C.W. Avery Family YMCA — Greater Joliet Area YMCA

Inspiring Generosity: How to Become a YMCA Chairman’s Roundtable Donor

May 21, 2026

The Chairman’s Roundtable (CRT) recognizes major donors whose annual charitable giving totals $1,000 or more in a calendar year. We honor CRT donors with special recognition according to their giving level. All CRT Partners are celebrated with custom banners displayed for a year at the branch of their choice.

Donor banners are displayed year-round in our three Greater Joliet Area YMCA locations, which welcome more than 775,000 visitors each year.

HOW TO BECOME A CRT DONOR

1. PLEDGE A DONATION

Contact the Development Team at (815) 782-0502 to pledge your gift of $1,000 or more.

2. DESIGN YOUR BANNER

All CRT donors have the opportunity to customize their banner. Please Note: CRT Donors will be asked to approve a final proof of their custom banner before it is printed. Customization details can be found below.

CRT Banner Customization

3. CHOOSE YOUR BANNER PLACEMENT

Our Development Team will notify donors when their banner has been hung in the YMCA location of their choice, so you can plan a visit to the Y and see it on display.

Banner Recognition Levels

Platinum Partner through Visionary ($5,000 and up)
36″x72″ Custom Banner
Displayed at 3 YMCA Locations

Gold Partner ($3,000 and up)
36″x72″ Custom Banner
Displayed at 2 YMCA Locations of Your Choice

Silver Partner ($1,000-$2,999)
24″x36″ Custom Banner
Displayed at 1 YMCA Location of Your Choice

And don’t forget, now is the perfect time to give during our 2026 Send a Kid to Campaign. Learn more and donate online today by clicking here.

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Summer Fun Starts at the Y: Friendly Reminders for YMCA Facility Members

May 20, 2026

We know that the start of summer is an exciting time at the Y. To help our members make the most of their Y experience, here are a few friendly reminders :

Swim Lessons
YMCA summer session programs begin on June 1 and Early Bird pricing for Summer 1 swim lessons is available through Tuesday, May 26. Be sure to register before the Early Bird deadline to SAVE!

ONLINE REGISTRATION

Facility Schedules
Members can find up to date facility schedules using the YMCA On the Go App or by clicking here.

Locks and Locker Usage
Lockers are available for daily use and YMCA members and guests are encouraged to bring locks to secure their belongings while visiting the Y. Items may not be stored in lockers overnight. Locks may be purchased at the Membership Desk.

Parking Lot Traffic
Please note that Summer Day Camp activities will begin across YMCA branches throughout the next week. All Y visitors should be aware of increased traffic during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up times. We encourage members and guests to use caution and slow speeds at all times when navigating parking lots.

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Early Bird Registration for YMCA Fall Youth Sports Leagues Runs Through June 22

May 20, 2026

Children compete in YMCA youth soccer programs. When kids play sports, they do more than just exercise. Besides being physically active, they develop higher self-esteem, perform better in school and work better in groups. Youth sports programs at the YMCA teach kids the fundamentals of the game while emphasizing the importance of teamwork. Above all, kids who participate in YMCA youth sports have a lot of fun.

And now, registration is underway for YMCA fall youth sports leagues! Register by June 22 during our early bird registration period and save!

As a reminder, members from all Greater Joliet Area YMCA branches are welcome to participate at any of our league locations. Learn more about fall sports leagues available at your local Y branch by clicking below:

C.W. Avery Family YMCA
Offering NFL FLAG Football and Soccer
REGISTER ONLINE

Joliet Community YMCA
Offering NFL FLAG Football and Soccer
REGISTER ONLINE

Morris Hospital YMCA
Offering NFL FLAG Football and T-Ball/Pinto Baseball/8U Softball
REGISTER ONLINE

Village of Shorewood YMCA
Offering NFL FLAG Football and Soccer
REGISTER ONLINE

If you have any questions, please contact:
Maria Freeh, Sports Director
C.W. Avery Family YMCA
[email protected]
(815) 267-8600, ext. 217

Zach Jarosz, Sports Director
Joliet Community YMCA
[email protected]
(815) 782-0813

Kaeli Ford, Sports Director
Morris Hospital YMCA
[email protected]
(815) 513-8080, ext. 523

Chris Interal, Sports Director
Village of Shorewood YMCA
[email protected]
(815) 763-5900, ext. 605

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SPONSORSHIPS FOR THE 2026 YMCA MISSION STRONG GOLF CLASSIC ON SALE NOW

May 18, 2026

As the Greater Joliet Area YMCA celebrates its Centennial Anniversary in 2026, we are excited to announce that sponsorship opportunities for the fifth annual Mission Strong Golf Classic are now available. Generously presented by Midland States Bank, this year’s outing will take place on Monday, August 31 at Morris Country Club. Proceeds will support the Mission Strong Fund, helping ensure that no one is turned away from the YMCA due to the inability to pay.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization, the success of all YMCA fundraising events depends greatly on the generosity of local businesses and individuals through sponsorship support. Exciting sponsorship opportunities, ranging from $250 to $5,000, with corresponding benefits, are available. Presenting, leading, titanium, and graphite level sponsors are invited to purchase additional foursomes for this year’s outing before they go on sale to the general public on July 14, 2026. Dinner tickets for the 2026 Mission Strong Golf Classic are also available for $50.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

JOIN US
Fifth Annual YMCA Mission Strong Golf Classic
Monday, August 31

Lunch – 11 a.m.
Shotgun Start – Noon

Morris Country Club- New Location for 2026!
2615 US-6
Morris, Illinois 60450

Your day will include:

18 holes of golf with a cart
Lunch and complimentary beverages on the course
A cocktail reception, dinner, and awards
Welcome gift, course games, prizes, raffles, and more

Cost:
Foursomes: $850*
Cocktail/Dinner Reception Tickets: $50*

*Foursomes and dinner tickets will go on sale at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 14.

To learn more about the 2026 Mission Strong Golf Classic, please contact:

SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION:
Donnie Chestnutt
Mission Advancement Director
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (815) 782-0800

EVENT INFORMATION:
Dori Fugate
Volunteer and Special Events Director
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (815) 782-0502

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Constellation Provides Generous $20,000 Donation in Support of YMCA Send a Kid to Camp Campaign

May 14, 2026

At the Y, we believe that every child should have the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive at summer day camp, but we can’t do it alone. Last summer, more than half of the children who attended YMCA camp did so with the support of our financial assistance program – made possible by the generosity of donors.

And with our 2026 Send a Kid to Camp Campaign in full swing, we are excited to announce an incredible $20,000 donation from Constellation. This gift will help support the camp experience of 80 children this summer.

“We are so grateful for the kindness of local businesses like Constellation and the impact charitable giving has on children in our community,” Greater Joliet Area YMCA Chief Business Development Officer Missy Durkin said. “Every gift, no matter the size, makes a difference in helping the Y fulfill our mission of creating safe educational spaces for kids. We can’t thank Constellation enough for their commitment to a shared vision of youth development.”

To ensure that the Y’s mission will continue to thrive and help those kids in our community who need it most, we invite you to make a donation to our Send a Kid to Camp today by clicking here.

Pictured in top photo: (L-R) Morris Hospital YMCA Executive Director Jamie Heitman, Greater Joliet Area YMCA Chief Business Development Officer Missy Durkin, Constellation Outage Scheduler Ryan Stapleton, Constellation Facilities and Maintenance Staff Member Rebecca Perez, Constellation Rad Protection and Site Impact Staff Member Rachel Lobb, Constellation Community Relations Manager Val Runner, Morris Hospital YMCA Youth and Family Director Jordan Overton, Constellation Mechanical Maintenance Staff Member Tony Drapal, and Morris Hospital YMCA Youth and Family Manager Maggie Fowler.

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Leap Into Summer and Join the Y Today

May 14, 2026

May 15-18, 2026

Join the Y and pay a $0 Joiner’s Fee – a savings of up to $120!*

* Valid at any Greater Joliet Area YMCA location. Cannot be combined with any other offers.

Get a jump start on summer savings by joining the Y during our Leap Into Summer Membership Sale! With our wide variety of classes and programs, you’ll be sure to find something at the Y for every member of your family.

LEARN MORE

OUR FACILITY MEMBERS ENJOY:

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

Three indoor pools and our family aquatic center
Three wellness centers, all equipped with state-of-the-art cardio and strength equipment.

Free Basic Access to the YMCA On the Go App
The On the Go App will provide Y members with access to the YMCA 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This new interactive tool is loaded with free workouts, on-demand videos, and nutrition tips.

Free Access to the My Y Rewards Program
Upon enrolling in the My Y Rewards Program, you’ll earn points each time you check-in, take a class, or refer a friend to the Y. In fact, now through May 31, you’ll earn your first 200 points for simply enrolling in the program. You can then redeem your points for fun Y swag and program and membership credits.

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

THREE CONVENIENT LOCATIONS

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

Morris Hospital YMCA
2200 W. Dupont Avenue
Morris, IL 60450

Village of Shorewood YMCA
1801 W. Jefferson Street
Shorewood, IL 60404

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