Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

You are here: Home / Archives for Social Responsibility

Golf and Dinner Tickets for the 2025 YMCA Mission Strong Golf Classic Now on Sale

Foursomes and dinner tickets for the 2025 Mission Strong Golf Classic, generously presented by Midland States Bank, are now on sale!

Join us on Wednesday, September 17 at ‘The Creek’ at Morris Country Club for an exciting day that will include:

  • 18 holes of golf with a cart
  • Lunch and complimentary beverages on the course
  • A cocktail reception, dinner and awards
  • A welcome gift, course games, prizes, raffles, and more

Proceeds from this event will benefit the YMCA Mission Strong Fund, which helps to ensure nobody is turned away from the Y due to the inability to pay.

Now in its fourth year, the Mission Strong Golf Classic has raised more than $200,000 to support children, adults, and families in our community. Let’s keep the momentum going in 2025!

Cost: $700 per foursome, $50 for dinner reception only*

*UPDATE: Foursomes for the 2025 Golf Classic are sold out, but dinner tickets are still available. Dinner tickets can be purchased through our event headquarters by clicking below.

PURCHASE DINNER TICKETS

If you would like to be placed on a waitlist for a foursome, or have any other questions about the 2025 Mission Strong Golf Classic, please contact:

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

SHARE THIS:

Love Where You Work: Join the YMCA’s Before and After School Care Team

At the Y, we know that learning doesn’t end when the school bell rings. The way children spend time outside the classroom can make a big difference in their personal development and family-life balance. YMCA before and after school care programs provide a safe place for children to keep their mind and body active while learning social skills and positive values.

Our before and after school team is dedicated to the Y’s mission and works tirelessly to meet the needs of the communities we serve. This group of talented and energetic staff is second to none, and we are now currently looking to hire new part-time employees to expand our team!

Positions Available:
-Kid Zone Counselors (Sites in Plainfield, Joliet, Bolingbrook, and Romeoville)
-Teen REACH Counselors (Sites in Joliet)

Part-Time Employees receive the following benefits:

  • A free YMCA Membership
  • May enroll their eligible children in Kid Zone at no cost
  • Save 25% off of Y programming
  • Have the opportunity to participate in the Y’s retirement plan (when eligibility requirements have been met)

Program hours vary by location.

APPLY ONLINE TODAY

To learn more, contact your local Y branch below:

C.W. Avery Family YMCA 

Plainfield School District 202
Lori Barrie
Before and After School Care Director
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (815) 267-8600, ext. 205

Valley View CUSD 365U
Kassandra Lepe
Childcare Director
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (815) 267-8600, ext. 211

Galowich Family YMCA

Elementary Schools in Joliet, Laraway, Rockdale, and Troy Districts
Tori Dutkiewicz
Before and After Care Director
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (815) 744-3939, ext. 307

Teen REACH After School Program in Joliet District 86
Darrell Collins
Teen REACH & Teen Achievers Director
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (815) 744-3939, ext. 361

SHARE THIS:

Join the Y for Exciting Fab 50 Adventures

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA is inviting area seniors to take part in upcoming Fab 50 Adventures events! Fab 50 Adventures are the perfect way to enjoy a day out with friends and make memories together. Learn more below.

Aurora Mall Shopping
Date: Monday, July 14
Time: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Join us for a fun day of shopping at the Aurora Outlet Mall. Transportation is included. Space is limited. Departure will be from the C.W. Avery Family YMCA.

Cost: $10, open to the community
REGISTER TODAY

Joliet Slammers Game
Date: Sunday, August 3
Time: 12:05 p.m.-4 p.m.

Join us for a day at the ballpark! First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. Gates open one hour prior to the game’s start. Family members are also welcomed to join in the fun. A ticket must be purchased for every person in attendance. Transportation will not be provided. 

Location:
Duly Health and Care Field
1 Mayor Art Schultz Drive
Joliet, IL 60432
Cost: $10, open to the community
REGISTER TODAY

Land & Water Cruise – Starved Rock Lodge
Date: Friday, September 12
Time: 10:45 a.m.-3 p.m.

Enjoy a relaxing trolley ride and scenic boat cruise along the Illinois River and lunch in the lodge’s restaurant. You’ll learn about Starved Rock’s history and legends of the area. Transportation is included. Departure will be from the C.W. Avery Family YMCA.

Cost: $75, open to the community
REGISTER TODAY

Elvis Tribute Show – Starved Rock Lodge
Date: Friday, September 12
Time: 11:45 a.m.-3 p.m.

Michael St. Angel will be at Starved Rock Lodge as ‘The King of Rock and Roll’ takes the stage. You can rock to the hits that made Elvis famous and Michael will also be featuring many of the gospel hits that started Elvis’ career. Keep the spirit of Rockin’ and Rollin’ alive! Lunch and transportation included. Departure will be from the C.W. Avery Family YMCA.

Cost: $75, open to the community
REGISTER TODAY

If you have any questions about Fab 50 Adventures, please contact Youth and Family Coordinator Erika Pollastrini at [email protected] or (815) 267, 8600, ext. 237.

SHARE THIS:

Join the Y and Save During Our Celebrating Summer One-Day Membership Sale

Summer is in full swing and the Y is celebrating with a special one-day membership sale! 

Join the Y on Monday, June 23 and pay a $0 Joiner’s Fee, a savings of up to $120!* 

* Valid at any Greater Joliet Area YMCA location. Cannot be combined with any other offers. 

The Y offers a wide variety of classes and programs for members of all ages, and is the perfect place for individuals and families to feel welcomed in a strong community.

LEARN MORE

OUR FACILITY MEMBERS ENJOY:

Access to Three Branches
Your membership gives you unlimited use of the Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s three YMCA locations, including:

  • Three indoor pools and our family aquatic center
  • Three wellness centers, all equipped with state-of-the-art cardio and strength equipment.

Free Basic Access to the YMCA On the Go App
The On the Go App will provide Y 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, and nutrition tips.

Free Access to the My Y Rewards Program
Upon enrolling in the My Y Rewards Program, you’ll earn points each time you check-in, take a class, or refer a friend to the Y. In fact, you’ll earn your first 50 points for simply enrolling in the program. You can then redeem your points for fun Y swag and program and membership credits. 

Quality Programming
In addition to our free group exercise classes, the Y offers year-round swimming lessons and personal training, among a slew of other options.

THREE CONVENIENT LOCATIONS

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

Galowich Family YMCA
749 Houbolt Road
Joliet IL 60431

Morris Hospital YMCA
2200 W. Dupont Avenue
Morris, IL 60450

SHARE THIS:

YMCA Safety Around Water Program Helps Children Build Invaluable Life Skills During 2024-25 School Year

As America’s most trusted swim lesson instructor, the YMCA has been teaching kids how to swim for more than 100 years. Swim lessons at the YMCA help kids stay fit, healthy, and strong when they spend time in and around water. But, most importantly, they gain confidence and learn vital water safety skills that will last a lifetime.

Aquatics programs at the Y include Safety Around Water (SAW), which allows the Y to partner with several local community agencies and schools to ensure that children in the Joliet area have the opportunity to learn to swim and enjoy recreation time at the Y at no cost.

During the 2024-25 school year, Safety Around Water provided a series of free 30-minute lessons for fourth grade students from Troy School District 30C and elementary and middle school students from Fairmont School District 89.

At the beginning of each swim lesson session, students complete swim tests to determine their swimming ability and receive a red, yellow, or blue wristband, indicating their YMCA swim level:

  • Red level swimmers are required to use a lifejacket when visiting YMCA pools
  • Yellow level swimmers may swim without life jackets, but may not go past the 5-foot depth markers in Y pools
  • Blue level swimmers demonstrate enough strength, skill, and confidence to enter at the deep end, tread water, and swim the length of the pool using a front crawl stroke without stopping

In total, 228 children received Safety Around Water instruction during the 2024-2025 school year and the Y provided more than 1,040 lessons overall. Here are the amazing results: 

Start of LessonsEnd of Lessons
Red Swimmers58.77%39.48%
Yellow Swimmers22.37%26.75%
Blue Swimmers18.86%33.77%

At the start of lessons, more than half of Safety Around Water participants required the use of a life jacket when entering the pool as red level swimmers. We were so proud to see that figure reduced by nearly 20 percent – a total of 44 children. Another 34 students improved to become blue level swimmers.

“The Safety Around Water program takes a village to run and it couldn’t have been done without the amazing staff of swim instructors we have at the Y, as well as the volunteer instructors from the Rotary Club of Joliet who assisted along the way,” Galowich Family YMCA Aquatics Director Catie Wallis said. “Learning these swim skills will have an incredible impact on the lives of students throughout our community.”

Safety Around Water activities will continue throughout the summer as the Y welcomes children from the Boys & Girls Club of Joliet, Harvey Brooks Foundation, iLead, Laraway CCSD 70C, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will/Grundy County, and YMCA Salvation Army Summer Camp!

*Safety Around Water is made possible through the generosity of local businesses and grantors, including the United Way of Will County. If you would like to help support Safety Around Water by donating to the YMCA Mission Strong Fund, you can do so below.

Donate Today

And, if you are interested in becoming a volunteer swim instructor, click here.

SHARE THIS:

Engage, Earn, Redeem: New My Y Rewards Perks Now Available

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA is excited to offer new redeemable perks for members enrolled in the My Y Rewards Program!

New items include:

-Fidget Spinners
-Hot/Cold Muscle Gel Packs
-Cooler Tote Bags
-Grey Unisex Tank Tops
-Lavender Women’s Tank Tops
-Red Long Sleeve T-Shirts
-Light Blue Umbrellas (Limited time offer, while supplies last)

To learn more about all the cool perks offered in the My Y Rewards program, or to redeem points for an item, click here.

If you are not currently enrolled in My Y Rewards, it’s easy to get started!

HOW TO ENROLL 

  1. Click the Enroll Today button below and then click “Join Program.”
  2. Enter your email address and click “Sign Up.” Please be sure to use the same email address that’s tied to your YMCA membership account in order to earn points.
  3. Check your email for a confirmation message and click “Complete Registration.”
  4. Once you’re redirected to the My Y Rewards site, enter your first and last name, create your password, and click “Sign Up.”

You will earn your first 50 points simply by enrolling in the program. So don’t delay!

ENROLL TODAY

LEARN MORE

If you should have any questions or any feedback on the My Y Rewards Program, please be sure to stop by the Membership Desk during your next visit or email [email protected]. Additional information on the My Y Rewards Program is available here

Let the earning begin!

SHARE THIS:

United Way