Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

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Support the YMCA on Giving Tuesday

For more nearly 95 years, the YMCA has been a mainstay in our community, providing much-needed programs and services for children, families, and adults living in Will and Grundy Counties. Over this past year, a lot has changed, but the Y’s commitment has remained the same—to always be here for our community when people need us most, with open arms and caring hearts.

Like many non-profit organizations, the Y has experienced substantial financial losses and unforeseen expenses as a result of COVID-19. To ensure that the Y’s mission can continue to thrive and help those in our community who need it most, we need your support more than ever.

On Tuesday, December 1, we invite you to join the #GivingTuesday movement by making a tax deductible donation to the YMCA’s Mission Strong Fund! Your gift, in any amount, will help to change the lives of people living right here in our community- your friends and neighbors.

Three ways to give:

1. Donate through Facebook. On #GivingTuesday, Facebook is matching up to $7 million in donations, which would double your impact!

C.W. Avery Family YMCA 

Galowich Family YMCA 

Morris Community YMCA 

Smith Family YMCA

2. Make your gift online by clicking here.

3. Stop by your local branch and drop off your donation at the Membership Desk.

Thank you again for your continued support of the YMCA and the communities we serve.

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YMCA Member Spotlight: Stephen Blount

The Y is proud to provide resources and programs that support members as they work to live their best lives. Each day, we are inspired by the passion and endless energy our members exhibit as they strive to embrace a healthy lifestyle. For C.W. Avery Family YMCA member Stephen Blount, the joy and positive energy he feels when around the Y comes naturally.  

“Health and wellness has always been a part of my life, and it’s always been a YMCA. I grew up in Palatine and spent most of my time playing basketball at that Y,” Stephen said. “Now I’ve been an Avery member since it opened in 2006.”

Stephen is among the early risers who loyally attends the Y’s 5:30 a.m. Boot Camp fitness class. He said sharing the Y experience with others is one of the most rewarding things about being a member. 

“I started getting plugged into the Boot Camp class in 2007. We’ve become a family. Everyone respects one another. We care about each other whether it’s happy times or tragic times. You come to the Y for health and wellness, but what keeps you coming back is the people.”

Stephen also takes part in cycle classes and said he has been happy to see the Y’s health and safety guidelines adapt to meet the needs of members during the current public health crisis.

“I think the Y has been doing a phenomenal job. It’s been really good to see everyone work so hard to take safety precautions into account. Everything has been upfront and we’ve been able to keep everyone spaced out,” he said.

And as the new year approaches, Stephen said the Y will remain a big part of his life. 

“It’s always been a safe place for me and my family. It really is an amazing thing that we have here. Other gyms just aren’t the same,” he said. 

Stephen, from everyone at the YMCA, we are so glad to have you as a member of our Y family.

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YMCA Member Spotlight: Courtney Hartnett

Earlier this fall, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA launched its YMCA On the Go App and we are excited to share that over 1,000 members have already downloaded the App. One member who is already actively using the App to enhance her YMCA experience is C.W. Avery Family YMCA member Courtney Hartnett. 

Courtney has been a regular visitor to the Y since our summer reopening, and she said the App has helped her stay on track and motivated when it comes to fitness.

“I’m a technology person and I love having the ease of something on my phone,” Courtney said. “Aside from the convenience of checking in at the front desk with my phone, and easily signing up for the classes I want to do, the fitness tracking component is great. It gives me workouts, syncs with my Apple programs and just makes it all so simple.”

Designed to provide 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, nutrition tips, and more. App users can also register for YMCA programs, participate in fitness challenges, scan into the building, and read the latest news and notes on the Y blog with just the click of a button. All YMCA Facility Members, ages 16 and up, receive free Basic access to the On the Go App included with their membership.

“I’ve been a member for a few years, but I had kind of fallen away from coming even before the Y’s (temporary) closing. I got back into exercising during the start of the pandemic and got really excited when the Y opened back up,” she said.

“I think the Y is doing a really great job of giving everybody options here and trying to make sure everyone is socially distanced. I’m happy to be back and doing my thing,” she added.

We thank Courtney for being a #ProudYMember and encourage all of our members to try the On the Go App today. 

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Registration Underway for YMCA Ho, Ho, Hold Your Weight Challenge

Holiday Weight Maintenance Challenge Starting November 16

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 (November 16-January 10), 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 16 and November 21)
Week 8 (some time between January 4 and January 10)

There will also be optional weigh-in:
Week 4 (some time between December 7 and December 13)

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!

C.W. Avery Family YMCA

Galowich Family YMCA

Morris Community YMCA

Smith Family YMCA

Cost: $25

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Healthy Lifestyles Happen Here: Debbie Dorf’s Story

Although the Y has had to adapt its programming in recent months, we remain dedicated to supporting a lifetime of healthy living. And since reopening our doors this summer, we have been honored to welcome back passionate members like Debbie Dorf. 

Originally a member of a Y in Sycamore, Debbie has been a member of the C.W. Avery Family YMCA for over a year. She is a 12-year colon cancer survivor and said that being able to find an outlet for physical activity is an important factor in staying healthy.

“Exercise is a big deal. That’s the best medicine for me. After doing chemotherapy, I have osteoporosis. The strength training I can do is really important,” said Debbie.

She also said the variety of fitness offerings is one of the most attractive things about the Y.

“You never lose when you go to the Y. You can go to a class, use the machines in the fitness center or use the track. We have a family plus membership and I can take my grandkids swimming. It’s a really good situation for us,” she said. 

Debbie stops by the Y almost every day and is a regular in multiple Y fitness classes. 

“The thing I like the most is all the different classes. I feel like every class is something I can learn from. They have helped with my balance and coordination. It has made exercise fun,” she said. 

Debbie also credits the Y’s overall commitment to community health and safety for helping her feel comfortable using the facility after the Y’s summer reopening.

“The Y has fantastic teachers and the cleanest facility I’ve ever been in. The people at the front counter are terrific people. The Y has set really high standards and lives up to them,” she said. 

We thank Debbie for her continued support of the Y.

To learn more about group exercise classes at the Y, check out the fitness schedules of your local branch by clicking here. 

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Smith Family YMCA Partners with Lewis University for Kid Zone PLUS Health and Wellness Presentations

Although the YMCA’s Kid Zone PLUS programs have had to adapt this fall in the wake of the COVID-19 public health crisis, providing valuable learning experiences for children remains at the forefront of the Y’s mission. That is why the Smith Family YMCA is excited to partner with Lewis University for a series of health and wellness presentations designed to teach children in Kid Zone PLUS about the importance of healthy living. 

In all, more than 60 students in Lewis University’s nursing undergraduate program will be on-hand during the fall semester to lead nine weeks of interactive sessions at the Y. Themes for the presentations will feature a wide range of topics, including resiliency, self-esteem, personal hygiene, and safety tips, among others.

“These are first semester juniors in our Health Promotion Across a Lifespan class,” Assistant Professor of Nursing and Health Professionals and Director of Clinical Partnership Jane Trainor said. “It really is a win-win because it fits in with the course objectives and the mission of the university. It gives the nursing students an opportunity to connect with kids and hopefully the kids learn something new each visit.”

“Our Kid Zone PLUS program is focused on developing well-rounded kids that have an understanding of what it means to maintain a healthy lifestyle,” Greater Joliet Area YMCA Youth Development Operations Director Erin Lightbody said. “It’s important that these sessions not only cover nutrition and tips for physical health, but also how to identify and manage emotional health.”

Trainor said the presentations offer a two-way street of educational value, as communicating these topics provides the nursing students with invaluable field experience. 

“A big part of a nurse’s role in the community is being an educator, trying to make sure patients get information correctly. This is a great beginning level to help get that message out. They also get hands-on experience and research into the developmental stages of kids,” she said. 

Lewis junior Cindy Rubio said that being able to help in the real world has been refreshing after a spring semester that was altered by the COVID-19 health crisis.

“We’ve been doing most of our learning from the books and online so it feels good to finally be able to go out and help people. To do what nurses do and get experience,” Rubio said. 

Trainor also said the activities have strengthened the partnership between Lewis University and the Y. 

“We have been so appreciative to use this space because the students didn’t get the same opportunities that we normally would have had available to them, whether it was at the hospital or anywhere else. For the Y to give us this opportunity is just fantastic,” she said.

 

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