Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

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Morris Community YMCA Celebrates 5-Year Anniversary

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On January 5, 2015, the Morris Community YMCA opened its doors on Wauponsee Street in downtown Morris. It has truly been a privilege to serve our members and the Grundy County community for the last five years.  In celebration of our five-year anniversary we are excited to announce a series of raffles to help our members ring in 2020!

To take part in our anniversary celebration, be sure to check-in at the Membership Desk when you visit the Y from January 6-10. When you check-in, you’ll be entered for a chance to win a variety of Y swag. Winners will be randomly selected each day throughout the week.

Also, be sure to keep an eye on our Facebook page throughout the week, as we will be profiling members and staff who have been along for this amazing journey every step of the way! And don’t forget to check-in on Facebook and take photos with our selfie frame and photo signs, which will be available at the Membership Desk.

On behalf of the YMCA and our partners at Morris Hospital and Healthcare Centers, we would like to thank everyone involved in helping us reaching this milestone. Our efforts would not be possible without the hard work of our dedicated staff, the assistance of volunteers, the kindness of donors, and the continued support from all of our members. We look forward to celebrating this week while continuing our work in 2020 and beyond. We know that the best is yet to come!

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Building a Healthy Future: Rori Griffin’s Story


At the Y, we are dedicated to helping individuals reach their fitness goals. And for Rori Griffin, a senior at Morris High School, working out at the Y has helped her lose over 70 pounds. 

Rori said she has been a Y member for over a year but didn’t fully commit to a healthier lifestyle until this past summer when she honed in on what she wanted to do for a career.

“I’ve always wanted to be in the military or in law enforcement. In both of those fields you have to be physically fit. I was willing to make the change for myself,” Griffin said. “At first I felt I couldn’t do it but decided that I might as well try. When I tried, I got into the gym and realized how much I love it.”

Beyond the weight loss, Rori believes her overall fitness levels have improved significantly. 

“It’s not just about losing weight, it’s about learning to breathe better or stretch properly. I’ve never been a good runner and I’ve been able to challenge myself on the treadmill,” she said.

Like many who experience positive changes at the Y, Rori said the cultural environment is what sets it apart from other facilities. 

“Not many people look at the Y like it’s an average workout center. They look at it as a place where they can be in a community,” she said. “It’s family friendly and I love that feeling. Everybody here is so helpful and caring, even the people you might not know personally.“

The end result has been relishing every opportunity to stop by the Y. 

“It’s like my escape. I can turn a bad day into a good day. It boosts my mood. When I get a good workout in that’s when I feel I’m at my highest point,” she said.

Rori is undecided about her college choice but she is focused on attending a school where she can join the Reserve Officer Training Corps. 

“The next few months are going to be busy, being a senior can be stressful, but I plan to find time for myself to go to the gym and use a Y facility close to wherever I go to school,” she said. “You can never really prepare for basic training but you can try. This is going to help me.”

She feels maintaining a relationship with the Y is important because it is a community willing to help anyone succeed.    

“There have been times where I wanted to stop working out because I thought I wasn’t seeing results,” she said. “But other people saw them in me and that kept me motivated. When you walk into the Y you feel like you belong. And everybody belongs here.”

If you are interested in becoming a member, stop by your local Y or register online.

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Supporting Bright Futures: Mariah Johnson’s Story

A mainstay in the Joliet community for more than 90 years, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA brings families together, encourages good health, and fosters connections through fitness, sports, fun and shared interests. For former YMCA summer day camp staffer Mariah Johnson, the Y not only helped her build connections in the community, but also supported her goal of becoming a teacher.

From an early age, Johnson knew she wanted to make a positive impact in the lives of children.  With her mother being a Family Ministries Pastor, she always found herself surrounded by children and she loved every minute of it.  Yet the defining moment for Johnson came in eighth grade when she took an aptitude test, which is used to determine an individual’s potential to succeed at any given task or role.  And, she was surprised by her test results.

“My suggested profession was to become a teacher and I remember telling my teacher at the time that I wanted to be a mother when I was older,” Johnson explained. “But my teacher opened my mind to the possibility of being both a mother and teacher one day—which was something I had never thought about before.”

From that conversation forward, Johnson set her sights on becoming a teacher.  And, upon graduating from Minooka Community High School, Johnson was accepted into Wheaton College, where she went on to study elementary education.  While in college, Johnson knew she needed to get some experience working with children before jumping into her career. During her job search, her friend from church encouraged her to apply for a position as a summer day camp counselor at the Smith Family YMCA in Joliet.

During her interview at the Y, she knew instantly that it was a perfect fit.

“I loved that the Y was a Christian organization that instills positive values, and they provide activities for children that go beyond the mind,” Johnson said.

Johnson worked as a summer day camp counselor at the Smith Family YMCA for three consecutive years while she was in college. Although she fully enjoyed each of her three years working as a camp counselor, this year’s summer camp experience proved to be the most transformative thanks to a chance meeting with a local school district superintendent.

Last spring, just before the beginning of camp, Mariah attended an open house with Smith Family YMCA Executive Director Donnie Chestnutt for the Y’s new off-site camp at Fairmont School.  While at the open house, Chestnutt remembered that Mariah had just graduated and she was seeking a career as a teacher.  And, knowing Johnson’s passion for working with children, she introduced her to Fairmont School District’s Superintendent Diane Cepela.

From that moment, everything seemed to fall into place. Superintendent Cepela gave Johnson a tour of the school that same day, and Cepela was immediately impressed by Johnson’s ability to articulate, her composure and her demeanor.

“I could feel her character, which is a hard thing to describe, but I could tell she was a caring person and working with children was her calling,” said Cepela.

After a short tour and conversation, Cepela quickly scheduled an interview with Johnson for the following Monday. And, by Tuesday, Johnson was offered the position as a third-grade teacher for the 2019-2020 school year.

Overjoyed with her job offer, Johnson couldn’t believe the opportunity that was in her ‘backyard’ and was grateful the YMCA helped her to see the community in ways she never imagined.

“I wouldn’t have known about Fairmont School District or even applied for the job without the support and the community the Y provided me with,” said Johnson.

With the school year underway, Johnson is adjusting nicely to her new role at Fairmont School.  Numerous students recognize her from the Y’s summer camp and they enjoy spending time with her at the beginning of the school day; even if it’s just to say ‘hi.’  In the future, Johnson looks forward to many fun and rewarding moments with her students.  And, she is eager to help shape the minds of many students in years to come.

Congratulations, Miss Johnson! We are proud of you and the amazing work you will do at Fairmont School.

If you’re are looking to take an active role in bringing about meaningful, enduring change right in your own community, the Y is looking to fill a number of positions.  To view all available positions or to apply online, please visit www.jolietymca.org

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Discover Your Potential: Alexandria Pride’s Story


The YMCA is a place where children can cultivate their talents, develop new skills and build bonds of friendship. Eleven year-old Alexandria Pride has been able to accomplish all three through her involvement with the C.W. Avery Family YMCA’s Thrive Dance Team. 

“Dancing is a part of me and so is this team. I’ve grown up with it and it brings me joy. It’s a happy place for me,” Alex said. 

Alex has been dancing at the Y since she was three years old and joined Thrive at the age of five. One of the highlights of her time in the program came back in March. Competing against over 150 dancers at the Starbound Competition in Elgin, she was one of just six to receive a scholarship for the New York Dance Experience, a day-long event held in Atlantic City.  

Thrive Dance Team Director Kristen Derengowski said it was a deserving honor for somebody with as much passion as Alex. 

“I have done a lot of choreography for (Alex) over the years. I’ve worked with her individually, in a duo, and in a group setting. She is a super hard worker,” Derengowski said. 

In July, Alex and her mom traveled to the east coast for this amazing experience. While in Atlantic City, Alex got to meet an array of professional dancers and took part in training for a set of five routines.

“She was nervous in the beginning, but by the end of the day you could see her get more confident in everything she did,” Alex’s mom Kelly Pride said. 

The event gave Alex a chance to be immersed in a wide range of dance styles. 

“My favorite dance style is lyrical because I’m really good at showing emotion. But my favorite style we did at the Experience was the funk jazz because it was a mix between jazz and hip-hop. It was a new thing for me,” Alex said. 

Alex said she learned the importance of being detail oriented when it comes to performing. 

“One of the judges said that she would always rather have somebody go out on stage to do one single pirouette, and land it perfectly, than go on stage to do a bunch of tricks and mess them up,” she said. 

Derengowski believes Alex’s experience will help the team in more ways than one when the fall dance season gets underway. 

“It’s positive reinforcement that her hard work has paid off and she can be a motivating person for other dancers as well. She is starting to become more of a leader,” Derengowski said. 

When not dancing herself, Alex volunteers with the Y’s Tiny Dancers (ages 2-3) and Dance Beginnings (ages 3-5) programs. She is also looking forward to trying out for Thrive’s newly created Hip-Hop group. 

“When (Alex) first started she had idols that she looked up to and to watch the older girls progress was just amazing,” Kelly said. “She always said ‘Mommy, I’m going to be like that!’. This summer, she finally realized ‘I’m the big girl now!’. I’ve seen her grow so much with this organization. We are legitimately a family.”

Auditions for the Thrive Competition and Hip-Hop Teams will take place on Friday, August 16 with Performance Team tryouts set for the following day. Youth dancers of all ages and skill levels are encouraged to attend. You can learn more about the Y’s dance programs here.

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Small Changes, Big Results

Two years ago, I had an epiphany.

image (3)I realized that I was purely existing and not truly living. I had a three-year old son that I needed to take care of and I didn’t feel like I was doing my best by being a good role model for him. I grew up an overweight child and it pained me that still, at age 36, I hadn’t yet figured out how to be healthy.

I almost always had the desire to be a healthy person, so much so that I majored in Health Studies in college and graduated with honors, although I could never get it to work in my life. One day, while driving, I thought to myself that I would probably be dead by 40 if I didn’t truly change my life. I decided that I needed to “Be There For Ben,” and from that day on, that has been my mantra and my motivation.

My journey began when I read about the Y’s Weight Loss Challenge Program in their program guide. See, I had been a member for years, but I only worked out a handful of times during those years. I used our membership primarily for the wonderful children’s programming. This time around though, I wanted to to make time for me. After all, if I wanted my family to be healthy, it had to start with me. So I registered for the class and, even though I was terrified, I took the biggest and hardest step of my life—walking through those doors. By doing so, I met Kevin and Lisa Hir, who, while I did not know it at the time, would change my life forever.

Their Weight Loss Challenge class was incredible. They are the “no nonsense, no excuses”-type but they GOT IT. They both had personal, compelling success stories that resonated with me. I knew I had to be willing to change if I wanted to have a better life for my family and me, so I committed to doing what they said, even if I didn’t want to for the entire 12-week program. This meant following a certain food plan and journaling everything I ate.

It also included weekly weigh-ins, an education session on nutrition and exercise and, lastly, weekly group workouts. With our first workout, Kevin led us in a HIIT (high-intensity interval training) style workout and I was terrified. I honestly did not think that I would be able to finish. He showed us modifications and, somehow, some way, I did it. After class, we huddled as a team and he told us he was PROUD of us. I broke down in tears. That was a life changing night for me.

[Read more…]

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Member Profile: Mark McGaffic

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

IMG951430Determined to lose weight, Mark McGaffic tried it all. Exercise. Trendy diets. Weight loss programs. You name it. Mark simply wasn’t seeing any results. That is, until he signed up for Nutrition for All and the Get Fit Challenge at the C.W. Avery Family YMCA. Because of these weekly classes, Mark has undergone a complete transformation. In 2014, not only has Mark lost 60 pounds, he’s also completed a triathlon—a feat he could’ve never possibly imagined.

“It’s been phenomenal. I’ve loved the journey,” he said, while sitting in the lobby of the Avery Y. With a slight grin on his face, Mark paused and added, “Shirts I bought that I was disgusted buying, I’ve now given to Goodwill.”

Mark’s transformation began in January when he started Nutrition for All, a 12-week class that helps members eat right and stay healthy. He took on a paleo diet, kept food journals and completed weekly weigh-ins. With the support of instructor Julie Miller and his peers, he cut 30 pounds.

By springtime, Mark’s momentum hadn’t let up. He began the Get Fit Challenge, continued the paleo diet and started prepping for his first triathlon. By this point, Mark had shed upwards of 50 pounds. In August, Mark’s hard work paid off when he completed the Naperville Sprint Triathlon.

“I’d have to say, I’ve never experienced anything like it,” he said. “The triathlon itself. The training. Working with Julie Miller and the group. It was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done.”

[Read more…]

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