Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

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2024 YMCA GALA Nets More Than $250,000 For Mission Strong Fund

It was truly a night to remember as an inspired and generous room of more than 450 supporters helped the Greater Joliet Area YMCA raise more than $250,000 at the 2024 YMCA Gala on Saturday, February 24, at the Bolingbrook Golf Club. Guests enjoyed an elegant evening that included dinner, live entertainment, and the opportunity to bid on exciting silent and live auction items. Funds raised from this year’s record-setting Gala will benefit the YMCA Mission Strong Fund, helping to ensure that no one is turned away from the Y due to the inability to pay. 

Generously presented by Midland States Bank, the 2024 YMCA Gala celebrated charitable giving at the YMCA by showcasing the Y’s impact throughout the community and the generous donors who make its mission come to life each and every day. Now in its 16th year, the Y’s signature fundraising event has raised more than $1.65 million to provide financial assistance for children, adults, and families living in our community. 

At this year’s Gala, the Y presented the inaugural William R. Lauer Service to Youth Award to Bill Lauer in recognition of his more than 60 years of inspiring service to the Greater Joliet Area YMCA and the youth in our community. Because of Bill’s amazing contributions, tens of thousands of kids in our community have had the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive at the YMCA. Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Katy Leclair also announced the establishment of the William R. Lauer Endowment Fund, which will help provide continued financial assistance to Y kids for years to come. To support this newly established Fund, visit our online giving portal and select ‘William R. Lauer Endowment Fund’ from the ‘Designation’ dropdown menu when making your donation. 

During the “Raise the Paddle” portion of the evening, the Y’s mission was brought to life by showcasing a YMCA story of impact. Guests generously raised their paddles in an auction-style format with individual contributions ranging from $50-$10,000. In total, “Raise the Paddle” contributions eclipsed $100,000 in support of the YMCA’s Mission Strong Fund.

Danielle Tufano served as the evening’s volunteer auctioneer and nine exciting packages were sold during the live auction. Items included an in-home, six–course dinner party, generously donated by Tom Grotovsky; a weekend trip to Nashville with two tickets to the Country Music Hall of Fame and a bottle of George Dickel 17-Year-Old Reserve Tennessee Whisky, generously donated by the Greater Joliet Area YMCA Board of Directors, Diageo, and Friends of the YMCA; and a complete collection of Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey, generously donated by Westside Liquors. The top-grossing item of the night was a two-week getaway to Hawaii, generously donated by Fred and Maria Bliznik.

This year’s Gala volunteer planning committee members included: Kathy Blessent, Madi Brown, Erica Garvey, Mary Jaworski, Maria Macris, Kristin Orban, Kari Ramirez, Whitney Valdivia, and Barb Ziegner. Donnie Chestnutt, Trisha Dust, Dori Fugate, Carolyn Hamilton, and Erin Lightbody provided staff support. 

Sponsors Included:

Presenting Sponsor
-Midland States Bank

Diamond Sponsor
-DIAGEO

Ruby Sponsors
-Edward Jones
-Narvick Bros. 
-Old National Bank

Emerald Sponsors
-Aux Sable/Pembina
-Blue Ribbon Products/Constellation Brands
-C. and J. Avery Family Foundation
-Canadian National
-D’Arcy Buick GMC
-Endeavor Health
-ExxonMobil
-Grundy Bank
-Gus P. Rousonelos
-Joliet Bank & Trust, A branch of Old Plank Trail Community Bank NA, A Wintrust Community Bank
-Joliet Junior College
-Old National Bank
-Plainfield Shorewood Area Chamber of Commerce
-Pursuit Wealth Group
-Stockton Wealth Management

Sapphire Sponsors
-Hometown National Bank
-Lori Bonarek Realty
-Old National Bank
-The Ziegner-Orban Family

Pearl Sponsors
–Busey Bank
-“D” Construction
-Dr. Theresa Rouse
-Joliet Bank & Trust, A branch of Old Plank Trail Community Bank NA, A Wintrust Community Bank -DesignGroup
-Merchants and Manufacturers Bank
-R.L. Sohol General Contractor, Inc.
-Ron Tirapelli Ford
-Village Flower Shop

Opal Sponsors
-Ascension Saint Joseph – Joliet
-Cuttin Edge Lawn to Landscape
-Law Offices of John F. Argoudelis, LLC
-Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers

In-Kind Support
-Graphic Promotions, Inc.
-Grundy County Chamber of Commerce
-Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry
-Plainfield Shorewood Area Chamber of Commerce

Save the date and make your plans to join us for the next YMCA Gala, which will be held on Saturday, February 22, 2025. We also invite you to participate in the 2024 YMCA Mission Strong Golf Classic, which will be held on Wednesday, September 18. Foursomes for the YMCA’s third annual outing will go on sale this summer.

To make a tax-deductible donation in support of the YMCA Mission Strong Fund, please click here.

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Say Hello to Summer: Registration for Summer Day Camp Opens for Facility Members on March 9

At the Y, we provide safe, affordable, and fun summer day camps for youth and teens in grades K-8. Kids have the opportunity to explore nature, find new talents, try new activities, gain independence, and make lasting friendships and unforgettable memories.

Daily activities include:

-Teambuilding
-Arts and Crafts
-Outdoor Exploration
-STEAM Activities
-Reading Time
-And so much more!

REGISTER EARLY AND SAVE!

Registration opens on March 9 for YMCA Facility Members and on March 16 for Community Members. Register for summer day camp by March 25, and pay a $0 registration fee, a savings of $45!

Learn more about YMCA Summer Day Camp programs available in your area by clicking below.

C.W. Avery Family YMCA (Serving Plainfield and the surrounding communities)

C.W. Avery Family YMCA (Serving Valley View School District 365U)

Galowich Family YMCA (Serving children in Grades K-5 in Joliet and the surrounding communities)

Galowich Family YMCA Teen REACH (Serving children in Grades 6-8 in Joliet and the surrounding communities)

Morris Community YMCA (Serving Morris and the surrounding communities)

In addition to summer day camp, the YMCA offers a variety of sports, preschool, and specialty camps each summer.

EARLY BIRD SALE

Save $5 when you register for a summer sports or specialty camp between March 9-25. Use promo code: CAMP5OFF when registering online. Valid at any Greater Joliet Area YMCA location. Some restrictions may apply.

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2024 YMCA Gala Silent Auction Bidding Now Open

The 2024 YMCA Gala will be held on Saturday at the Bolingbrook Golf Club. Since its inception, the Y’s signature fundraising event has raised more than $1.4 million to benefit families within our community. Even if you won’t be attending this year’s event, you can still support the YMCA by bidding on items in our Silent Auction. Proceeds from the YMCA Gala will benefit the Mission Strong Fund, helping to ensure that no one is turned away from the Y due to the inability to pay.

Bidding is Now OPEN!

To explore this year’s Silent Auction and begin placing your bids, please visit our Event Headquarters by clicking below. To register, please click the ‘Log In’ button in the upper right corner, and add your e-mail address and payment information. After completing the registration process, you will receive an email that provides you with a link to our Mobile Bidding site and your bid number. Upon visiting our Mobile Bidding site, you will be able to begin bidding on items in our highly anticipated Silent Auction. Winning bidders who are not in attendance can pick up their auction items at their local Y branch the week of February 26.

YMCA GALA HEADQUARTERS

PLEASE NOTE: If you are attending this year’s Gala, you should have already received an email with a registration link to your personal bidder number. If you haven’t already received this welcome email, please contact Volunteer and Community Engagement Director Dori Fugate at [email protected].

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Greater Joliet Area YMCA Announces Spring 2024 College Tours

To support area high school students, the YMCA’s Teen Achievers program will be organizing four one-day college tours this spring to premier institutions of higher learning in Illinois and Indiana. All college tours will depart from the Galowich Family YMCA, located at 749 Houbolt Road in Joliet. Departure from the Y may be as early as 7 a.m. and arrival back to the Y will be no later than 6 p.m. Finalized trip itineraries will be communicated the week prior to the tour.

Registration is underway and is open to the community. Students can register on a per-tour basis. Spots are limited, so don’t delay!

SPRING 2024 COLLEGE TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, March 25
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
REGISTER TODAY

Tuesday, March 26
Lewis University and Northwestern University
REGISTER TODAY

Wednesday, March 27
Valparaiso University and Chicago State University
REGISTER TODAY

Thursday, March 28
Purdue University
REGISTER TODAY

Cost:

$30 per tour (includes lunch, transportation, and a long-sleeve shirt)

Registration Deadline:

Registration and payment must be received by Friday, March 22.

To learn more about the YMCA’s Teen Achievers program click here or contact: 

Brooke Hall
Senior Childcare Director
[email protected]
(815) 744-3939, ext. 316

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Meet C.W. Avery Family YMCA Lifeguards Nancee Furlan, Michael Auld, Mike Burcham, and Debbie Stevens

YMCA lifeguards pictured left to right: Nancee Furlan, Michael Auld, Mike Burcham, and Debbie Stevens.

Working at the YMCA is an experience that can help individuals in any stage of their life. And, whether you are a retiree looking to stay active and embark on a second career, or someone hoping to use their spare time to make a positive impact on their community, the Y is the perfect place to start.

Mike Burcham (age 67), Nancee Furlan (65), Michael Auld (61), and Debbie Stevens (56) have all become lifeguards at the C.W. Avery Family YMCA in recent years, and they are enjoying every minute of it!

“I swim here regularly and I heard from (Aquatics Director) Cindy Moss that they were hiring lifeguards,” Burcham said. “I had been a lifeguard back in the 70’s, so I ended up taking the course to retrain. The pool is so well organized and safety is the number one priority of everyone on the deck.”

Furlan, a retired teacher, also had previous experience as a lifeguard.

“I used to work at the downtown Joliet Y when I was in college. I was worried at first about whether I’d still pass the swim tests, but it worked out fine,” she said.

Auld, who first joined the Y in 2006, said that being able to give back to the community in which he’s been a long-time member is a rewarding aspect of joining the part-time staff team at the C.W. Avery Family YMCA.

“I had the time on my hands and this gives me an opportunity to do something helpful,” he said.

For Stevens, seeing her daughter go through lifeguard certification was a key factor in becoming a lifeguard herself.

“My daughter was getting ready to become a lifeguard at her college in New York and for a portion of her training a family member had to be on-site. Since I had to be there, I figured I’d take the class as well and get certified myself,” Steven said. “When I came back to Plainfield, I saw the need for lifeguards and, since I was trying to get myself back into swimming anyway, I decided to join the team.”

Though they took their own paths to start working at the Y, the journey since starting on staff has been one taken together.

“We know that there is an age gap between us and the majority of the group that works in the aquatics department,” Furlan said. “So it’s been nice to have others in the same peer group going through the same experience. I’ve felt much more comfortable and we’ve all started to bridge the gap as a group.”

Aquatics Director Cindy Moss expressed that the group provides invaluable contributions to the lifeguard staff team.

“Our staff is reflective of the greater Y community in that we bring together individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds and career experience,” Moss said. “Mike, Nancee, Michael and Debbie have all done an amazing job and we are so thankful for their dedication to keeping Y members safe when using our pools.”

In addition to collaborating with other lifeguards, building relationships with Y members themselves has been a highlight of working at the Y.

“One of the things I enjoy is being able to chat with the swimmers that come in every day and have become regular friends,” Stevens said.

“The interactions are fun,” Auld said. “It’s amazing to see kids progress from being afraid to jump in the water to being totally excited about swimming.”

Burcham said that he has been asked by multiple members about working at the Y. 

“A few of them are only a year or two away from retirement and are looking for something new. I tell them how great it is to work here and that I really look forward to every day,” he said. “When you watch the families enjoy time together and you’re one of the ones helping keep them safe, you walk away feeling good about your day at work.”

On behalf of the Y, we would like to thank Mike, Nancee, Michael, and Debbie for their continued service. If you would like to join the Y’s aquatics team, apply online today.

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Register Today for 2024 JETS Swim Team Spring Clinics

The Joliet Y JETS swim team offers a range of practice groups, from beginner to advanced, based on age, skill, speed and commitment. To be placed on the beginning level of the team, swimmers must be able to swim freestyle for one length of the pool (25 yards) without stopping while demonstrating the ability to comfortably swim at the surface with arms reaching forward over the water, their face in the water, and taking breaths to the side. They must also swim 25 yards of backstroke without stopping, showing they are comfortable floating on their back while maintaining a rhythmic, supportive kick.

A member of both YMCA and USA Swimming, the JETS prepare for and participate in a variety of meets throughout the year, although competition is not mandatory. The team practices from 3 to 6 days per week, depending on group placement, at both the Avery and Galowich YMCA branches. Swimmers are encouraged to attend practices and work hard, however 100% attendance is not required.

If you’re interested in joining the JETS, please join us at one of our upcoming Swim Clinics. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the JETS and to meet our team and coaching staff. Throughout the week, coaches will be evaluating swimmers for team placement. A YMCA membership is not required to participate in the clinic. Registration is underway for Facility Members!

Cost: $25

C.W. Avery Family YMCA

Ages 6-10
Dates: March 18-20
Time: 5-6 p.m.
REGISTER TODAY (Waitlist)

Ages 11-17
Dates: March 18-20
Time: 6-7 p.m.
REGISTER TODAY

Galowich Family YMCA

Ages 6-17
Dates: March 19-21
Time: 5-6 p.m.
REGISTER TODAY

To learn more about the JETS, please contact:

Dave Hedden
Director of Competitive Aquatics
[email protected]

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