Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

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YMCA Members Invited to Participate in the Y’s September 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 September. 

All YMCA members are invited to participate in our September Check-In Challenge. Anyone who checks into the YMCA 8 or more times between September 1-30 will be entered to win a YMCA thermal tote packed with our favorite Y swag, including a sweatshirt, water bottle, umbrella, and more.

Stop by and see us!

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Registration Underway for YMCA Fall Into Fitness Bingo Challenge

Are you looking for a fun way to stay fit, try new exercises and earn a chance to win prizes this fall? Sign up for the Y’s Fall Into Fitness Bingo Challenge! This free fitness challenge runs from Monday, September 28 through Sunday, November 1 and will give you the opportunity to win prizes by completing your fitness ‘BINGO’. Here’s how it works:

  1. This challenge is free! Registration is underway!
  2. Stop by the Y’s membership desk to pick up a Bingo card or download a card below:Fall Into Fitness Bingo Card
  3. Complete a Bingo line by completing 5 activities on the card, either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. The more lines you complete, the more chances to win!
  4. At the end of the week, turn in your Bingo card to the membership desk with your completed line(s).
  5. Every week, you will get a raffle ticket for each Bingo line you submit.
  6. There will be three weekly raffle winners from that week’s submitted Bingo cards.
  7. Every week, pick up a new Bingo card for new chances to win!

Register Today!

If you have additional questions, please speak to a member of the health and wellness team at your local branch.

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NASCAR Foundation Provides $9,250 Grant to C.W. Avery Family YMCA Summer Camp Program

YMCA Summer Day Camp provides kids with opportunities to have fun while building a healthy spirit, mind and body. Kids have the opportunity to find new talents, try new activities, gain independence, and make lasting friendships and memories. These experiences would not be possible without the support of our generous charitable partners.

That is why the C.W. Avery Family YMCA would like to thank the NASCAR Foundation for a $9,250 grant through its Speediatrics Grant Program which helped to support the promotion of healthy lifestyles for kids in summer camp this year.   

Camp activities included a three week step counter challenge, with campers receiving special pedometer watches from NASCAR to help track their progress each day. NASCAR also provided racing themed programming for campers featuring an activity booklet, healthy snacks and interactive videos.

C.W. Avery Family YMCA Youth and Family Director Shannon Stawikowski said the resources fit perfectly with the Y’s efforts to keep kids healthy and active.

“By engaging in fun games and activities during the day at camp, kids learned that physical activity is fun and exciting and that a healthy lifestyle can make them stronger, help them to have more energy, and feel their best,” Stawikowski said.  

Activities culminated in a Speediatrics Fun Day Festival that allowed kids to participate in fun outdoor games and challenges. Stawikowski said campers enjoyed the festival and that Speediatrics programming was an amazing addition to the Y’s summer day camp program in Plainfield.

“It kept the kids excited to come back to camp each day in anticipation of what we had planned for them next,” she said. “Everyone who helped plan the program went above and beyond to make it as easy as possible for YMCA staff to facilitate the step challenge and daily activities. We truly appreciate all of the work that went into providing this great program at our Y.”

Through its commitment to youth development, the C.W. Avery Family YMCA nurtures the potential of every child through its summer day camp and Kid Zone PLUS before and after school programs. Parents can learn more about Kid Zone PLUS for the 2020-21 school year  by clicking here. To pledge your support for these programs through a charitable gift to the Mission Strong Fund, click here.

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Community Foundation of Grundy County Donates More Than $10,000 to YMCA Mission Strong Fund

YMCA Summer Day Camp offers an exciting and engaging adventure where young people can make new friends while having a whole lot of fun! At Y camp, kids laugh, learn, explore and grow, while creating memories and friendships that last a lifetime. And providing a safe and meaningful camp experience would not be possible without the support of local partners like the Community Foundation of Grundy County and its donor advised fund holders. 

The Foundation awarded a $5,000 grant from the Gerald D. Abel Endowment Fund to the Y’s Mission Strong Fund to help the Morris Community YMCA operate summer day camp, providing funding for additional expenses resulting from the COVID-19 public health crisis. Through the Foundation’s network of donors, another $5,800 was granted to help meet camp needs. Special thanks are given to Joan Eslinger as well as Jack and Karen Hynds of Morris for supporting the Y through their respective donor advised funds at the Foundation.

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. The Community Foundation’s grant helped support multiple youth development initiatives at the Morris Community YMCA including:

  • Providing much-needed financial assistance for summer day camp 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.

Through its commitment to youth development, the Morris Community YMCA nurtures the potential of every child through its summer day camp and Kid Zone before and after school programs. To pledge your support for these programs through a charitable gift to the Mission Strong Fund, click here. 

Pictured in top photo: (L-R) Senior Development Director Julie Wilkinson; Community Foundation of Grundy County Program Director Devan Gagliardo, Community Foundation of Grundy County Executive Director Julie Buck, Joan Eslinger, Jack and Karen Hynds, Morris Community YMCA Executive Director Missy Durkin

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YMCA to Host Free Virtual Google Classroom Training on August 27

With the start of the new school year quickly approaching, the YMCA is teaming up with longtime volunteer and Plainfield South High School Business Teacher Steve Leclair to offer a virtual Google Classroom Training for local families.

Date: Thursday, August 27
Time: 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Free and open to YMCA members and the community, this one-hour training is designed to provide parents and guardians with an overview of Google Classroom, which is a web-based education platform that many area school districts will be using during remote learning this fall. During the training, participants will navigate through the platform, and learn how to complete and submit assignments.

Zoom meeting information for the virtual training will be sent to registered participants prior to the start of the class.

Register Today!

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Support the YMCA’s Fall School Supply Drive

With the new school year set to get underway in the coming weeks, the Y remains dedicated to providing much-needed child care for area families through its Kid Zone and Kid Zone PLUS programs. YMCA members are invited to help support these efforts by participating in our Fall School Supply Drive.

From August 17-31, the Y will be accepting donations of paper towels and tissues at its four facilities. Collection bins will be placed near the Membership Desk. These supplies will be used in the coming months at Kid Zone sites throughout our community.

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