C.W. Avery, Central City, Galowich, Morris
The Greater Joliet Area YMCA is proud to announce five winners for our 2019 Holiday Card Design Contest. These designs were selected from hundreds submitted to our four branches and will be featured on the Y’s 2019 Holiday Cards. Thank you to all who participated! You can see the contest winners and their designs below.
Everyone who walks through the doors of a YMCA becomes an integral piece of a strong community. These connections are built across multiple generations, with a great example coming from this afternoon’s Fall Fest at the C.W. Avery Family YMCA. Now in its third year, this annual event brings together members of our Fab 50 program with children in our Pint-Size Pupils youth enrichment program for a day of games, arts and crafts and other fun activities.
“It’s so nice to have the interaction between the Fab 50 group and the preschool kids. We’re not strangers to them. They’ve come in to sing songs during Halloween and a few of us go in and volunteer at preschool during parts of the day,” Fab 50 member Beverly Webb said.
Webb, a former school teacher, is one of the event organizers and said that the day reflects a commitment to a lifetime of learning.
“This is the first time I’ve worked with kids this young because I taught second and third grade. They’ve helped me learn to explain things further and to think in their terms,” she said. “Pinterest in my friend. That’s where I get a lot of the ideas and then I get my husband to help me put them together.”
For Fab 50 members like Joe Miraglia (76) and Leon Mowrer (96) helping children develop social skills and stay active is a treasured experience.
“The way they react to you, they end up looking up to you. It’s fun to see them and later walk by because they’ll go ‘Hey Mr. Joe!’. They are kind of our replacement grandchildren,” Miraglia said.
“I can’t really even describe what this does for me. I just love the kids,” Mowrer said. “I wish I could do more but I’m a little older now. All my grandkids are grown up already so when I can do things with the kids here it’s a big thrill. They make my day.”
A corresponding Spring Fest is scheduled for next April. Webb said every event provides new and exciting memories.
“I enjoy being with these little ones. You never know what they’ll say or do. They’re wonderfully unpredictable,” she said.
For more information on Fab 50 or Pint-Size Pupils, contact Youth and Family Director Shannon Stawikowski at (815) 267-8600 ext. 212 or [email protected]
At the Y, we not only provide opportunities for young adults to maintain a healthy lifestyle, but also find ways to help them become well-rounded members of the community. JETS Swimmer Julie Wang is one such individual. Wang has been selected as one of just 22 swimmers from around the country to attend the YMCA’s Emerging Leader Academy in Orlando, Florida. The Academy’s conference will run from October 10 to October 13, providing an arena for students to hone their swimming talents as well further develop their leadership skills.
“These athletes are not only great swimmers, they are great kids. They have a combination of athletic skill and leadership qualities that stand out,” Director of Competitive Aquatics Ashleigh Thomas said. “Being able to lead is something the Y Leadership Conference looks for and wants to continue to develop.”
Wang’s relationship with the Y began when she was just five years old. At that time, she looked up to her older brother and his place in the JETS swim program.
“He had started when he was eight and swam until he graduated high school. I saw that he was having so much fun with the team and I wanted that as well. It motivated me. One of my goals was to improve on my swimming, but I also wanted to make friends,” Wang said.
Wang has maintained a strong relationship with her team members and says their support has made going to practices and meets some of the best experiences of her life.
“You feel like you’ve accomplished something because they are there to cheer you on. We’re highly motivated and hold each other accountable,” she said.
Wang, a junior at Joliet West High School, has taken what she has learned from her time on the JETS and put it into action for her school’s team.
“It’s a very different dynamic. Our team is in development and we’re trying to build a culture and a program. I came in as a freshman and was the fastest swimmer. When you’re in a situation like that a lot of people look to you. I realized you have to set a good example. The JETS has helped me strive to work harder,” Wang said.
Thomas said one of Wang’s strengths is her drive to be successful in a wide range of activities. Wang is a straight-A student and also plays the french horn for her school band.
“Julie is extremely well-rounded which is great if you’re going to compete in anything. She has this creative musical side to her and when you put her in groups she works well with different people,” Thomas said.
Wang tries to apply the principles of patience and dedication she has learned from JETS into everyday life.
“Swimming has taught me a lot about responsibility and time management. I always looked up to the older kids on the team and watched them succeed. I strived to do that as well and become the best version of myself,” Wang said.
In addition to the on-site “swimposium” aspect of the conference, academy assignments include online learning, interviews, self-assessment and a service project. Topics addressed will include leadership styles, communication, problem-solving and decision-making, difficult conversations, inclusion, influencing culture and mentorship. Wang is looking forward to what the program can teach her.
“I was honored to be considered. Being called a leader is a huge compliment. Ever since I was little, I have liked to take action to help people. It’s really rewarding,” Wang said. “I am blessed with so many opportunities and I want to make a difference and help the people around me. I feel like I’ll get to work on my leadership skills and meet other people with the same mentality.”
We congratulate Julie on her accomplishments and are proud to have her representing the Great Joliet Area YMCA this week!
The Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s summer volunteer program helps young adults gain meaningful work experience while providing extra care to our summer campers. We are proud to say that in 2019 the program’s size and impact grew significantly from the previous year.
The total number of volunteers this summer expanded from 35 to 69, and this hard-working group provided 325 more hours of service than in 2018. Volunteers not only helped in day-to-day summer camp activities, but also lent a hand in the Y’s summer pre-school and sports camps.
“The group of teens we had this summer were great. We had a number of returning volunteers who were able to show the new volunteers “the ropes” so it made it much easier for all to adjust and know just what to do to help,” Volunteer and Development Operations Manager Dori Fugate said.
Children who attend YMCA summer camps participate in a wide range of learning opportunities. Volunteers play a pivotal role in delivering these educational activities throughout the summer.
“This summer, our volunteers assisted counselors and instructors with many education projects, including STEM project facilitation and gardening education,” Fugate said. “Because of the hours that our volunteers put in, our counselors and instructors were able to spend more quality time with all of our campers.
Fugate noted that the Y is flexible to the needs and availability of volunteers and that the program’s overarching goal is to help young adults maintain a connection with the community.
“Volunteering is such a great way to have a positive influence on our youth and goes a long way for our volunteers when they get ready to embark on college and enter the workforce in the future,” Fugate said. “I hope that our teens gain a sense of purpose when they volunteer and know that they’re making a difference in the lives of others within our Y and within our community.”
Fugate said that she is hoping to see the program continue to grow and that the Y can build a long-term relationship with volunteers.
“We are providing a chance for our teens to build new skills, take on new challenges, make new friends and just have fun, all of which is key as we develop our future young leaders. We are hopeful that our volunteers return to us to volunteer for us in a greater capacity or join us some day as employees,” Fugate said.
To sign up for our summer volunteer program, click here. Learn more about other ways you can volunteer at the Y by visiting our volunteer webpage.
The Smith Family YMCA marked the beginning of a new era on Monday by cutting the ribbon for a new playground complex. It was a project that would not have been possible without contributions from multiple community organizations and businesses, chief among them Laraway School District 70C, the Will County Board, the Joliet Park District and CPC Powder Coating.
Greater Joliet Area YMCA CEO Jim Watts opened the celebration by detailing some of the Y’s history in the community and acknowledging the tremendous support the Y continues to receive from its community partners.
Smith Family YMCA Executive Director Donnie Chestnutt followed by thanking Y staff members for their hard work and dedication to making resources like the new playground a vital part of enriching the lives of children. She also noted that the playground is just one part of a multifaceted improvement to the Smith facility, coinciding with renovations to the Kids Corner and Activity Center earlier this year. She emphasized the role of donors in the Y’s ability to develop and maintain these projects.
Will County Board Member Pastor Herb Brooks was asked to give a blessing to the playground as well as other Y facilities before Chestnutt introduced Before and After School Care Director Darren Callahan.
Callahan expressed his gratitude and explained that having the playground will help the Y continue to provide a safe place for children, give them opportunities to maintain physical activity, and develop their social skills among peers.
Carl Smith of the Greater Joliet Area YMCA Board of Directors and Smith Family YMCA Advisory Council then spoke about how projects like the playground installation are what inspires board members in their passion to improve the community. He presented a replica poster of the banner that will hang in the Smith gym for each of the core donors:
-Laraway School District 70C, represented by Superintendent Joe Salmieri and members of the school board, was recognized for donating the playground equipment after the construction of a new school.
-The Will County Board, with special thanks to Speaker Denise Winfrey and Pastor Herb Brooks, played a key role in the project by donating $15,000 in partnership with Waste Management to help cover various costs of the project.
-The Joliet Park District, represented by Executive Director Brad Staab, was thanked for their expertise and help facilitating the movement of the playground equipment.
-And CPC Powder Coating aided the completion of the project by giving new life to the playground with a fresh, durable paint job.
After recognizing our generous donors, Chestnutt invited Will County State’s Attorney Jim Glasnow to speak. Glasnow noted that organizations like the Y help him in his role to keep communities safe, noting that investment into the well-being of children is one of the most important tasks of crime prevention.
Chestnutt closed with a final thank you to all in attendance and invited donors, staff and kids in the Smith Family YMCA’s Kid Zone program to help cut the ribbon, officially opening the new playground.
The YMCA’s Holiday Card Design Contest is back! Open to Y Members, ages 6-12, the contest is the perfect opportunity for kids to let their artistic talents shine and help spread a little cheer this upcoming holiday season.
Here’s how to enter:
1. Download an entry form and print it out. Entry forms are also available at the Y’s Front Desk.
2. Grab some crayons, markers and colored pencils and draw a picture that depicts your favorite things about the holidays and the winter season. From snowmen to Christmas trees, to candy canes and snowflakes, we can’t wait to see your original designs!
3. Complete the entry form and drop it off at the Y.
We will select our three favorite designs—one from each age group—to be featured on the Y’s holiday card.
Age Groups
Each of our winners will receive a YMCA Sweatshirt and other exciting prizes.
The deadline to enter is Friday, October 25.
