Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

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Morris Hospital YMCA Celebrates One-Year Anniversary

On December 16, 2024, the Morris Hospital YMCA opened its doors to serve the community for the very first time! It has truly been a privilege to serve members from throughout Grundy County over the past year. And, as we celebrate this important milestone, we’d like to take a closer look at year one at the Morris Hospital YMCA ‘By the Numbers.’

7,500+ Facility and Community Members

We have been so grateful for the support of a YMCA community that has nearly tripled in size since we opened our doors on Dupont Avenue one year ago. 

1,038 Athletes in YMCA Youth Sports Leagues

The excitement and passion for recreational youth sports programming in our community is unmatched, and we are proud to create a healthy outlet for children to gain new skills, develop a sense of teamwork, and connect with positive role models- like our incredible group of volunteer coaches.

972 Swim Lesson Participants 

This year marked the first time that YMCA swim lessons were offered in Grundy County! We have been so proud to help make our community safer by teaching this invaluable life skill to kids in our community. 

29 Morris Members on the JETS Swim Team 

A staple of YMCA aquatics programming, the JETS youth swim team began the next chapter in its illustrious history with a splash by welcoming more than two dozen new Morris teammates to the squad. The team now features a record contingent of more than 200 swimmers overall. 

22 Nutrition and Health Education Seminars

We are grateful to our partners at Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers for sharing the expertise of their medical professionals and guest speakers. Covering topics from heart-healthy recipes to pain management through exercise, these programs connected more than 400 attendees with valuable resources throughout the year.

10 Memorable Weeks of Summer Camp

Summer Day Camp offers kids a chance to have fun and develop new friendships while building a healthy spirit, mind, and body. Whether it was in the pool, on a field trip, or at the annual picnic, kids of all ages made memories that will last a lifetime this summer at YMCA camp.

ONE Place to Call Home

As we celebrate our first anniversary, we want to thank our members, volunteers, donors, and employees for making this milestone possible. Your support continues to strengthen our YMCA, and we are so excited to see what year number two will bring! Thank you for being an important member of our YMCA family!

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Be sure to check out our Facebook page for even more highlights from an amazing year at the Y! 

We also invite the community to visit the Morris Hospital YMCA on Saturday, January 10 for a special open house event, complete with activities for all ages! Stay tuned for more details coming soon.

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A Place to Call Home: Merlyn Raber’s Y Story

At the Y, we believe that even the smallest act of kindness can blossom into a lasting connection to the community and create a true sense of belonging for everyone who enters our doors. For Morris Hospital YMCA member Merlyn Raber, supporting the Y became a heartfelt way to honor the memory of his late wife, Rebecca, who passed away in 2024.

After conversations with his good friends and fellow Y members Jim and Ann Wright, Merlyn chose to make a generous contribution to the Morris YMCA Capital Campaign in memory of Rebecca. Like many others, he got his first look at the new facility during last December’s Legacy Night celebration.

“At the time, the Y was ‘an unknown’ to me. Then I came to the open house with Jim and Ann. Several people that I knew were there, and I was so proud to be a part of it. Knowing my wife’s name will be here for generations to come has given me a special tie to the Y,” he said.

Becoming an active member of the Y was not in Merlyn’s original plans. But, following a round of wellness testing in the spring, his doctor recommended he get more exercise. Merlyn knew exactly where he could go to find the support he needed to begin exercising more often.

“The first thought was to go to the Y,” he said.

After some initial trepidation, Merlyn found the Y to be the perfect place to build a healthy lifestyle.

“When I first walked in and saw all the machines in the wellness center, I had no idea what any of them did. But I watched other people work out and I kind of learned from observation. A couple times I would ask someone to show me how to use a machine and they were happy to help out. After several weeks of doing that, and getting comfortable with my routine, it dawned on me that if I kept going to the Y I could get the strength to waterski.”

Merlyn and his family used to waterski regularly, but he hadn’t taken part in the activity for more than 30 years.

“Three years ago, I tried to get up on waterskis and I couldn’t do it. I didn’t have enough body strength to pull myself out of the water,” Merlyn said. “This September, after exercising at the Y, I was successful. The first time I tried, I was standing up on those skis. It was the most exhilarating thing.”

Merlyn said the benefits of the experience went beyond being in the water again. 

“The biggest reward I got was talking to my son who lives in Minneapolis. I had a video of me waterskiing and I sent it to him. He told me he went to work the next day and was talking to all the guys he worked with about what his dad had done. He said ‘I knew if anyone could do it, you could do it.’ That compliment, coming from my son, it felt like he was 10 years old again telling everyone ‘My dad is the greatest dad in the world.’ I had that same feeling.”

Merlyn is also grateful for the positive feedback he experiences every time he visits the Y. 

“To me, it’s a home away from home. I feel so comfortable being here. When I finish my workout, I go to the gym and walk for 15 minutes. Then, before I leave, I sit in the lobby and wind down enjoying the environment. I’m just so proud to have the Y in the community. Not only for me, but for everyone. I tell people how beautiful it is here and how everything is first class. We have something here in our community that a lot of communities don’t have.”

And, as he looks toward the future, Merlyn has a clear goal in mind.

“I’m 80 years old and you know the old adage that you’re only as old as you feel, well I feel 10 years younger thanks to the Y. But my mission is not completed yet. I’m going to continue to work out and improve on what I’ve developed. Next year, I’ll turn 81 years old and, God willing, I want to waterski with my family.”

We are so proud to have Merlyn in our Y community and wish him well on his continued health and wellness journey.

If you are interested in joining the Y, now is the perfect time! Our Thankful for You Membership Sale is underway and runs November 13! Learn more and join online by clicking here.

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Strong Teams, Strong Kids: RJ Williams’s Y Story

At just ten years old, RJ Williams may not be the longest tenured Y member, but in the world of YMCA youth sports, he’s already a seasoned veteran.

“I think we started him with basketball skills at three years old,” RJ’s dad Robert said. “He did junior YBL and then after two years, I started coaching his teams. Now we’re ready for another season.”

In addition to basketball, RJ has participated in the YMCA’s flag football and soccer leagues. 

“There is a lot of cheering and I love being with my teammates,” RJ said. “I’ve learned new passing and shooting techniques from my coaches. They help me when I don’t know how to do something.”

Robert said that Y sports programs have allowed RJ to develop skills off the court as well.

“I remember bringing him into basketball in the early days and he was so shy,” Robert said. “After a couple years, he started to be recognized by the coaches and his ability to make friends improved. He’s built up a camaraderie with his teammates, as well as lifelong friendships.”

YMCA Youth Basketball League participant RJ Williams and his father Robert.

Robert believes the Y’s emphasis on promoting teamwork and the life lessons that can be learned from sports helps instill a positive self-image in players like RJ.

“You can see what the Y is about as an organization and everyone can benefit from it,” Robert said. “It’s all about character building and family building. Seeing kids be in Y programs and progress in all aspects of life is the key.”

YMCA youth sports programs teach kids the fundamentals of the game, while reinforcing the organization’s core character values- caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.

RJ’s mom, Ebonie, believes that it was these values, which he learned at the Y, that helped him to recently advance to the quarterfinals of Colossal Impact’s Youth Athlete of the Year Competition, which benefited the V Foundation for Cancer Research and the Why Not You Foundation for youth empowerment.

“RJ was very proud to represent our YMCA community,” Ebonie said. “The Y has played such a huge role in his growth as an athlete and a kid.”

And for kids thinking about playing sports at the Y, RJ’s message is simple.

“You’re going to have a lot of fun here,” he said.

The Y thanks the Williams family for their continued support of YMCA programs.

If you would like to sign up for the upcoming YBL season, today is the final day of our 2025 YBL Sale! Families who register using promo code YBLSALE2025 will save $10! Learn more and register today by clicking here.

If you are interested in serving as a volunteer basketball coach this winter, you can sign up by clicking here.

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Bringing Families Together: Marvin and Cannon Evans’ Y Story

For YMCA member Marvin Evans, Youth Basketball League (YBL) Saturdays at the Y are about more than just the numbers on the scoreboard. For him, the true value lies in sharing a love of the game that has been passed down through three generations of his family.

“Basketball has always been important in our family,” Marvin said. “Back in the 60s, both my dad and my uncle Roger Powell played at the YMCA, and I’ve been around the Y since I was a kid. As I grew older I went into the army and when I came back home and had kids, I wanted to get them involved in the game as well.”

Marvin, who serves as a volunteer coach for his son Cannon’s high school division team, said that the Y makes a significant impact in the community because it opens the door to players of all abilities.

“Not every kid is going to have the skill set to play on a high school team or in college, but everyone can play at the YMCA. And that’s really important to me,” he said. “I played at Joliet Central during my freshman and sophomore years of high school, but didn’t make the cut my junior and senior years. The good thing was I could always go to the Y and play basketball. That’s where I developed all my skills. Now I’m helping kids in similar situations.”

Marvin said that YMCA basketball not only keeps players like Cannon active on the court, but it builds character skills that will help in any facet of life. 

“Cannon really enjoys being a part of the team and I think that’s what keeps him going. It has really helped build his confidence. And I’ve seen with all the players, everyone out here is laughing and learning to play as a team,” he said. 

Cannon said the highlight of his experience in YBL was a deep run in last season’s league tournament.

“I remember getting third place in the tournament last year. We were short a few players and still made it that far. It was a lot of fun,” he said.

Ultimately, Marvin said he’s most proud to play a role in creating a positive community space for youth.

“I always see the joy in the kids when they are here at the Y. It’s always a place with smiles. It’s a family environment where kids can interact and be themselves.”

The Y would like to thank the Evans family for their continued support of the Y.

If you would like to sign up for the upcoming YBL season, now is the perfect time! Families who register by October 6 using promo code YBLSALE2025 will save $10! Learn more and register today by clicking here.

If you are interested in serving as a volunteer coach this winter, you can sign up to volunteer by clicking here.

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Healthy Lifestyles Start Here: Melissa Jorstad’s Y Story

At the Y, we know that taking the first step on your health and wellness journey is often the most difficult. That’s why, at the Y, we strive each day to create a welcoming environment and provide our members with the support they need to achieve their goals.

Since joining the Morris Hospital YMCA last year, member Melissa Jorstad has found that being part of the Y community has boosted her confidence in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

“I hadn’t really worked out since 2019 and I think one of the barriers that held me back for a long time was thinking I’m out of shape and I’m not athletic enough to work out or do fitness classes. As it turns out, a lot of people have that kind of background and we’re all growing together. That sense of community has meant a lot to me,” Melissa said. 

Melissa credited a combination of group exercise classes and personal training sessions for keeping her focused on her health and wellness goals. 

“I do not do self-directed exercise very well. I need groups, I need people, I need structure. You can jump on a treadmill anywhere, but you can’t get the same instructor help you get in a yoga class, or with a personal trainer, like you do at the Y. And I work from home, so the group classes have been a really nice way to connect to other people,” she said. 

Melissa now visits the Y up to six times per week, something she also said wouldn’t be possible without the support of the onsite childcare offered to members while they work out.

“I have a three-year old and a one-year old and all the staff members in Kids Corner know my kids at this point. There are so many things for my kids to do and the playground is so much fun for them. They love being able to play outside when the weather is nice,” Melissa said.

Looking ahead, Melissa said she is excited to kickstart fall by participating in this weekend’s Corn Fest 5K.

“I’ve never been a runner, that was never me, but I did the Couch to 5K class so now I’m signed up. That would have never happened if I wasn’t coming to the Y,” she said.

We are so proud to have Melissa in our Y community and we wish her, and all Y members participating in the 5K, the best. We know everyone will do great!

If you are interested in working with a YMCA personal trainer, now is the perfect time to start! The Y’s September Personal Training Sale runs through the end of the month and you can learn more by clicking here. 

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Helping Kids Thrive: Emerson Hayden’s Y Story

Each day, students in the YMCA’s Before & After School Kid Zone program explore a positive learning environment where they form foundational skills, develop healthy, trusting relationships, and build self-reliance through the Y values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. This includes kids like nine-year old Emerson Hayden, a fourth grade student at Central Elementary School in Plainfield School District 202.

Emerson is currently in his fifth year attending Kid Zone, and his mom, Ashleigh, said the family’s connection to the program deepens each year. 

“Some of the counselors have become like family to us,” Ashleigh said. “They’re just as invested in his growth as we are.”

Ashleigh noted a recent instance where YMCA staff helped Emerson study for a geography test covering state capitals. 

“They went above and beyond to help and their support gives him a lot of confidence,” she said. 

In addition to academic support, Ashleigh said the Y’s focus on social interaction has been vital for Emerson’s development.

“One area we’ve really seen growth in him is resolving conflict and considering other people’s feelings and ideas. Emerson is an only child and he needed to learn about sharing and, like all kids, he needed help with decision making. The counselors foster teamwork and creativity, and he’s built lasting friendships with the other kids in the program,” she said. 

Ashleigh believes the program’s curriculum also helps to keep students engaged while nurturing independence.

“We have neighbors and friends who are in the program, and we have told them how great it is that there is a balance of structure and freedom with the activities,” she said.

It’s clear to see that the Kid Zone program has become an essential piece of the Hayden family’s day-to-day life. 

“It’s an affordable, reliable program for parents. It has given us flexibility to confidently manage work and family responsibilities. For me, as a mom, knowing that Emerson is safe, happy, and thriving gives me peace of mind,” Ashleigh said. 

We would like to thank Ashleigh and her husband, Chris, for their support of the Y, and we wish Emerson the best of luck throughout the 2025-26 school year!

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