Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

C.W. Avery, Central City, Galowich, Morris

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C.W. Avery Family YMCA Advisory Council Set to Host Celebrity Bartender Event on October 9

The C.W. Avery Family YMCA’s Advisory Council is excited to once again host a special Celebrity Bartender Event! Stop by to see some of your favorite Y friends and support a great cause! All cash tips collected at the bar will benefit the YMCA Mission Strong Fund. Please remember to bring cash for raffles and to tip your bartender. Complimentary appetizers will be served. 

Date:
Thursday, October 9

Time:
6-9 p.m.

Location:
Chop’d
12337 S. Illinois Route 59, Suite #155
Plainfield, IL 60585

Celebrity bartender list still to be announced. Stay tuned for updates!

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CN Brings Railroad Safety Education to YMCA Summer Camp Sites

YMCA summer day camp is an enriching experience for kids not only because they meet new friends and play fun games, but also because they participate in important educational opportunities throughout the summer.

One such opportunity was recently made possible thanks to our generous camp sponsor, CN. Special Agent Tyler McKinney from the CN Police Service made stops this summer in Joliet, Morris, and Plainfield to teach campers about railroad safety. Presentations focused on the importance of staying alert near railroad crossings, avoiding the use of electronic devices when approaching rail lines, and understanding what to expect from trains, vehicles, and pedestrians in the vicinity during a crossing.

“Whether children are onsite at the Y or at public spaces throughout our community, we want them to have all the tools and knowledge they need to stay as safe as possible in their daily lives,” Greater Joliet Area YMCA Youth Development Operations Director Shannon Stawikowski said. “With many of our campers living near railway lines in Will and Grundy Counties, we’re incredibly thankful to our partners at CN for taking the time to share this vital safety information with them.”

The Y would like to thank Special Agent McKinney for visiting Y camp this summer, and CN for their continued support of the YMCA. For additional rail safety education resources, please click here. 

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CITGO Lemont Refinery Provides Generous $10,000 Donation to YMCA Mission Strong Fund

No matter who you are, or what neighborhood you grew up in, the Y is a place for anyone who needs us. From summer camp to college prep, family events to team building sports programs, we give everyone the opportunities they need to feel like they belong. And as a non-profit, community-based organization, the Y relies on the generosity of its members and the support of charitable giving to provide services and financial assistance for children, adults and families in Will County and Grundy County. 

That is why the Greater Joliet Area YMCA would like to thank the CITGO Lemont Refinery, which recently provided a $10,000 donation in support of the YMCA Mission Strong Fund, helping ensure that nobody is turned away from the Y due to the inability to pay.

“Every day the YMCA affirms its commitment to making a positive impact in the community, and we are so grateful to have the incredible support of local businesses like CITGO,” said Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Katy Leclair said. “Their shared commitment to service is inspiring, and we know that their gift will make a difference for children and families participating in Y programs,” added Leclair.

To learn more about the YMCA’s Mission Strong Fund, please click here. To show your support by making a donation, please click here. 

Pictured in top photo:  (Bottom row, first on left) CITGO Lemont Refinery Communications Advisor Brittany Borosak, (bottom row, second from left) CITGO Lemont Refinery Community Relations Advisor Mike Jostes, (bottom row, fourth from left) Joliet Community YMCA Youth & Family Manager Keyanna Montgomery, (second row, first on left) CITGO Lemont Refinery Public Affairs Intern Elena Bechard, (second row, second from left) CITGO Lemont Refinery Fixed Equipment Inspector Bob Phelan, (third row, first on left) Joliet Community YMCA Teen REACH & Teen Achievers Director Darrell Collins, 

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Golf and Dinner Tickets for the 2025 YMCA Mission Strong Golf Classic Now on Sale

Foursomes and dinner tickets for the 2025 Mission Strong Golf Classic, generously presented by Midland States Bank, are now on sale!

Join us on Wednesday, September 17 at ‘The Creek’ at Morris Country Club for an exciting day that 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

Proceeds from this event will benefit the YMCA Mission Strong Fund, which helps to ensure nobody is turned away from the Y due to the inability to pay.

Now in its fourth year, the Mission Strong Golf Classic has raised more than $200,000 to support children, adults, and families in our community. Let’s keep the momentum going in 2025!

Cost: $700 per foursome, $50 for dinner reception only*

*UPDATE: Foursomes for the 2025 Golf Classic are sold out, but dinner tickets are still available. Dinner tickets can be purchased through our event headquarters by clicking below.

PURCHASE DINNER TICKETS

If you would like to be placed on a waitlist for a foursome, or have any other questions about the 2025 Mission Strong Golf Classic, please contact:

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

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2025 Send a Kid to Camp Campaign Raises More than $93,000

Over the last several weeks, Y supporters generously joined together to raise more than $93,000 to help send kids to YMCA camp this summer!

As we prepare to officially kick-off summer camp season at the YMCA, we’d like to thank everyone who pledged their support, shared information about our 2025 Send a Kid to Camp Campaign on their social media networks, and invited their friends and family members to learn more about the Y’s youth development work. Thanks to the overwhelming support of our generous donors, we are excited to share that our 2025 Send A Kid to Camp Campaign raised enough funds to provide more than 1,850 days of camp for children in our community.

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT TODAY

Although our 2025 Send a Kid to Camp Campaign has come to an end, you can still pledge your support for the YMCA’s mission by visiting your local YMCA branch or making a charitable gift online.

DONATE TODAY

Thank you for your careful consideration and commitment to making a difference for the kids in our community.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, all gifts to the Greater Joliet Area YMCA are tax-deductible.

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Sponsorships For The 2025 YMCA Mission Strong Golf Classic On Sale Now

Sponsorship opportunities for the Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s fourth annual Mission Strong Golf Classic, which will be held on Wednesday, September 17 at ‘The Creek’ at Morris Country Club, are now available. Proceeds from this year’s golf outing, which is generously presented by Midland States Bank, will benefit the Y’s Mission Strong Fund, helping to 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 rely heavily upon the generosity of area businesses and individuals through sponsorships. 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 15, 2025. Dinner tickets for the 2025 Mission Strong Golf Classic are also available for $50.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

JOIN US

Fourth Annual YMCA Mission Strong Golf Classic
Wednesday, September 17

Lunch – 11 a.m.
Shotgun Start – Noon

‘The Creek’ at Morris Country Club
Morris, IL

Your day 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

Cost: $700 per foursome, $50 for dinner reception only

*Foursomes and dinner tickets will go on sale at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, July 15.

To learn more about the 2025 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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United Way