Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

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Registration Underway for YMCA Ho, Ho, Hold Your Weight Challenge

Holiday Weight Maintenance Challenge Starting November 16

Our 8-week Holiday Weight Maintenance Challenge will help you get in shape and keep the weight off during the holiday season. We have a great plan to help you adopt healthy eating and exercise habits while saying ‘No’ to those tempting holiday cravings.

Are you up for the challenge?

If you can maintain your weight within 2 pounds for 8 weeks (November 16-January 10), you will receive a $20 YMCA credit that can be used towards any fitness program, including personal training. If you gain more than 2 pounds during this eight-week challenge, your fee will be donated in your name to the Y’s Mission Strong Fund.

There will be two mandatory weigh-ins:
Week 1 (some time between November 16 and November 21)
Week 8 (some time between January 4 and January 10)

There will also be optional weigh-in:
Week 4 (some time between December 7 and December 13)

As part of this fun-filled Holiday Weight Maintenance Challenge, you will receive:

  • A one-of-a-kind YMCA Holiday Weight Maintenance Challenge T-shirt
  • Weekly emails with workout tips, healthy holiday recipes and special fitness challenges, designed specifically for challenge participants

Let’s have a little fun this holiday season. Together, we will help you celebrate the holiday season happy and healthy!

Registration is now open. Select your branch below and sign up today!

C.W. Avery Family YMCA

Galowich Family YMCA

Morris Community YMCA

Smith Family YMCA

Cost: $25

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Be the Good and Support the YMCA Mission Strong Fund Today

Because the health and safety of our YMCA community is our top priority, volunteers from the Y’s BE THE GOOD Gala Committee, in partnership with Y staff, made the difficult decision to cancel our 2020 event, which was originally slated for this weekend.

Like you, we are very disappointed that we won’t be celebrating together at this year’s Gala, but we are looking forward to the day when we can all gather together again in our best attire to showcase the Y’s work in our community, and celebrate the generous donors who help make our mission come alive each and every day. 

Like many non-profit organizations, the Y has experienced substantial financial losses and unforeseen expenses as a result of COVID-19. To ensure that the Y’s mission can continue to thrive and help those in our community who need it most, we need the support of charitable giving more than ever. 

At past Galas, donors, like you, have generously supported the Y by purchasing tickets, raising their paddle, and purchasing live and silent auction items. Although we won’t be gathering in person at the Gala this year, we are encouraging members of the community to show their support for the YMCA by making a charitable gift to the Mission Strong Fund. A donation, in any amount, will help to change the lives of people living right here in our community.

Please take a few minutes to watch the video below, which highlights the work the Y has been doing in our community during these unprecedented times.

SUPPORT THE YMCA MISSION STRONG FUND

Please mark your calendars and plan to join us at our 2021 BE THE GOOD Gala, which will be held on Saturday, October 30, at the Bolingbrook Golf Club. It will surely be a night to remember.

Until then, we hope that you will consider making a donation to the Y’s Mission Strong Fund. Anyone who makes a charitable gift of $300 or more between October 21 and Sunday, October 25, 2020, will be entered in a drawing to win two tickets to our 2021 Gala.

Thank you again for your generous support of the YMCA.

DONATE NOW

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J-Power USA Donates $5,000 to YMCA Kid Zone PLUS

Through its commitment to youth development, the Y nurtures the potential of every child in its Kid Zone PLUS programs by incorporating the values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility in a resource-rich environment for children in grades K-8. Although the current public health crisis has presented new challenges, the Y has worked diligently with its partner school districts to adapt its child care programs to meet the needs of families in Will and Grundy Counties. These efforts are made possible through the generosity of organizations like J-Power USA, which recently provided a $5,000 donation in support of the YMCA Mission Strong Fund and Kid Zone PLUS. 

The Mission Strong Fund was established to help ensure the long-term sustainability of the YMCA in the wake of our COVID-19 related closure and aid continued community service efforts after our reopening. By supporting Mission Strong, the donation will provide assistance to multiple Greater Joliet Area YMCA youth development initiatives including:

  • Providing much-needed financial assistance for Kid Zone PLUS families who are experiencing hardships due to COVID-19.
  • Adapting our youth programs to incorporate lower staff-to-child ratios to meet social distancing guidelines.
  • Implementing new safety guidelines in our child care and youth enrichment programs.

The Y would like to thank J-Power USA for this donation and the role it will play in providing important services to students and families this school year. 

To learn more about the YMCA’s Mission Strong Fund or to pledge your support, please click here. 

Pictured in top photo: (L-R) Greater Joliet Area YMCA Youth Development Operations Director Erin Lightbody, Greater Joliet Area YMCA Chief Operating Officer Katy Leclair, J Power Assistant Director of Corporate Communication and Public Relations Joyce Bae, Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Jim Watts, Smith Family YMCA Executive Director Donnie Chestnutt, Smith Family YMCA Youth, Family and Outreach Director Catie Wallis, and Smith Family YMCA Membership Director Aracely Rubio.

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YMCA Members Invited to Participate in the Y’s October Check-In Challenge

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA would like to thank our members staying with us and playing a key role in keeping our Y community safe and healthy. We are excited to extend another fun opportunity to members during the month of October. 

All YMCA members are invited to participate in our October Check-In Challenge. Anyone who checks into the YMCA 8 or more times between October 1-31 will be entered to win free entry into the Y’s Holiday Weight Maintenance Fitness Challenge.

Stop by and see us!

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Greater Joliet Area YMCA Branches Set to Host Halloween Drive-Thru Celebrations

SPOOKY FUN FOR EVERYONE AT THE YMCA

Put on your spookiest costumes and head on over to your local YMCA for a Halloween Drive-Thru celebration complete with ghoulishly delightful decorations and bags of candy for all trick-or-treaters!

All events are free and open to the community. Full event details can be found below: 

C.W. Avery Family YMCA
15120 Wallin Drive
Plainfield, IL 60544
Thursday, October 29
5-7 p.m.

Guests will have the opportunity to take a spooktacular family photo at the Y’s Halloween tent. Families will be asked to remain in their vehicles while waiting in line for the photo opportunity.

Local families are also invited to email photos of their favorite ghosts, goblins, and princesses dressed in their Halloween bests to Youth and Family Director Shannon Stawikowksi at [email protected] by October 26 so they can be displayed on the big screen during the Y’s Halloween Drive-Thru celebration.

Smith Family YMCA
1350 S Briggs Street
Joliet, IL 60433
Thursday, October 29
5-7 p.m.

Families will be asked to remain in their vehicles during this event. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For additional information, please contact Youth & Family Outreach Director Catie Wallis at [email protected]

Morris Community YMCA
320 Wauponsee Street
Morris, IL 60450
Thursday, October 29
5-7 p.m.

Families will be asked to remain in their vehicles during this event. Cars will enter the YMCA parking lot from Jefferson Street and exit onto Wauponsee Street. For additional information, please contact Youth and Family Director Sarah Porzel at [email protected]. 

Galowich Family YMCA
749 Houbolt Road
Joliet, IL 60431
Friday, October 30
6:30-8 p.m.

Families will be asked to remain in their vehicles during this event. For additional information, please contact Executive Director Patty Hall at [email protected]

CANDY COLLECTION UNDERWAY

All Greater Joliet Area YMCA branches are also collecting candy donations in preparation for these events. Members are encouraged to drop off bags of candy in the collection boxes located in the lobby of the Y near the membership desk. Donated candy will be distributed to trick-or-treaters at the Y’s Drive-Thru Halloween celebrations. 

We hope you’ll join us!

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YMCA Halloween Pumpkin Carving Carving Contest

The Y wants to help members and families get into the Halloween spirit and we are excited to officially kick off our Halloween Pumpkin Carving contest! This is a great chance to show off the spooky side of your creativity and win a special prize.

Here’s how to enter:

  1. Grab your pumpkins and carve out a special Halloween design. Whether it’s jack-o-lanterns, ghosts or witches, we can’t wait to see your creations! Get the whole family involved!
  2. Email a photo of your pumpkin to [email protected]. Designs must be submitted by Sunday, October 25. Please be sure to include a name and Y branch in your submission. 
  3. Designs will be posted on the Facebook pages of the four Greater Joliet Area YMCA branches from Monday, October 26 through Wednesday, October 28. The designs with the most photo reactions will receive a gift card to an area restaurant. Winners will be announced on Thursday, October 29.

Good luck!

Greater Joliet Area YMCA Facebook Pages:

C.W. Avery Family YMCA

Galowich Family YMCA

Morris Community YMCA

Smith Family YMCA

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