GRASS VALLEY, Calif. – Bright Futures for Youth will hold a community open house 4:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22, to celebrate its many milestones – including the one-year anniversary of the popular NEO Youth Center – and outline new projects.
The Bright Futures for Youth campus and its three core programs – The Friendship Club, the NEO Youth Center and SAFE for young people experiencing housing instability – are located at the Litton Building, 200 Litton Drive in Grass Valley. Free food, including homemade desserts by Bright Futures’ kitchen interns, guest speakers and tours of the programs are part of the two-hour event.
Bright Futures for Youth was established following the merger of The Friendship Club and NEO Youth in 2020, and has enjoyed fast-paced growth and expanded services, thanks to the generosity and ongoing support of the community.
“The community support has been amazing, and we wanted to express our appreciation and celebrate our many efforts and milestones,” said Jennifer Singer, Executive Director of Bright Futures for Youth. “We shared our dreams with the community, and they’ve helped so many of them become a reality. We’re always looking for more supporters to meet the growing needs of young people in our community.”
Bright Futures for Youth recently finished the first phase of a new backyard at the campus, with a concrete patio and extensive landscaping, including flowers, a large lawn area and trees. The second phase, scheduled to start in the coming months, includes a small stage and sports court for basketball and pickleball.
The backyard connects with the NEO Youth Center, a 3,700-square-foot space that opened a year ago.
The youth center – possible thanks to a $500,000 capital campaign – includes a café that serves hundreds of healthy meals every week, a game area with gaming consoles and a pool table, a music room, small stage and a patio.
Several hundred young people between the ages of 11 and 25 are at the NEO Youth Center every month. The youth center serves as an after-school program where young people can connect with each other, develop friendships and have fun in a safe and supervised setting.
“The youth center’s growth has far exceeded our expectations,” said Halli Ellis-Edwards, a cofounder and the Program Director of NEO. “It has become a very special place for so many young people, where they can share experiences, learn new things and have fun.”
Bright Futures for Youth also includes SAFE (Stability, Access, Foundation, Empowerment), a program that helps young people experiencing housing instability in Nevada County. SAFE opened the drop-in-center two years ago. The program has helped more than 140 young people experiencing homelessness during the past year, about five times more than planned.
SAFE also assists with providing clothing, food and ensures access to counseling and health care, if needed. Some of those faced with housing instability are attending college or have found jobs, or both, with help from the program.
The Friendship Club, founded 30 years ago, is a comprehensive year-round program that provides academic, social and emotional support for girls and young women. The Friendship Club has about 100 girls enrolled in the program.
Bright Futures for Youth has established a Kitchen and Nutrition Program, serving about 13,000 meals during the past year – and the figure could jump to 20,000 in 2025. Youth in the three programs have access to free, healthy meals.
“Bright Futures for Youth has evolved in recent years and offers a wide range of services, from after-school programs where young people can develop or improve skills to ensuring safety-net services for those in need,” said Greg Bulanti, President of the Bright Futures for Youth Board of Directors. “There is such a critical need for our services, and the community is committed to Bright Futures for Youth and the young people in Nevada County.”
Bright Futures for Youth will kick-off a six-week fundraising campaign during the community open house. Donors who become monthly supporters will be eligible to win a raflle prize.
“It’s an excellent way to help jump-start our end-of-the-year fundraising efforts, while also generating some excitement with supporters,” said Singer, a cofounder of The Friendship Club. “We’ve enjoyed tremendous success the past four years, and it would not be possible without our supporters. We look forward to connecting with future supporters and sharing our mission.”
ABOUT BRIGHT FUTURES FOR YOUTH
Bright Futures for Youth is a nonprofit committed to making a life-changing difference for children and young adults in Nevada County. Bright Futures for Youth – created by the merger of The Friendship Club and NEO Youth Center in 2020 – has three core programs: The Friendship Club, NEO and SAFE, which helps youth facing housing insecurity. Bright Futures for Youth programs connect youth to positive experiences, relationships and environments to build resiliency today and into the future. The original organization started in 1995. For more information, visit www.bffyouth.org or Facebook at Facebook.com/BrightFuturesforYouth.