On Wednesday, February 19, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA was proud to announce an $850,000 grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development that will support YMCA programming at the Salvation Army Joliet Corps Community Center.
Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Katy Leclair, YMCA Operations Director Brooke Hall, Salvation Army Joliet Corps Community Center Pastor and Administrator Scott Hurula, and Salvation Army Associate Chicago Area Commander Major K. Kendall Mathews were joined by support staff from the YMCA and Salvation Army to welcome U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood for a special check presentation. Underwood, who championed the grant through the application process, was also presented with a special thank you message made by students in the YMCA’s before and after school Kid Zone are program.
Leclair, Hall, Hurula, and Matthews reiterated that the grant will strengthen the YMCA’s partnership with the Salvation Army, which began with efforts to support e-learning for local students during the COVID-19 pandemic, and now helps provide summer day camp programming to area families.
Funds from the grant will be used to create a family innovations lab and STEAM programming space at the Salvation Army Community Center, allowing the YMCA to expand after school offerings as well as new activities during YMCA summer day camp.
Features will include:
- A computer programming and coding lab, including robotics and 3-D printing.
- A fine arts studio for painting, sculpture, vocal and instrumental music, etc.
- A video production studio, including green screen technology.
- A maker space where children and families can express their creativity.
We can’t wait to welcome students and families to these new spaces!
