The Greater Joliet Area YMCA mourned the passing of long-time Galowich member and Joliet businesswoman Mynne “Sis” Schmidt in December of last year. In 2014, Sis pledged her support for the YMCA’s mission by creating an endowed fund within the YMCA endowment. This fund was established to provide support for free swim instruction, a cause that was dear to her. Sis’s generous spirit and unwavering love for the community will now live on in perpetuity thanks to a $100,000 gift, which the YMCA recently received from Sis’s estate.
Annual earnings from the Sis Schmidt Endowed Fund will benefit the Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s Safety Around Water program, which has provided more than 10,000 free swim lessons to students in Joliet area schools since 2008. At the Y, no one is turned away for the inability to pay, and fulfilling that mission would not be possible without the generosity of donors like Sis Schmidt.
We thank Sis for her incredible support of the Y over the years, and look forward to honoring her memory through our programs.
A planned gift, such as a bequest in a will, can be among the most impactful major gifts someone looking to leave a legacy at the Y will ever make. Planned giving allows donors the option of supporting the Y financially without drawing on current income. There are several options to consider including bequests, life insurance, charitable trusts and charitable annuities. These types of gifts ensure future funding for the Y, but can also provide tax benefits to the donor. Contact your local Y to learn more or call the Y’s Development Department at (815) 782-0809.
