next year,” she said.
We are so proud to have Rayvan as a volunteer and thank her for her efforts to support youth development in our community. If you are interested in serving as a volunteer coach in the Y’s fall youth sports leagues, you can sign up by clicking here.
C.W. Avery, Central City, Galowich, Morris
