Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

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Registration for YMCA Pint-Size Pupils Opens February 7

Designed for preschool and kindergarten-aged children, the Y’s Pint-Size Pupils Program will help your young learner develop to his or her fullest potential. Through a variety of fun activities that include both structured and open play, our dedicated staff teach, model and reinforce the Y’s Christian character values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.

Projects and lessons will explore colors, shapes, letters, and numbers. Classes are small in size and incorporate bright colors, music, and interactive games to help our youngest members develop their socialization skills and academic concepts.

Registration for the 2026-27 school year opens for Facility Members on February 7 and opens on February 14 for Community Members.

Pint-Size Pupils will be offered at the C.W. Avery Family YMCA and Morris Hospital YMCA. Learn more below.

C.W. Avery Family YMCA

Program closely follows the school calendar for Plainfield District 202. Families can choose a two-day program on Tuesdays and Thursdays or a three-day program on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

HOURS
Morning Class:
9:30 a.m.-Noon

Afternoon Class:
12:30-3 p.m.

2026-2027 MONTHLY TUITION
Tuition is paid via ten monthly drafts on the 15th of the month (August-May). There is a one-time $50 non-refundable registration fee.

Enrollment PlanFacility Member RateCommunity Member Rate
2 Days Per Week$170$340
3 Days Per Week$250$500

To learn more about the C.W. Avery Family YMCA’s Pint-Size Pupils program, please contact:

James Wagner
Youth and Family Director
[email protected]
(815) 267-8600, ext. 212

Morris Hospital YMCA

Program closely follows the school calendar for Morris Grade School and Saratoga Elementary School.

HOURS
9:30-11:30 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays

2026-2027 MONTHLY TUITION
Tuition is paid via ten monthly drafts on the 15th of the month (August-May). There is a one-time $50 non-refundable registration fee.

Facility Member RateCommunity Member Rate
$250$500

To learn more about the Morris Hospital YMCA’s Pint-Size Pupils program, please contact:

Jordan Overton, Youth and Family Director
[email protected]
(815) 513-8080, ext. 513

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Celebrating YMCA Volunteer Leadership: Mike Wright

As the Y looks toward an exciting year of serving our community in 2026, we are proud to announce that Mike Wright will begin a two-year term as Chairman of the Greater Joliet Area YMCA Board of Directors this week. Wright has been a member of the Board for the last six years, serving the last two as vice chairman.

“I want to thank my predecessor Cheri Rubocki. She has a great attitude and has been a fantastic leader. There are big shoes to fill, but I look forward to carrying the baton for the organization,” Wright said. “I know how hard the members of the Board work to make things happen and I’ve really enjoyed getting to know everyone.”

Wright, a native of Morris, has spent more than 30 years as a financial advisor for Edward Jones. His relationship with the Y dates back more than 15 years, and began when he volunteered as a coach in the YMCA’s Youth Basketball Leagues (YBL).

“My daughter was in kindergarten right as Y sports programs came into Morris and (Sports Director) Ken Iverson convinced me to help out. I ended up coaching for a number of years,” Wright said.  

As his family got more acquainted with the Y’s mission, the more they wanted to get involved. Mike’s wife Missie served on the Morris Community YMCA’s advisory council, and the Wrights also became members of the Capital Campaign Leadership Cabinet that led fundraising efforts for the construction of the new Morris Hospital YMCA.  

“We respected the group that was putting together the campaign and felt like we could pass the message on to our generation in the Morris community,” Wright said. “It was the largest fundraising campaign in the county’s history and I believe it’s the best thing that has happened to Morris in the last 20 years; you could argue maybe the last 100 years.”

When it comes to what he views as the Y’s greatest strength, Wright said community building remains at the forefront of all Y programs and services. 

“The connections that are made at the Y, from the three-year-olds in Kids Corner, to the 85-year olds that enjoy coffee in the lobby, are meaningful social ties that create a healthy community,” he said. “I’ve seen the Y have an impact across a wide spectrum and hopefully that perspective is helpful as we move forward.”

Wright envisions a strong future for the Y, as 2026 will feature the grand opening of the new Village of Shorewood YMCA and the Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s year-long Centennial Celebration.

“It’s fun to look at our history and, when we reflect on our success over the years, we have the ability to learn from change and see how that leads to growth. The Y has always been able to evolve in positive ways,” Wright said.

 “We’re working hard to finish the Shorewood project, while also building upon established partnerships with Morris Hospital, Joliet Junior College, the Salvation Army, Messiah Lutheran Church, Endeavor Health, and so many others, to foster Y programs and services throughout Will and Grundy Counties.” 

“We are so thrilled to welcome Mike as Board Chairman,” YMCA President and CEO Katy Leclair said. “His generosity, kindness, and unwavering commitment to the Y mission have already had such a significant impact on our organization, and we know he will do an amazing job as we continue to grow over the course of the next two years.”

On behalf of the Y, we’d like to thank Mike for his continued leadership and wish him well in this new role.

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C.W. Avery Family YMCA Invites Community to 20th Anniversary Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA is excited to invite the community to attend a Celebratory Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to commemorate the C.W. Avery Family YMCA’s 20th Anniversary! Join us as we recognize two decades of service in Plainfield, celebrate fun memories, and prepare for more amazing experiences for the next 20 years and beyond.

Date: Wednesday, February 4
Time: 1-2 p.m.

Brief Remarks and Celebratory Ribbon Cutting will begin at 1:15 p.m.

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

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Celebrating YMCA Volunteer Leadership: Cheri Rubocki

This week we are excited to highlight one of our most dedicated volunteer leaders in Cheri Rubocki, whose two-year term as chairman of the Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s Board of Directors came to a close in December.

“As soon as I stepped on this board, I recognized the commitment, the collaboration, and the special people that we have at the Y. Everyone is willing to step up in any capacity and it’s such a collaborative group. It’s been so incredibly rewarding,” Rubocki said. 

Rubocki, a Joliet native, has spent more than 30 years in the banking industry and currently serves as the Southwest Suburbs Market President and Senior Director of Talent Strategy and Acquisition for Old National Bank. She has been involved with the Y for more than 25 years, dating back to her time as a JETS swim team parent, and previously served on the Galowich Family YMCA Advisory Council. 

“I want to give a special thanks to (Immediate Past Chair) Guy Christensen. He set such an incredible example for what a Y board member should be,” Rubocki said. “It’s also been amazing to work with Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Katy Leclair at the helm. Katy, her leadership team, and all staff members of the Y inspire us to want to do more.”

Rubocki said one of the highlights of her term, which began as construction efforts on the Morris Hospital YMCA were ongoing, was opening day for the Y’s first full service facility in Grundy County. 

“I think about all the work put in by the members of the Morris Capital Campaign and Morris Advisory Council, and to see the pride that was exuding from them on that day was so inspiring. To be a part of that was an absolute privilege,” she said. 

Rubocki also helped guide the launch of the new Joliet Community YMCA, an innovative initiative established in February 2025 that brings vital YMCA youth development, sports, and family programming to neighborhood locations throughout the greater Joliet community. 

“It’s been amazing to watch the partnerships we have with organizations like Joliet Junior College, the Salvation Army, and Messiah Lutheran Church grow and strengthen our services to children and families in Joliet,” she said.

And Rubocki noted that Y programs and services will continue to expand in the form of the new Village of Shorewood YMCA, which will open later this spring, 

“There is a ton of excitement about the new facility in Shorewood and we’re looking forward to the impact it will have on that community and beyond,” Rubocki said.

In addition to the Shorewood facility’s grand opening, 2026 will feature a yearlong Centennial Celebration for the Greater Joliet Area YMCA. It’s a milestone that demonstrates the Y’s continued commitment to service, Rubocki said.

“To reflect on the sheer number of families and people that we have helped in our community over the past 100 years is remarkable. It’s humbling to think about having a part in it,” she said.

On behalf of all of our members, volunteers, community partners, and the Y’s staff team, we thank Cheri for her generosity, service, and leadership.

“It has been an incredible honor to work alongside Cheri over the past two years,” Katy Leclair said. “Her drive to support the Y mission is unrivaled, and her ability to foster collaboration has contributed to successes that will have an immense impact on our Y for years to come.”

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Your Voice Matters: Village of Shorewood YMCA Program Surveys

As we prepare for the grand opening of the new Village of Shorewood YMCA in spring 2026, we are excited to learn more about the types of programs and classes Y members and the community would like to see offered in the new facility.

We have designed a series of four short electronic surveys, which are designed to gather feedback in the areas of Health and Wellness, Youth Development, Adult, and Aquatics programming. Your answers, combined with those of others, will help the Y plan for future programming and initiatives in the new Village of Shorewood YMCA.

Surveys will be available online January 13-31.

Health and Wellness Programs Survey

Youth Programs Survey

Adult Programs Survey

Aquatics Programs Survey

Thank you in advance for sharing your feedback!

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Tickets Now On Sale for the 2026 YMCA Gala

The 2026 YMCA Gala, generously presented by Midland States Bank, will be held on Saturday, February 28, 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 Paul E. Gantzert in recognition of his generous and inspiring charitable support of the Greater Joliet Area YMCA.

LEARN MORE
For more details about remaining sponsorship opportunities, or to purchase cash raffle/toast of the town raffle tickets, 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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United Way