Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

You are here: Home / Archives for Volunteers

Celebrating a Century of Community: Greater Joliet Area YMCA Proud to Highlight Volunteers This September

Throughout the month of September, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA will be counting down to the Y’s 100th anniversary on September 29 by spotlighting the incredible volunteers who have helped shape our Y and strengthen our community. These individuals have been invited to share some of their favorite memories and moments from their Y experience, as well as what the Y means to them and the communities it serves.

Be sure to follow along on our social media pages as we highlight these amazing volunters:

Facebook

C.W. Avery Family YMCA
Joliet Community YMCA
Morris Hospital YMCA
Village of Shorewood YMCA

Instagram

Greater Joliet Area YMCA

LinkedIn

Greater Joliet Area YMCA

SHARE THIS:

Strong Families, Strong Communities: JETS Swim Team the Perfect Fit for Autumn and Chris Crescenti

At the Y, our JETS Swim Team not only provides opportunities for youth to develop swimming skills, it supports the personal growth of children in the program, builds a welcoming community, and strengthens family bonds like those of Village of Shorewood YMCA members Autumn and Chris Crescenti. 

Autumn, a senior at Minooka High School, has been a proud member of the JETS since 2017. Her father, Chris, has also been an integral part of the JETS family, serving as Concessions Chair on the JETS Parent Advisory Council (JPAC) for the past five years.

Chris said watching Autumn progress from YMCA swim lessons into competitive swimming has been incredibly rewarding.

“When I think back to when she started swimming, she would cry when she would put her head back in the water. Only a few years later, she was making the Y state cut in backstroke. I’m proud that very quickly after she joined the team she was taking it seriously,” he said.

Autumn’s prowess in backstroke hasn’t been limited to impacting her own pursuits in the pool. She also serves as an age group coach for the JETS, offering guidance to kids ranging from ages 5-14.

“As a swimmer, sometimes the workouts make you go ‘ugh,’ but now that I’ve been coaching, I see why we do them,” she said. “And what I remember most about when I first joined the team is that the coaches would make sure we were having fun. I think that’s really important as a coach because you really need to connect with the kids. It makes them enjoy coming to practice.”

Autumn added that the JETS go above and beyond to make sure swimmers feel welcome and build positive relationships with their teammates. 

“The team does a really good job of doing activities outside of just swimming to connect us. We go on an annual Indiana Dunes trip where we go hiking and have fun with each other so it’s not just practice,” she said.

Chris said that the JETS ability to foster community is also reassuring for parents.

“The Y is the right fit because on other teams you can tell it’s purely competitive and the focus is only on winning meets. For the Y team, while very competitive with very good swimmers and coaches, that’s not the only focus. I think it gives a little more flexibility to kids. It’s also one of the more affordable programs. Anybody can swim with the JETS. If you can’t afford to do it, the Y offers a way for kids to swim through its scholarship program,” he said.

And, whether through lending a hand at the concession stand or helping time swimmers at meets, Chris said parent volunteers remain a core component of the program’s continued success.  

“In getting involved with JPAC, I’ve learned how important volunteering is to the team. And though I know as a parent sometimes you can be a little scared going into volunteering, we’re always here to help the next generation of parents. There’s nothing we haven’t seen. We can point the new parents in the right direction,” he said.

In so many ways, the JETS have offered a way for families like the Crescenti’s to build memories that last a lifetime.  

“The fact that we’re always together makes it really fun. The environment of swim meets is really fun too. You get to cheer for your teammates and compete at a high level,” Autumn said. 

“We have really good coaches and I think as a whole, the families and kids get along very well. I would recommend it for kids of any age who have an interest in swimming,” Chris said.


We are so proud to have Autumn and Chris in our Y community and we thank them for their continued service in support of the JETS. 

If your child is interested in joining the JETS Swim Team, there is still time to register for the team’s upcoming clinic at the Village of Shorewood YMCA:

Dates: August 31-September 2

Times: 5-6 p.m. (Ages 6-10) and 6-7 p.m. (Ages 11-17)

REGISTER ONLINE

Cost: $25
To learn more about the JETS, please contact Director of Competitive Aquatics Dave Hedden at [email protected].

SHARE THIS:

Joliet Community YMCA Volunteer Spotlight: Summer Day Camp Volunteer Kendall Love

YMCA Summer Day Camp not only offers an amazing learning experience for the campers visiting our seven camp locations, it also opens up leadership opportunities for local high school students through our Summer Camp Volunteer Program. By assisting camp staff with day-to-day activities, summer camp volunteers learn important life skills and help enrich the quality of our camp offerings.  

Among this year’s summer day camp volunteer contingent is Joliet Central student Kendall Love. Kendall is no stranger to the Y, as she previously participated in a wide range of YMCA programs herself including Kid Zone, Teen REACH, and of course, summer day camp. This summer, Kendall has had the opportunity to serve as a volunteer at our Salvation Army camp location. You can learn more about Kendall in the Q&A below. 

Q: Why did you choose to volunteer with summer day camp this year?

The reason I wanted to volunteer was because I really like kids and I want to be a school teacher. I knew the YMCA helps kids and I knew it could help me do what I want to do in the future.

Q: What do you enjoy most about volunteering at the Y?

I love playing games with the kids. Especially sharks and minnows. I also love helping organize the supplies and then helping the kids figure out what they want to do.

Q: What is something you have learned from this experience? 

You have to take your time and be down to earth in order to get kids to understand why you are asking them to do something. You have to try and put yourself in their shoes. Some of the kids need a little more help than others and you need to understand that. Whether we’re working on a craft, or explaining the directions on something that might be confusing, you can step into their shoes a little more and help them.

Q: What does the Y mean to you?

I feel like the Y has always been there for the special times in my life. I’ve been going to the Y since I was little, and I’ve made so many friends here. I grew up here and now I really enjoy volunteering here. A lot of staff I would call my family now. It’s created a lot of special memories. 

We are so thankful for the volunteer efforts of students like Kendall and we know it has been another amazing summer day camp season at the Y. 

SHARE THIS:

YMCA Volunteer Spotlight: Youth Basketball League Coach Rayvan Richardson

YMCA sports programs not only provide opportunities for children to stay active, in many instances they serve as a foundation for strong family relationships. In the case of Joliet Community YMCA volunteer Rayvan Richardson, becoming a Youth Basketball League (YBL) coach has opened the door to rewarding experiences with her sons – Corey (age 11), Glenn (age 9), and Josiah (age 7).

“The most rewarding part is being able to bond with my sons and connect with them. Basketball is a sport that I played and now they have a passion for it,” Rayvan said.

Rayvan, who served as a volunteer coach for the first time last season, said her decision to get involved at the Y was inspired in part by a conversation with her son, Corey.

“I don’t know if he was joking at first when he said ‘Mom you should coach my team,’ but I thought to myself ‘You know what, I should. I take you to practice anyway.’ And because volunteering is very important to help our youth, I felt I should give back.”

Rayvan said building confidence in children is the most important aspect of YMCA sports programs. 

“I feel like the Y brings kids together in a positive environment and allows them to be active. I always use my kids as an example. They stay busy, have fun, and make new friends. It’s important to start them young so as they grow older they’ve had some positivity in their lives,” she said.

She also believes coaching provides an outlet for personal development.

“It does teach you a lot more patience and I learned what helps is being an active participant in practice. Sometimes I’ll get into the drills with them because I feel like, if you put yourself out there, they have a little more fun and a little more inspiration to get the work done. And I end up feeling like a kid again myself.”

The impact of volunteering goes beyond Y programs, as Rayvan said it has strengthened ties to the community in her day-to-day life. 

“You meet new people and sometimes I’ll see a family at the store and they go ‘Hey that’s coach!’ It’s a joy to make those connections outside the Y,” she said. 

Overall, it’s an experience that has Rayvan already looking forward to next season.

“I love the kids and being around them. I’m so excited to come back next year,” she said.

We are so proud to have Rayvan as a volunteer and thank her for her efforts to support youth development in our community. If you are interested in serving as a volunteer coach in the Y’s fall youth sports leagues, you can sign up by clicking here. 

SHARE THIS:

YMCA Volunteer Profile: JETS Parent Advisory Council Chair Dawn Stephens

This weekend, the JETS Swim Team will host the 51st Annual Summer Classic Swim Meet at Lake Central High School in St. John, Indiana. As the team prepares to welcome more than 600 athletes to the event, the Y would like to highlight one of the amazing volunteers who makes the Summer Classic possible – JETS Parent Advisory Council (JPAC) Chair Dawn Stephens. 

“Dawn has been immensely helpful over the past several years in a couple key leadership roles as JPAC Chair and Meet Director,” Director of Competitive Aquatics Dave Hedden said. “She leads monthly meetings with parent volunteers who organize fundraising efforts and help host swim meets and other special events throughout the year.”

Dawn’s journey with the JETS began seven years ago when her children, Laura and Tristan, were looking to make the jump from YMCA swim lessons to competitive swimming.

“At that time, my daughter was going into eighth grade and my son was going into sixth grade. We wanted the kids to be able to swim in high school and learned high school coaches typically want kids to have at least a year on a club team. We were able to talk to one of the coaches at the Y and we have been a JETS family ever since,” Dawn said.

Dawn said she was eager to support the team as a volunteer right from beginning,

“I joined the JPAC as soon as I found out that the group existed. During our first fall parent meeting I saw a few of the JPAC parents talking about the things they did for the team and I wanted to be involved,” she said. 

Dawn says she felt welcomed right away with a strong culture of support emanating throughout the program. 

“Parents that had been involved a little bit longer didn’t leave me floundering. It’s a community that helps put it all together for you. Nothing is ever dumped on you. We always reach out to see what parents can handle, what they can help with. You’ll never be left alone,” she said. 

Dawn has gone on to help with preparations for multiple Summer Classic Meets, and said that this year’s edition will be the largest during her time with the JETS.

“In order to have the meet run successfully we need more than 200 volunteer slots filled. Many of those slots are timers, but we also have marshals that organize swimmers on the deck and off the deck, safety/first aid support, hospitality, and concessions. And, as we work through the volunteer schedules, we make sure to work it out so parents are still able to watch their kids swim. Being able to coordinate all of that and make sure that the meet is successful is incredibly rewarding,” she said.

Hedden shared that the volunteer support doesn’t go unnoticed by the JETS coaching staff.

“Volunteers are essential to our team, and also the sport of swimming in general. Dawn is calm under pressure and is always willing to lend a hand, and I am very grateful for all of her efforts,” Hedden said. 

The Y thanks Dawn and all the incredible volunteers that will make this weekend’s meet a special experience for swimmers and their families. 

And, as a reminder, there is still time to help support the JETS as a meet volunteer. To learn more, please contact:

Dave Hedden
[email protected]
(815) 782-0805

SHARE THIS:

Village of Shorewood YMCA Welcomes Community with Ribbon Cutting and Open House

The Village of Shorewood YMCA was proud to welcome the community to a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Open House on Saturday, May 2. 

Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Katy Leclair said that the event was the perfect way to continue the association’s Centennial Celebration.  

“As we celebrate our 100th anniversary throughout 2026, we are committed to creating welcoming and inviting spaces to deliver on our mission and to meet the ever-changing needs of our community. And, as we embark on our second century of service, we are so excited to begin writing our next chapter here in Shorewood,” Leclair said. 

The new YMCA facility, which was made possible thanks to an incredible partnership with the Village of Shorewood, has now eclipsed more than 6,200 members since opening its doors on April 27.

“We are so very grateful to Shorewood Mayor CC DeBold and the Village Board of Trustees for their partnership,” Leclair said. “We are also thankful for the support and leadership of the YMCA Board of Directors and Advisory Council members, as well as the dedicated staff and volunteers who greet everyone who walks through our doors with a smile and a kind word. Visitors always know that the Y is a place where they truly belong, and where they will be supported and celebrated every step along the way.”

Additional Ribbon Cutting Speakers Included:
Tasha Marsaglia, Plainfield Shorewood Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director
Andy Midlock, Village of Shorewood YMCA Advisory Council Member
Village of Shorewood Mayor CC DeBold
Illinois State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel
Dr. Robert Schiffbauer, Minooka CCSD 201 Superintendent
Ryan Van Acker, Minooka High School Student
Chris Ramirez, Greater Joliet Area YMCA Association Board of Directors Vice Chair
Karla Guseman, Village of Shorewood YMCA Advisory Council Chair
Trisha Dust, Village of Shorewood 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. The 967 was also onsite broadcasting live throughout the event.

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 Village of Shorewood YMCA, now is the perfect time as our Grand Opening Membership Sale is underway! You can join online today or by visiting the Y at 1801 W. Jefferson Street in Shorewood.

SHARE THIS:

United Way