Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

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Stronger Today Because of Yesterday: Greater Joliet Area YMCA Unveils History Wall

In celebration of the Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s Centennial Anniversary in 2026, the Y unveiled a new history wall within the Village of Shorewood YMCA this week. This installation celebrates the visionary leaders, pivotal moments, and enduring milestones that have guided the Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s journey and deepened its impact across the community over the past 100 years.

We remain deeply grateful to the members, employees, volunteers, donors and community partners whose dedication to the Y’s mission and the residents of Will and Grundy Counties made this historic milestone possible. As we begin our second century of service, we remain guided by our mission, inspired by our history, and committed to strengthening our community and transforming lives for generations to come.

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Junior Wolves Program Recognized as a 2026 Governor’s Hometown Award Finalist

We are very excited to announce that the Junior Wolves youth sports program, made possible through an innovative partnership between the Joliet Community YMCA (JCY) and Joliet Junior College (JJC), was recognized as a finalist for the 2026 Governor’s Hometown Award. As part of this honor, a delegation from the YMCA and JJC traveled to Springfield on August 19 to present more about the program and the positive impact it is having on youth in our community.

Officially launched in February 2025, Junior Wolves provides year-round YMCA youth sports leagues and camps on JJC’s main campus in Joliet, giving local youth access to high-quality facilities close to home. Through the program, kids of all ages have the opportunity to learn and train alongside JJC student-athletes and coaches, as well as YMCA staff.

The partnership also extends beyond the playing field. Through the Paws on the Street program, JJC student-athletes volunteer in the YMCA’s after-school Kid Zone program, where they mentor, encourage, and inspire younger students. Together, JCY and JJC are creating opportunities for young people to be active, build confidence, develop meaningful relationships and discover their potential – both on and off the field.

Now in its 18th year with Serve Illinois, the Governor’s Hometown Awards continue to bolster the commission’s mission to improve Illinois communities by enhancing volunteerism and instilling an ethic of service throughout the state. ​

To learn more about the exciting programs the Joliet Community YMCA has to offer the community, please click here.

Pictured in top photo (left to right): Joliet Community YMCA Sports Director Zach Jarosz, Joliet Junior College Assistant Athletic Director & Assistant Baseball Coach Nick LoFurno, Joliet Junior College, Director of Athletics & Head Baseball Coach Gregg Braun, Illinois State Senator Rachel Ventura, Greater Joliet Area YMCA President & CEO Katy Leclair, Greater Joliet Area YMCA Director of Branch and Program Operations Lisa Behounek, Joliet Community YMCA Executive Director Brooke Hall,, and Joliet Junior College Dean of Student Success Angie Kaysen-Luzbatek.

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C.W. Avery Family YMCA Set to Host Aquatics Employment Open Houses in September

As an industry leader in aquatic safety for more than 100 years, the Y is the perfect place to begin a career as a lifeguard. And, as we prepare for our busy fall season, we are excited to offer special aquatics employment Open Houses!

Location: C.W. Avery Family YMCA

Date: Thursday, September 3
Time: 7-9 p.m.

Date: Sunday, September 13
Time: 1-3 p.m.

Attendees will be able to conduct interviews and complete swim testing in one session. The following items are required to participate:

  • Bathing Suit/Swim Trunks
  • Towel
  • Goggles
  • Contact Case (If applicable; applicants must be able to swim with contacts or take them out)

During testing participants will be required to complete a swim-tread-swim sequence, goggles allowed, as follows:

  • Jump in water feet first, submerge, and resurface
  • Swim 150 yards in front crawl (freestyle), breaststroke, or a combination of both and be able to demonstrate breath control/rhythmic breathing
  • Tread water for two minutes maintaining position at the surface without the use of arms/hands and only using legs
  • Swim an additional 50 yards

Participants will then complete a timed swim event, goggles not permitted, as follows:

  • Swim 20 yards from starting point to deep end of pool
  • Submerge, then retrieve a 10-pound brick from a depth of nine feet
  • Resurface, swim on back in return to starting point holding the brick with both hands and maintaining face near or at the surface
  • Exit the water without using ladder or steps and place the brick on the edge of the pool deck
  • Complete the event in one minute and 40 seconds.

Participants who do not have certification for American Red Cross Lifeguarding (Including Deep Water) with CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and First Aid will then complete additional coursework on-site at the Y on a later date. The cost of completing the lifeguarding course will be covered by the YMCA.

If you have any questions, please contact C.W. Avery Family YMCA Aquatics Director Jack Glimco at [email protected] or (815) 267-8600, ext. 228.

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Greater Joliet Area YMCA Set to Honor First Responders During 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA is inviting members to stop by any Y location on Friday, September 11 for the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb, a tribute to the courage and sacrifice of our first responders and all those lost on September 11, 2001.

Participants will climb the equivalent of 110 stories, the height of the fallen World Trade Center towers, in remembrance, resilience, and unity. Members may challenge themselves any time during this day-long event.

110 Flights Equivalency:

Stair Climber – 2,200 steps
Treadmill – 3.5 miles
Stationary Bike – 10.5 miles
Lap Swimming – 2,250 yards

All current and retired first responders are welcome to join us at the Y on September 11 for this special challenge and to enjoy our amenities.

Please be sure to have your ID and first responder credentials available upon check-in.

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Greater Joliet Area YMCA President & CEO Katy Leclair Named 2026 Recipient of The ATHENA Award By Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry and its Council for Working Women

The Y is proud share that today the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry and its Council for Working Women named Greater Joliet Area YMCA President & CEO Katy Leclair as the 2026 recipient of the ATHENA Award. Leclair will be honored at the Chamber’s 39th ATHENA luncheon on Wednesday, September 23, 11:30 a.m., at the Jacob Henry Mansion Estate’s Victorian Ballroom.

Established in 1982, the ATHENA Award Program recognizes outstanding leaders—women and men—who embody professional excellence, dedicate their time and talents to enhancing the quality of life in their communities and actively support others, especially women, in reaching their full leadership potential.

Katy Leclair has spent more than two decades building a career rooted in leadership, community service and creating opportunities for others to grow and thrive. As President & CEO of the Greater Joliet Area YMCA, she has helped lead an organization that has tripled in size while expanding access to health and wellness, youth development, childcare and community-based programming throughout Will and Grundy counties.

Under Leclair’s leadership, the YMCA has achieved several significant milestones. The organization raised more than $21 million through its Community Grows Here Capital Campaign, leading to the opening of the 60,000-square-foot Morris Hospital YMCA in December 2025. In April 2026, the YMCA also celebrated the opening of the new 60,000-square-foot Village of Shorewood YMCA, which serves as the organization’s Regional Office and provides programs and services to the growing community.

Leclair has also helped expand the YMCA’s impact beyond traditional facilities. In 2025, the organization announced the creation of the Joliet Community YMCA, bringing year-round youth development, sports and family programming into neighborhood locations through partnerships with Joliet Junior College, the Salvation Army, Messiah Lutheran Church and Joliet School Districts 86 and 204.

Her leadership and the work of the teams she supports have earned numerous recognitions, including multiple Chicago Tribune Top Workplace honors, the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s 2024 Social Service Organization of the Year Award and the 2024 Zonta Club Woman of the Year Award.

A longtime advocate for the advancement of women, Leclair has made it a priority throughout her career to create opportunities for women and girls. In 2013, she was selected to serve on the YMCA of the USA’s National Women’s Leadership Network Steering Committee, where she helped identify strategies to support the professional development of women at YMCAs across the country. Through this work, the group established a national book club for female leaders, launched local resource groups and expanded access to leadership development opportunities.

Leclair also works to foster a culture of growth and opportunity within the Greater Joliet Area YMCA. Today, the organization employs more than 1,200 people and has been recognized by the Chicago Tribune as a Top Workplace for four consecutive years. The effort is led by a collaborative team of six women in leadership.

(Information compiled by Sarah Rees from the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce was used in this post.)
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Nicor Gas Foundation Pledges $5,000 in Support of YMCA Mission Strong Fund

Every day the Greater Joliet Area YMCA affirms its commitment to making a positive impact in the community. Y programs open opportunities to all generations, ensuring that every individual feels a sense of belonging. And as a non-profit, community-based organization, the YMCA relies on the generosity of its members and the support of charitable giving to offer these services and programs for children, adults and families living in our community.

That is why the YMCA would like to thank the Nicor Gas Foundation, which recently provided a $5,000 donation in support of the YMCA Mission Strong Fund.

“Fulfilling the Y mission is not possible without the kindness of organizations like Nicor,” said Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Katy Leclair. “We are so proud to have Nicor as a strong advocate for YMCA initiatives, and we are inspired by their dedication to our community. This gift will make a significant impact on the lives of the children and families we serve, helping to ensure that nobody is turned away from the Y due to the inability to pay,” added Leclair.

To learn more about the YMCA’s Mission Strong Fund, please click here. To show your support by making a donation, please click here.

Pictured in top photo (left to right):  Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Katy Leclair, Nicor Gas Community Affairs Manager Cheryl Denton, Nicor Gas Community Relations Manager Ashley Bennett, Greater Joliet Area YMCA Mission Advancement Director Donnie Chestnutt, and Greater Joliet Area YMCA Chief Business Development Officer Missy Durkin. 

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