Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

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Greater Joliet Area YMCA Invites Area High School Students to Participate in Summer Day Camp Volunteer Program

Are you looking to take an active role in bringing about meaningful, enduring change right in your own neighborhood? The YMCA’s summer day camp volunteer program is for you!

Area high school students, entering grades 9-12, can now sign up to volunteer at the following YMCA Summer Day Camp locations throughout Will and Grundy Counties:

C.W. Avery Family YMCA
Morris Hospital YMCA
Village of Shorewood YMCA
Salvation Army Community Center
Messiah Lutheran Church

With flexible schedules, and a variety of volunteer roles available, you will be sure to find a volunteer opportunity that piques your interest and proves to be a rewarding experience.

At the Y, we strive to create a summer day camp experience like no other. And we are proud to say that volunteers play an important role in the success of these programs. By working together, we can ensure that all children will have the opportunity to benefit from an engaging and impactful camp experience. Students can apply online today by clicking below.

Volunteer Application

To learn more about becoming a YMCA Summer Camp Volunteer, please contact:

Dori Fugate, Volunteer and Special Events Director
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (815) 744-3939, ext.

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C.W. Avery Family YMCA Welcomes Community for 20th Anniversary Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

On Wednesday, February 4, the C.W. Avery Family YMCA was proud to welcome the community to a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the facility’s 20th Anniversary.

The event began with opening remarks from Plainfield Shorewood Area Chamber of Commerce (PSACC) Executive Director Tasha Marsaglia, who invited C.W Avery Family YMCA Advisory Council Chairman Brian Minnis to give the afternoon’s invocation. Marsaglia then introduced Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Katy Leclair, who began by thanking everyone who has helped shape the Y’s story in Plainfield.

Leclair noted that, from the very beginning, the Y’s focus on bringing people together has found a generous embrace from our members, resulting in a vibrant community center where everyone is welcome.

She added that the C.W. Avery Family YMCA is now home to more than 17,000 members and program participants, and that the Y’s mission is brought to life through visionary staff leadership and invaluable volunteer and donor support. She also credited the strength of continued partnerships with local organizations like Endeavor Health, Plainfield School District 202, and Valley View CUSD 365U, for helping the Y thrive. 

Leclair then welcomed C.W. Avery Family YMCA Executive Director Erin Lightbody as the next speaker. Lightbody expressed gratitude for the day-to-day efforts of YMCA employees and volunteers and emphasized that the Y has a unique ability to help make the community stronger in a variety of ways. 

“I know I speak for our entire staff when I say how grateful we are for the opportunity to bring joy and play a small part in the Y stories that unfold throughout this building and in our programs every single day,” Lightbody said. 

Lightbody then introduced Lauren Betzwiser, granddaughter of Judy and the late Clyde Avery, who thanked the Y for honoring her family’s legacy and serving the community.

The Y then celebrated the support of the Village of Plainfield by inviting Mayor John Argoudelis to speak. Mayor Argoudelis, an advocate of the Y for many years, described the Y’s role in Plainfield’s continued growth, providing vital health, wellness, and youth development programs ensuring that residents have opportunities to thrive.  

The event concluded with members of the C.W. Avery Family YMCA Advisory Council, Greater Joliet Area YMCA Board of Directors, and YMCA staff joining together to cut a ceremonial ribbon in celebration of this important milestone.

To learn more about the C.W. Avery Family YMCA, please visit our branch homepage by clicking here.

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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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Register for 2026 YMCA Spring Sports Leagues

When kids play sports, they do more than just exercise. Besides being physically active, they develop higher self-esteem, perform better in school and work better in groups.  Youth sports programs at the YMCA teach kids the fundamentals of the game while emphasizing the importance of teamwork. Above all, kids who participate in YMCA youth sports have a lot of fun.

And now, registration is underway for YMCA spring sports leagues! As a reminder, Facility and Community Members from all Greater Joliet Area YMCA branches are welcome to participate at all league locations.

Learn more about spring sports leagues available at your local Y branch by clicking below:

C.W. Avery Family YMCA
Offering NFL FLAG Football, T-Ball/Coach Pitch Baseball/Player Pitch Baseball, and Soccer
REGISTER ONLINE

Joliet Community YMCA
Offering NFL FLAG Football
REGISTER ONLINE

Morris Hospital YMCA
Offering NFL FLAG Football and T-Ball/Pinto Baseball/8U Softball
REGISTER ONLINE

If you have any questions, please contact:
Maria Freeh, Sports Director
C.W. Avery Family YMCA
[email protected]
(815) 267-8600, ext. 217

Zach Jarosz, Sports Director
Joliet Community YMCA
[email protected]
(815) 744-3939, ext. 317

Kaeli Ford, Sports Director
Morris Hospital YMCA
[email protected]
(815) 513-8080, ext. 523

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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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Community Grows Here: Morris Hospital YMCA Unveils History Wall

In celebration of the Morris Hospital YMCA’s first anniversary, the Y unveiled a new history wall within the facility in January 2026. This installation honors the visionary leaders and impactful moments that shaped our journey, and will help connect visitors with the Y for years to come.

We remain deeply grateful to the volunteers, donors, and community partners whose dedication to the Y’s mission, and to the residents of Grundy County, made this transformational project possible. This remarkable achievement demonstrates what can be accomplished when a community unites around a shared vision of health, belonging, and opportunity.

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United Way