Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

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Morris Hospital YMCA Invites the Community to Participate in Focus Group Activities

As we strive to meet the needs of our community, the Morris Hospital YMCA is excited to host focus group activities to help identify programs and services that members local residents would like to see offered at the Y. 

Date: Thursday, October 2

Times:
Senior Programming
9:15-10 a.m. 

Preschool/Youth & Family Programming
10-10:45 a.m. 

These events will be held in the Community Room are open to the community. Light refreshments will be served. Stop by and share your feedback! 

If you have any questions, please contact Youth and Family Director Jordan Overton at (815) 513-8080, ext. 513 or [email protected]. 

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Joint Effort Orthopedic Weight Loss Program Now Available at Morris Hospital YMCA

The YMCA is teaming up with Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers to offer a new 12-week orthopedic weight loss program known as Joint Effort!

Joint Effort is designed specifically for individuals who have been advised to lose weight before undergoing hip or knee replacement surgery. Guided by a compassionate team of wellness professionals, this program combines low-impact exercise, nutrition education, and personalized support to help you safely reduce weight and improve mobility, with a goal of enhancing your surgical outcome. Whether you’re preparing for a knee, hip, or another orthopedic procedure, we’re here to help you take the first step toward a healthier, more active lifestyle.

Joint Effort participants will receive a 3-month Facility Membership to the Morris Hospital YMCA and participate in:

  • Weekly water fitness classes at the Morris Hospital YMCA
  • A fitness orientation to learn how to properly utilize equipment in the YMCA wellness center
  • Weekly support group meetings
  • Monthly meetings with the Morris Hospital Wellness Team to weigh-in and track your progress 

Participants must receive a referral from a Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers provider to enroll in this program. 

Fees:
FREE for YMCA Facility Members, $175 for Community Members

*Spouses or caregivers may join Joint Effort participants for an additional fee of $50.

To learn more about the Joint Effort program, please contact the Morris Hospital YMCA at (815) 513-8080, or speak to your Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers provider.

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C.W. Avery Family YMCA Set to Host Senior Health and Wellness Fair on August 27

Area residents are invited to attend a free Health and Wellness Fair, which is designed to promote healthy living and connect area seniors with a variety of resources in the Plainfield area. 

DATE
Wednesday, August 27

TIME
10 a.m.-1 p.m.

LOCATION
C.W. Avery Family YMCA
15120 Wallin Drive
Plainfield, IL 60544

FESTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE: 

-Health Services
-Community Expo
-Raffles and Giveaways
-Complimentary Refreshments
-And More! 

This event is hosted by the C.W. Avery Family YMCA, Illinois House 97th District Representative Harry Benton, the Plainfield Township, and the Plainfield Park District.

To learn more about this exciting event, please contact: 

Wendi Keith
(815) 436-8308
[email protected]

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Morris Hospital YMCA Set to Offer New Parkinson’s Exercise Program

The Y is excited to help support individuals living with Parkinson’s Disease through our new PWR! Moves exercise program!

PWR! Moves (Classes start the week of May 5)
Date and Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-1:50 p.m.

This class will focus on improving functional mobility and strength. Participants will learn more intentional and smooth movements to improve everyday actions, such as walking, climbing stairs, and turning in tight spaces. Our certified instructors can assist with modifications to help class participants complete each exercise correctly.

And don’t forget, the Y also offers a Pedaling for Parkinson’s exercise program!

Pedaling for Parkinson’s
Date and Time: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 1-2 p.m.

While cycling is not a cure for Parkinson’s disease, there is compelling evidence to show that it does make a real difference for many who try it. Classes are designed to empower participants by optimizing their physical function, improving their gait, balance, speech, handwriting, and overall endurance, and helping to delay the progression of symptoms.

PLEASE NOTE: PWR! Moves and Pedaling for Parkinson’s are free and open to the community. Class participants must receive clearance to participate from their doctor prior to class participation. Registration is required and can be completed by clicking below.

PWR! Moves

Pedaling for Parkinson’s

Learn More:

If you have any questions about these programs, please contact Health & Wellness Director Ro Petersen at [email protected] or (815) 513-8080, ext. 517.

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Morris Hospital YMCA Recognized with Partnership Award

The Morris Hospital YMCA, alongside its partners from Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers and the City of Morris, were recently recognized by the Grundy Economic Development Council (GEDC) and the Grundy County Chamber of Commerce with the ‘Partners of the Year Award.’ Presented at the GEDC and Chamber’s annual dinner on March 5, the award recognized the collaborative efforts amongst the Y, the Hospital, and the City to bring the first full-facility YMCA to Grundy County. The Morris Hospital YMCA opened its doors to serve the community in December 2024.

Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Katy Leclair led a group of YMCA staff on hand to accept the award alongside Morris Advisory Council Chair Kevin Olson, City of Morris Mayor Chris Brown, and Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers President and CEO Tom Dohm.

“The Y would like to thank the GEDC for this incredible honor,” Leclair said. “We know that all the great things that happen every day at the YMCA would not be possible without strong community partnerships. Morris Hospital and the City of Morris have shown an amazing dedication to supporting the Y as we begin a new chapter of serving our community with this facility.”

The Morris Hospital YMCA represents the largest fundraising effort in the history of Grundy County and is now home to more than 6,000 YMCA members. Located just west of Morris Grade School on Dupont Avenue, the new 60,000-square-foot YMCA features an eight-lane lap pool, gym, a state-of-the-art wellness center, a group exercise studio, cycling studio, healthy eating kitchen, and engaging youth play spaces.

To learn more about the new Morris Hospital Y, click here or stop by today! 

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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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