Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

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Greater Joliet Area YMCA Announces Spring 2025 College Tours

To support area high school students, the YMCA’s Teen Achievers program will be organizing three one-day college tours this spring to premier institutions of higher learning in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin. All college tours will depart from the Galowich Family YMCA, located at 749 Houbolt Road in Joliet. Departure from the Y may be as early as 7 a.m. and arrival back to the Y will be no later than 6 p.m. Finalized trip itineraries will be communicated the week prior to the tour.

Registration is underway and is open to the community. Students can register on a per-tour basis. Spots are limited, so don’t delay!

SPRING 2025 COLLEGE TOUR SCHEDULE

Tuesday, April 1
University of Iowa
REGISTER TODAY

Wednesday, April 2
University of Wisconsin-Madison
REGISTER TODAY

Thursday, April 3
University of Illinois-Chicago
REGISTER TODAY

Cost:

$30 per tour (includes lunch, transportation, and a long-sleeve shirt)

Registration Deadline:

Registration and payment must be received five days prior to the tour date.

To learn more about the YMCA’s Teen Achievers program click here or contact: 

Brooke Hall
Operations Director – Joliet Youth Development Team
[email protected]
(815) 744-3939, ext. 316

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Celebrate American Heart Month at the YMCA

This February, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA is proud to join our healthcare partners at Endeavor Health and Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers in celebrating American Heart Month! Exciting activities will include:

HEALTHY HEART COLORING CONTEST

Open to Y kids, ages 4-12, our Healthy Heart Coloring Contest is a great way for kids to show off their creativity and raise awareness about the importance of heart health!

Here’s how to enter:

1. Pick up an entry form at your local Y branch or download a form by clicking below.

C.W. Avery Family YMCA

Galowich Family YMCA

Morris Hospital YMCA

2. Grab your crayons, markers or colored pencils and color away!

3. Drop it off at the Membership Desk or give it to your Kid Zone counselor.

4. All entries must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Friday, February 21.

Entries will be posted on branch Facebook pages with online voting taking place the week of February 24. One winner from each branch will receive a free 5-week session of youth programming during the Y’s Spring 1 session. (Some restrictions apply.)

PLEASE NOTE: One entry per child, but multiple children per household are allowed. Submitted artwork becomes the property of the Greater Joliet Area YMCA. Official Entry Form must be signed by a parent or guardian, 18 years or older.

HEALTHY HEART FOOD SAMPLE GIVEAWAYS

Stop by the Membership Desk of your local Y branch for free healthy snacks!

C.W. Avery Family YMCA
Wednesday, February 12
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Galowich Family YMCA
Wednesday, February 12
9 a.m.-Noon

Morris Hospital YMCA
Thursday, February 13
8-10 a.m.

WEAR RED FOR HEALTHY HEART AWARENESS

Members who wear red to the Y between February 13-15 will be entered into a raffle for awesome Y swag!

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Greater Joliet Area YMCA Set to Offer New NFL FLAG Football Leagues This Spring

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA is excited to offer new NFL FLAG Football Leagues this spring. NFL FLAG is the largest flag football league in the U.S., and the only league where players can wear official NFL gear. Kids of all ages and skill levels will participate in a safe, non-contact environment, allowing boys and girls the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of football. In this program everyone plays, and everyone has fun!

C.W. Avery Family YMCA
League Dates: April 28-July 12
Age Divisions: 4-6, 7-9, 10-12, and 13-14
REGISTER ONLINE

Galowich Family YMCA
League Dates: April 28-July 12
Age Divisions: 4-6, 7-9, 10-12, 13-14, and 14-17
REGISTER ONLINE

Morris Hospital YMCA
League Dates: April 28-Jun 28
Age Divisions: 4-6, 7-9, 10-12, and 13-14
REGISTER ONLINE

Event locations, and practice/game schedules vary by branch. All participants will receive an NFL jersey and flag belt. Mouthguards are required and gloves are recommended. Rubber cleats are recommended, but gym shoes are also allowed. Metal cleats are not allowed. Participants are asked to wear pants/shorts that do not have pockets while competing in games.

Learn more here.

SPRING 2025 REGISTRATION FEES

Prior to February 25
$115 for Facility Members
$230 for Community Members

February 25-March 31
$125 for Facility Members
$250 for Community Members

April 1 and Beyond
$135 for Facility Members
$270 for Community Members

If you have any questions, please contact the sports department at your local Y branch:

C.W. Avery Family YMCA
Maria Freeh, Sports Director
[email protected]
(815) 267-8600, ext. 217

Galowich Family YMCA
Zach Jarosz, Sports Manager
[email protected]
(815) 744-3939, ext. 317

Morris Hospital YMCA
Chris Interial, Sports Director
[email protected]
(815) 513-8080, ext. 514

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Morris Hospital YMCA Welcomes Community with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Open House


The Morris Hospital YMCA was proud to welcome the community to a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Open House on Saturday, January 11. 

Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Katy Leclair said that the celebration was the perfect way to culminate a project nearly 20 years in the making. 

“This building is a beacon of hope, a place of connection, and a space where people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities can come together to learn, grow, and thrive. It’s where our shared vision of strengthening the foundations of our community will come to life and impact Grundy County residents for generations to come,” Leclair said. “To our donors, volunteers, our partners at Morris Hospital, the City of Morris, Grundy County, and to all of our YMCA members, I’d like to thank you for believing in the Y’s mission and making this dream a reality.” 

The new YMCA facility, which was made possible thanks to the largest charitable fundraising effort in Grundy County history, has now welcomed more than 4,000 visitors since opening its doors on December 16.

Additional Ribbon Cutting Speakers Included:
Christina Van Yperen, Grundy County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO
Donna Jeschke, Morris Capital Campaign Leadership Cabinet Volunteer
Cheri Rubocki, Greater Joliet Area YMCA Board of Directors Chairman
Tom Dohm, Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers President and CEO
Mayor Chris Brown, City of Morris
State Senator Sue Rezin, Illinois – 38th District
Missy Durkin, Greater Joliet Area YMCA Chief Business Development Officer
Kevin Olson, Morris Capital Campaign Leadership Cabinet Co-Chair
Guy Christensen, Morris Capital Campaign Leadership Cabinet Co-Chair
Jamie Heitman, Morris Hospital YMCA Executive Director

At the conclusion of the Ribbon Cutting, the YMCA hosted a Community Open House from 1-4 p.m., which featured a wide range of activities, including facility tours, program demonstrations, group exercise classes, face painting, and arts and crafts. WCSJ was also onsite broadcasting live throughout the event.

Representatives from Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers were also on hand to provide tours of the Hospital’s new cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, physical, occupational and speech therapy, and cardiovascular and orthopedics and sports medicine spaces, which are located within the YMCA.   

Open House attendees also had the chance to participate in special raffles and giveaways, and pick up a commemorative grand opening t-shirt.

If you are interested in joining the Morris Hospital YMCA, now is the perfect time as our January Membership Sale is underway! You can join online today or by visiting the Y at 2200 W. Dupont Avenue in Morris.

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Tickets Now On Sale for the 2025 YMCA Gala

The 2025 YMCA Gala, generously presented by Midland States Bank, will be held on Saturday, February 22, at the Bolingbrook Golf Club. Tickets for this must-attend event are now on sale!

Since its inception, the Y’s signature fundraising event has raised nearly $1.8 million to benefit families within our community. Join us as we celebrate charitable giving at the YMCA by showcasing the Y’s impact in our community and the generous donors who help to make our mission come to life each and every day.

This elegant evening will include:

  • A cocktail hour, dinner, and open bar
  • Silent and Live auctions
  • Raise the Paddle giving opportunities
  • Wine Pull and Heads or Tails raffles
  • Live entertainment and dancing

Funds raised from this year’s event will benefit the YMCA Mission Strong Fund, helping to ensure that no one is turned away from the Y due to the inability to pay.

PURCHASE GALA TICKETS TODAY

INSPIRING GENEROSITY
At this year’s Gala, the Y will also present the C.W. and J.L. Avery Philanthropic Award to Jackie Wohlwend in recognition of her family’s generous and inspiring charitable support of the Morris Hospital YMCA

LEARN MORE
For more details about remaining sponsorship opportunities, or to purchase a YMCA Gala cash raffle ticket, visit our event headquarters.

If you have questions about the YMCA Gala, please contact:

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

SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION
Donnie Chestnutt
Mission Advancement Director
Email: dchestnutt@jolietymca.org
Phone: (815) 782-0800

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Morris Hospital YMCA Set to Host Community Open House on January 11

The Morris Hospital YMCA will host a Community Open House at its new Dupont Avenue location from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, January 11. Open to the community, this fun-filled event will provide YMCA members and area residents with the opportunity to explore the new Morris Hospital YMCA, meet the staff team, and learn more about all of the exciting programs and services the Y has to offer the community.

Invite your family and friends and make your plans to join us for this exciting celebration, which will include:

Facility Tours
Take a tour of our state-of-the-art facility, which features an eight-lane lap pool, a wellness center, group exercise studio, cycling studio, healthy eating kitchen, multi-purpose rooms, gathering and meeting spaces, engaging youth play spaces, a gymnasium, basketball courts, pickleball courts, indoor and outdoor walking tracks, outdoor fields, and a playground.

Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers Suite
Tour Morris Hospital’s new cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, physical, occupational and speech therapy, and cardiovascular and orthopedics and sports medicine facility, located within the YMCA.

Program Demonstrations
Learn more about our health and wellness, aquatics, youth development, and youth sports programs.

Meet our Team
Meet the Morris Hospital YMCA team, who will be on hand to answer your questions and help you get started on your YMCA journey.

Family Fun
Join us for activities throughout the facility:

Activity Center
-Friendship Bracelets (Available while supplies last)

Kids Corner
-Sing-a-longs, Arts and Crafts (Available while supplies last)

Community Room A
-Hot Chocolate Bar and Packaged Snacks (Available while supplies last)

Community Room B
-Face Painting and YMCA coloring activities (Available while supplies last)

Youth Program Room
-Free play STEM activities

Gymnasium
-Bounce House (1-4 p.m.)
-Basketball Skills (1-1:20 p.m.)
-Floor Hockey/Pillow Hockey (1:30-1:50 p.m.)
-Pickleball (2-2:20 p.m.)
-Soccer/Biddy Soccer (2:30-2:50 p.m.)
-Kickball (3-3:20 p.m.)
-Dodgeball (3:30-3:50 p.m.)

Group Exercise Room (Ages 13 and up)
-Pilates with Linette (1-1:20 p.m.)
-Hop-Hip Fit with Stacey (1:30-1:50 p.m.)
-Pound with Crystal (2-2:20 p.m.)
-Kickboxing with Shannon (2:30-2:50 p.m.)
-Hatha Flow Yoga with Sue (3-3:20 p.m.)

Special Offers and Giveaways
Take advantage of special membership opportunities, raffles, and giveaways. Plus, the first 1,000 adults who attend the Community Open House will receive a free commemorative t-shirt, while supplies last.

Make your plans to join us!

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United Way