Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

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Teen Achievers Kick-Off Lock-In Set For October 19

One of the Y’s most beloved programs, Teen Achievers provides area high school students with the guidance and support they need to discover their identities, embrace their passions, and become their best selves.

With the support of the Y’s dedicated Teen and Young Adult staff team, students learn to manage their stress, time, and emotions, and learn about the importance of making confident and wise decisions during their high school years. Through weekly conversations, informative guest speakers, and college visits, students learn about life after high school and receive the encouragement to, not just complete twelfth grade, but to be truly prepared for whatever comes next.

And with Teen Achievers sessions beginning soon, we’d like to invite students from the community to join us in celebrating the first ever Teen Achievers Kick-Off Lock-In on October 19! This event will be hosted at the C.W. Avery Family YMCA and is sure to be a blast with a bounce house, pool inflatable, open gym, taco stand, karaoke, dance party and more! Come hang out with friends, meet new people, and discover more about our Teen Achievers program at this exclusive, high school student-only event! See below for details.

Teen Achievers Kick-Off Lock-In

Saturday, October 19 from 6:30-11 p.m.

C.W. Avery Family YMCA
15120 Wallin Dr
Plainfield, IL 60544

Open to Freshmen-Seniors in high school

Cost: Free

Registration Deadline: October 18

Register online or stop by your local branch today!

To learn more about Teen Achievers, this year’s school sites, or our new TA2 program, which will be hosted at the Galowich Family YMCA beginning in October, click here.

For any additional questions please contact:
Kelsey Kruel
Teen & Young Adult Advancement Manager
[email protected]
(815) 782-0303

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Volunteer Basketball Coaches Needed


Calling all parents, leaders, mentors and basketball enthusiasts! We have a unique opportunity for you. The YMCA is in need of volunteer coaches for the upcoming Youth Basketball Season. For a couple hours each week, we’re looking for someone who can:

  • Instill positive values
  • Teach the importance of teamwork and sportsmanship
  • Promote the benefits of physical activity
  • Lead, encourage and have fun at the time

Get involved today by contacting your local YMCA.

C.W. Avery Family YMCA
Maria Romero
[email protected]
(815) 267-8600, ext. 217

Galowich and Smith Family YMCAs
Patty Hall
[email protected]
(815) 744-3939, ext. 327

Morris Community YMCA
Chris Interial
[email protected] 
(815) 513-8080, ext. 514

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Ignite Your Passion: Erik Cross’ Story

Being healthy is about more than just exercising your body. In order to embrace a healthy lifestyle, it’s important to balance physical fitness with an equally strong mind and spirit. At the Y, you will find the people, programs and support you need to achieve this balance. And, that is exactly what happened for Erik Cross.

In 2016, Cross, then just 19 years old, knew he had big decisions to make when it came to his health, well-being, and future career.

“I was at a place in my life where I was unhappy with a lot of things,” said Cross. “I was not very happy with my current job or my physical fitness.”

It was at that time that Cross’ friend, Alex, started exercising at the YMCA. One day, Alex invited Cross to accompany him using one of his guest passes.

“I went with Alex to work out at the Y one time,” said Cross. “After that one visit, I fell in love. The environment was welcoming and the people were great.”

The very next day Cross returned to the YMCA and became a member. He began to consistently exercise seven days a week, doing everything from strength training, to cardio, to group fitness classes. He also focused on eating healthier.

Cross before (left) and after (right)

“I started to think differently when it came to exercising and eating,” said Cross. “With a consistent fitness schedule and diet, being healthy didn’t feel like a chore anymore and I loved the way I felt.”

In just two months he started to see the results in more ways than one. Cross explained that he not only lost over 20 pounds, but he also had a significant increase in his endurance and he started to feel more confident in himself. After hitting his first milestone, Cross was more motivated than ever.  He continued to exercise and work on improving his eating habits for the next couple of years.

By 2019 Cross felt he was in a good place with his physical fitness, but he was still searching for the right career.  A breakthrough came during one of his routine morning visits to the Y’s Briggs Street location. Membership Manager Aracely Rubio offered Cross a job as a Membership Desk Attendant at the Y. It didn’t take long for him to jump at the opportunity.

“I just knew it was the perfect job for me,” he explained. “I enjoyed exercising and the Y was a place that made me happy.”

Since beginning his fitness journey at the Y, Cross has lost more than 100 pounds—dropping from 315 pounds to 195 pounds. Through his journey, he has discovered a new love for fitness and found a career as a personal trainer at the Galowich and Smith Family YMCAs. For Cross, becoming a personal trainer is more than just a job.  As a personal trainer, he hopes to support other Y members as they set and achieve their own fitness goals the same way he did.

To learn more about personal training at the Y, group exercise classes or free fitness consultations, be sure to speak with a member of our wellness team during your next visit.

As a reminder, our September personal training sale is underway!  When you purchase a set of four personal training sessions during the month of September, you’ll get the fifth session free.

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Swimming Further Faster: Alexa Barajas’ Story


One of the area’s most historic youth swimming clubs, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s JETS Swim Team is a year-round developmental competitive swimming program that offers instruction and training for swimmers, ages five and up.

The program provides a goal-oriented environment where swimmers of all ages can learn the importance of teamwork and sportsmanship while developing competitive swimming skills. 

This summer, JETS swimmer Alexa Barajas broke the second oldest record in the program’s 9-10 year old division when she posted a time of 1:22.20 in the 100 meter fly at the Illinois Age Group State Championships. The record had stood since 1980 and marked Alexa’s seventh individual JETS record (she posted six in the eight year-old division) to go along with a place on a record-breaking 200 medley relay team two years ago. 

“Alexa has all the great qualities of a swimmer in that she is not just a hard worker and competitive, but she also gets along well with people,” Director of Competitive Aquatics Ashleigh Thomas said. “Those are really good characteristics of somebody who is going to be successful. She really thrives on competition with her peers and sharing the victories. You’re not going to be successful as a lone wolf.”

This record-setting swim put a fitting cap on a summer of hard work for Alexa. 

JETS swimmer Alexa Barajas looks up at a timing board during a competition earlier this year.

“I was really happy with my performances. It was fun,” Alexa said. “I like my surroundings. I have very nice friends and the coaches are very supportive. They always give some good critiques. They tell me to always work hard so I try to work as hard as possible, even when I’m down.”

Alexa said the key to her success is her pre-race stretch routine where she likes to size up the competition. While she doesn’t focus on breaking a record in every swim, she said having prior success motivates her to get better.

“I just think ‘I’ve done this before so I can do it again’,” she said.

Alexa turned 11 after the state championships and will start the fall season swimming in the next age division. Coach Thomas has no doubts that Alexa is ready for the next phase of training in her swimming career.

“Alexa has great stroke technique which is why a lot of young swimmers attain the speed that they do. As a more mature swimmer, and we’ve had this discussion with her, she has to look at refining her races and turning them into mature races. We’re talking about race strategy. She’s getting there very quickly, which is good,” Thomas said.  

And if more records fall along the way, all the better.

“It’s a little bit more than just a metric because there is an emotional component to breaking a record. You’re breaking somebody else’s record. For us as a team, it shows the progression of the program. You can see that this is a program that is moving forward and attracting kids that make the team better,” Thomas said. 

JETS swimmers come not only from Joliet but surrounding communities like Plainfield, New Lenox, Morris and Ottawa. In addition to opportunities to swim competitively, team members have the chance to gain confidence and leadership abilities while making lifelong friendships. 

Young swimmers looking to learn more about the JETS are welcome and encouraged to attend the team’s upcoming fall swim clinics. 

September 3-September 6

C.W. Avery Family YMCA

7-8 p.m. (Register here)

Galowich Family YMCA

7-8 p.m. (Register here)

September 9-September 12

Morris Community H.S. Pool

5:30-6:30 p.m. (Register here)

For additional information about the JETS, please visit the JETS website https://www.teamunify.com/Home.jsp?team=iljyjst or contact Coach Thomas at (815) 267-8600, ext. 227 or via email at [email protected].

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Greater Joliet Area YMCA Receives 4-Star Rarting From Charity Navigator

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency have earned it a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator, marking the seventh consecutive time that the Greater Joliet Area YMCA has earned a top distinction.

“Charity Navigator is a respected tool for evaluating nonprofit financial health and accountability. The Greater Joliet Area YMCA has high standards in these areas,” Senior Development Director Julie Wilkinson said. “We rely on contributions from individuals, corporations, grantors and the local community in order to deliver our mission to all, regardless of their ability to pay. The renewal of this 4-star rating is a testament to our commitment to donor stewardship and sound financial management. It’s an endorsement that donors can feel good about giving to the Y.” 

As one of the area’s leading nonprofit charities, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA is committed to strengthening local communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. A mainstay in the community for more than 90 years, the Y brings families closer together, encourages good health, and fosters connections through fitness, sports, fun and shared interests. 

“The Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s exceptional 4-star rating sets it apart from its peers and demonstrates its trustworthiness to the public,” according to Michael Thatcher, President & CEO of Charity Navigator. “Only a quarter of charities rated by Charity Navigator receive the distinction of our 4-star rating. This adds the Greater Joliet Area YMCA to a preeminent group of charities working to overcome our world’s most pressing challenges. Based on its 4-star rating, people can trust that their donations are going to a financially responsible and ethical charity when they decide to support the Greater Joliet Area YMCA.”

Since 2002, using objective analysis, Charity Navigator has awarded only the most fiscally responsible organizations a 4-star rating. In 2011, Charity Navigator added 17 metrics, focused on governance and ethical practices as well as measures of openness, to its ratings methodology.  These Accountability and Transparency metrics, which account for 50 percent of a charity’s overall rating, reveal which charities operate in accordance with industry best practices and whether they are open with their donors and stakeholders. On June 1, 2016, they upgraded their methodology for rating each charity’s’ financial health with CN 2.1. These enhancements further substantiate the financial health of 4-star charities. 

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s rating and other information about charitable giving are available free of charge on www.charitynavigator.org. More-detailed information about The Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s rating is available to Charity Navigator site visitors who become registered users, another free service.

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Galowich Family YMCA Summer Spruce Up 2019

Each summer, we take time to thoroughly clean and enhance our facilities so that our members can have an enjoyable experience throughout the year. During this time, certain areas of our facilities will be temporarily closed.

During Summer Spruce Up, our members are welcome to use any of our four facilities. When visiting any branch during Summer Spruce Up, please remember to bring your Membership Card. We very much appreciate your continued patience as we work to spruce up your Y!

Kid Zone (Supervised Playroom)

  • Closed beginning Monday, August 19
  • Reopening on Thursday, August 22

The Kid Zone Room will be repainted and the floors will be refinished. All toys will also be sanitized. Please note that Kids Corner will be closed during this time.

Fitness Studio

  • Closed beginning Tuesday, August 27
  • Reopening on Tuesday, September 3

The fitness studio will be cleaned and the floors will be refinished.

Gymnasium

  • Closing beginning Tuesday, August 27
  • Reopening on Tuesday, September 3

The gym will be cleaned and the floors will be refinished.

Locker Rooms: The locker rooms will be closed intermittently during Spruce Up to allow ample time for deep cleaning and repairs. Closings will be posted in the building and on our Facebook page.

Other Improvements: In addition to the improvements listed above, all areas of the building will be treated to a deep cleaning. New LED lighting will also be installed in the lobby and the floors in the lobby and main hallway will be refinished.

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