Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

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Heritage Club Celebration Honors Planned Giving to the Greater Joliet Area YMCA

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Longtime Y supporters Kevin and Mary Olson graciously hosted the Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s 2022 Heritage Club luncheon at their beautiful Morris home on Saturday, September 10. More than 40 guests attended the event, which celebrated charitable giving at the YMCA and recognized those donors who have chosen to make a legacy gift to the YMCA.

Heritage Club membership is granted to those individuals who have included a gift for the YMCA in their will or estate plans. Many Heritage Club members have also generously established a named endowment fund or supported the YMCA’s Mission Strong Fund, which helps to ensure that no one is turned away from the Y due to the inability to pay.  

Message of Thanks

The afternoon began with Greater Joliet Area YMCA Board of Directors Chairman Guy Christensen welcoming those in attendance and thanking them for their continued support of the Y’s mission. Christensen noted how excited the YMCA was to see the Heritage Club event return for the first time after the COVID-19 pandemic. Christensen then invited Endowment Development Committee Volunteer Jackie Bersano to give an invocation before lunch was served.

Celebration of Charitable Giving

Following lunch, Endowment Development Committee Chair Susan Lee gave a speech recognizing Heritage Club member Paul Gantzert for his many contributions to the Y. Gantzert, a longtime Y supporter, created an endowment fund to provide scholarships to the Y for families living in our community.

Lee also welcomed a surprise guest in William Macias. Macias detailed the impact Gantzert has had on his life. As a child, Macias participated in the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program. Following a harrowing experience around water, Macias said that Gantzert encouraged him to learn to swim and made sure that he was able to attend swim lessons at the Y. The two men have remained friends to this day.

Ensure a Brighter Future

Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Katy Leclair then spoke about the Y’s Safety Around Water program, which provides free swim lessons to children in Joliet and the surrounding communities.

During the 2022 summer camp season alone, the Y provided more than 1,000 swim lessons through the Safety Around Water program to children from local community organizations, including the Harvey Brooks Foundation and the Institute for Leadership Excellence and Development (iLEAD), among others. This fall, students in Joliet District 86, Troy District 30C, and Fairmont School District 89, as well as children from the Boys and Girls Club of Joliet, will participate in free swim lessons through Safety Around Water.

Leclair thanked the local community agencies and schools which have partnered with the Y to help children learn this valuable life skill, and credited the support of endowment funds and other planned giving support for the continued success of the program.

An Invitation for Impact  

Endowment Development Committee Volunteer Donna Zanzola closed the celebration by reiterating the Y’s appreciation for those donors who have generously made legacy gifts to the Y over the years. The YMCA’s doors continue to expand with open arms and it is through gifts like those provided by Heritage Club members that make this possible. 

To learn more about Heritage Club membership and the Y’s endowment fund, please visit https://www.jolietymca.org/giving/planned-giving/

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First Federal Savings Bank Donates $25,000 to Morris Community YMCA Capital Campaign

The Morris Community YMCA’s Capital Campaign, which is raising funds to develop a new 50,000-square-foot YMCA and healthcare center adjacent to Morris Grade School, is excited to announce a generous $25,000 gift from First Federal Savings Bank, which will be recognized in the future full facility. 

For more than a decade, the Morris Community YMCA has been serving residents in Grundy County by offering programs in the areas of youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. To further grow its impact in the community, the Y announced plans in 2018 for the development of a new full-facility in partnership with Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers. While the YMCA hopes to open this new facility within the next several years, the size, scope, and timing will ultimately be determined by the generosity of the community in support of this project.

“We are honored to receive this generous donation from First Federal Savings Bank” Chief Operating Officer Missy Durkin said. “The support we see from community organizations continues to energize us as we plan for the future of our Y.”

To learn more about the Morris Community YMCA’s Capital Campaign, please contact Chief Operating Officer Missy Durkin at (815) 513-8080 or visit www.jolietymca.org.

Pictured above (left to right): Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Katy Leclair, Greater Joliet Area YMCA Chief Operating Officer Missy Durkin, First Federal Savings Bank Morris Branch Manager Danielle Sumner, First Federal Savings Bank President and CEO Konnni Rodeghier, and Morris Capital Campaign Leadership Corporate Cabinet Co-Chair John Sparrow.

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SOCU Donates $50,000 to Morris Community YMCA Capital Campaign

The Morris Community YMCA’s Capital Campaign, which is raising funds to develop a new 50,000-square-foot YMCA and healthcare center adjacent to Morris Grade School, is excited to announce a generous $50,000 gift from Streator Onized Credit Union (SOCU), which will be recognized in the future full facility. 

For more than a decade, the Morris Community YMCA has been serving residents in Grundy County by offering programs in the areas of youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. To further grow its impact in the community, the Y announced plans in 2018 for the development of a new full-facility in partnership with Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers. While the YMCA hopes to open this new facility within the next several years, the size, scope, and timing will ultimately be determined by the generosity of the community in support of this project.

“We are incredibly grateful the support of local organizations like SOCU,” Chief Operating Officer Missy Durkin said. “We look forward to the impact this gift will have on shaping the future of our planned facility.”

To learn more about the Morris Community YMCA’s Capital Campaign, please contact Chief Operating Officer Missy Durkin at (815) 513-8080 or visit www.jolietymca.org.

Pictured above (left to right): Greater Joliet Area YMCA Chief Operating Officer Missy Durkin, SOCU Morris Branch Manager Dayna Manegold, SOCU Chief Executive Officer Doug Patterson, and Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Katy Leclair.

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Brandt Excavating Donates $50,000 to Morris Community YMCA Capital Campaign

The Morris Community YMCA’s Capital Campaign, which is raising funds to develop a new 50,000-square-foot YMCA and healthcare center adjacent to Morris Grade School, is excited to announce a generous $50,000 gift from Brandt Excavating, which will be recognized in the future full facility. 

For more than a decade, the Morris Community YMCA has been serving residents in Grundy County by offering programs in the areas of youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. To further grow its impact in the community, the Y announced plans in 2018 for the development of a new full-facility in partnership with Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers. While the YMCA hopes to open this new facility within the next several years, the size, scope, and timing will ultimately be determined by the generosity of the community in support of this project.

“Brandt Excavating has displayed an incredible passion for our project and this show of support further excites us as we look toward the future of our facility,” Chief Operating Officer Missy Durkin said. 

To learn more about the Morris Community YMCA’s Capital Campaign, please contact Chief Operating Officer Missy Durkin at (815) 513-8080 or visit www.jolietymca.org.

Pictured above (left to right): Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Katy Leclair, Brandt Excavating Vice President Chris Ahearn, Greater Joliet Area YMCA Chief Operating Officer Missy Durkin, Morris Capital Campaign Leadership Cabinet Member and Corporate Committee Co-Chair Steve Barr.

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Morris Community YMCA Selects Architect to Design New Full-Facility YMCA in Grundy County

The Morris Community YMCA is excited to announce that it has selected DesignGroup as the architect for its new full-facility YMCA in Grundy County. Construction of the new Y, which will be built in partnership with Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers on land adjacent to Morris Grade School, could begin as early as next spring.

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s Board of Directors, acting on recommendations from the Morris Capital Campaign Building Task Force and the Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s Facility Committee, unanimously approved the hiring of DesignGroup as the project’s architect and engineering firm at its April meeting. This announcement follows a months-long process that included requests for proposals from local and regional firms, extensive interviews, and ultimately the final selection of the Ohio and Pennsylvania-based firm.

“We are very excited to announce the hiring of DesignGroup as the architect for the new Morris Hospital YMCA,” said Chief Operating Officer Missy Durkin. “Our Capital Campaign Leadership Cabinet, which is comprised of the most amazing community volunteers, has been hard at work since 2018 raising awareness and contributions in support of this project. This is a very big milestone for the Capital Campaign, bringing us one step closer to realizing our dream of building a new full-facility YMCA in Grundy County.”

For more than a decade, the Morris Community YMCA has been serving residents in Grundy County by offering programs in the areas of youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. To further grow its impact in the community, the Y announced plans in 2018 for the development of a new 50,000-square-foot YMCA and healthcare center in partnership with Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers. While the YMCA plans to open this new facility within the next several years, the size, scope, and timing will ultimately be determined by the generosity of the community in support of this project.

About the Y

As one of the nation’s leading nonprofit charities, the YMCA is committed to strengthening local communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. A branch of the Greater Joliet Area YMCA, the Morris Community YMCA brings families closer together, encourages good health, and fosters connections through fitness, sports, fun and shared interests. Through its financial assistance and scholarship program, the YMCA works to fulfill its mission of ensuring that its programs are available to everyone and no one is turned away due to the inability to pay.

About DesignGroup

Founded in 1972, DesignGroup is an AIA Ohio Gold Medal architecture and design firm with offices in Columbus, Ohio, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. DesignGroup focuses on education, civic + cultural, library, healthcare, workplace, and commercial projects. With numerous award-winning projects located throughout the United States, DesignGroup’s work is unmistakable, striking a balance of stunning contemporary architecture, thoughtful renovations and sustainable building practices. Civic responsibility is integral to DesignGroup’s philosophy; beyond bricks and mortar, the firm is deeply involved in community organizations and its design principals are recognized as thought leaders in design.

To learn more about the Morris Community YMCA’s Capital Campaign, please contact Chief Operating Officer Missy Durkin at (815) 513-8080 or visit www.jolietymca.org.

Pictured above (L-R): Capital Campaign Leadership Cabinet Co-Chair and Greater Joliet Area YMCA Board Member Kevin Olson, Greater Joliet Area YMCA Chief Operating Officer Missy Durkin, and Capital Campaign Leadership Cabinet Co-Chair and Greater Joliet Area YMCA Board Chairman Guy Christensen. 

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U.C. Davis-Callahan Funeral Home & Aqua Cremation Center Donates $25,000 to Morris Community YMCA Capital Campaign

The Morris Community YMCA’s Capital Campaign, which is raising funds to develop a new 50,000-square-foot YMCA and healthcare center adjacent to Morris Grade School, is excited to announce a generous $25,000 gift from U.C. Davis-Callahan Funeral Home & Aqua Cremation Center, which will be recognized in the future full facility.

For more than a decade, the Morris Community YMCA has been serving residents in Grundy County by offering programs in the areas of youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. To further grow its impact in the community, the Y announced plans in 2018 for the development of a new full-facility in partnership with Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers. While the YMCA hopes to open this new facility within the next several years, the size, scope, and timing will ultimately be determined by the generosity of the community in support of this project.

“We are honored by the generous commitment UC-Davis Callahan has pledged with this gift to the Capital Campaign. It reflects their longstanding support of community organizations and we are excited by the impact it will have on our Y’s future,” Greater Joliet Area YMCA Chief Operating Officer Missy Durkin said.    

U.C. Davis-Callahan Funeral Director John Callahan said he was excited to be able to contribute to a full YMCA facility in part because of the impact Y programming has had on his own family.

“Both of my sons enjoyed and benefited from use of the Ottawa YMCA. They both learned to swim at the Y and the experience has helped them through their adult lives. My oldest is now a swim instructor for the United States Marine Corps and my youngest became a scuba diver during his law enforcement career,” he said.

Callahan is looking forward to what the future facility will bring to the community, and was proud to maximize his charitable contribution by pledging his support for the Campaign over multiple years. 

“For over 100 years, the funeral home has been extremely active in giving back to the city of Morris and we are proud to be part of this community. The coming years are going to be exciting times not only for the Y, but all residents of Morris,” Callahan said.  

To learn more about the Morris Community YMCA’s Capital Campaign, please contact Chief Operating Officer Missy Durkin at (815) 513-8080 or visit www.jolietymca.org.

Pictured above: Greater Joliet Area YMCA Chief Operating Officer Missy Durkin, U.C. Davis-Callahan Funeral Home & Aqua Cremation Center Director John Callahan, Morris Capital Campaign Leadership Cabinet Member and Corporate Committee Co-Chair Steve Barr, and Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Katy Leclair.

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