Bright Futures for Youth will host a community open house on Tuesday, October 22nd to celebrate milestones and outline new efforts News

Founded following the merger of The Friendship Club and NEO Youth in 2020, Bright Futures for Youth has experienced rapid growth and expanded services thanks to the generosity and ongoing support of the community.

“The community support has been great and we wanted to show 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 helped make so many of them a reality. We are always looking for additional supporters to meet the growing needs of young people in our community.”

Bright Futures for Youth recently completed the first phase of a new campus backyard, featuring a concrete patio and extensive landscaping, including flowers, a large lawn, and trees. The second phase, scheduled to begin in the coming months, will include a small stage and court for basketball and pickleball.

The backyard is connected to the NEO Youth Center, a 3,700-square-foot space that opened a year ago.

The youth center — made possible thanks to a $500,000 capital campaign — includes a cafe that serves hundreds of healthy meals each week, a gaming area with gaming consoles and a pool table, a music room, a small stage and a patio.

Every month several hundred young people between the ages of 11 and 25 come to the NEO youth center. The Youth Center serves as an after-school program where young people can socialize, make friends and have fun in a safe and supervised environment.

“The growth of the youth center has far exceeded our expectations,” said Halli Ellis-Edwards, co-founder and program director of NEO. “It has become a very special place for so many young people where they can exchange experiences, learn new things and have fun.”

Bright Futures for Youth also includes SAFE (Stability, Access, Foundation, Empowerment), a program that serves young people experiencing housing instability in Nevada County. SAFE opened the drop-in center two years ago. The program helped more than 140 young people experiencing homelessness last year, about five times more than planned.

SAFE also helps provide clothing and food and ensures access to counseling and healthcare when needed. Some of those facing housing challenges are currently attending college or have found employment through the program, or both.

Founded 30 years ago, the Friendship Club is a comprehensive, year-round program that provides academic, social and emotional support to girls and young women. The Friendship Club has about 100 girls registered for the program.

Bright Futures for Youth launched a kitchen and nutrition program that served about 13,000 meals last year — and the number could rise 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 to provide a wide range of services, from after-school programs where young people can develop or enhance skills to ensuring safety net services for those in need,” said Greg Bulanti, President the board “Bright Futures for Youth”. “There is such an urgent need for our services and the community is committed to a bright future for the youth and young people of Nevada County.”

Bright Futures for Youth will launch a six-week fundraising campaign during the community open day. Donors who become monthly supporters are eligible to receive a raffle prize.

“It’s a great way to boost our year-end fundraising efforts while generating excitement among supporters,” said Singer, co-founder of the Friendship Club. “We have achieved tremendous success over the last four years and this would not be possible without our supporters. We look forward to connecting with future supporters and sharing our mission.”

About bright future prospects for young people

Bright Futures for Youth is a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the lives of children and young adults in Nevada County. Bright Futures for Youth – formed through the merger of The Friendship Club and NEO Youth Center in 2020 – has three core programs: The Friendship Club, NEO and SAFE, which serve youth experiencing housing insecurity. Bright Futures for Youth programs connect youth with positive experiences, relationships and environments to build resilience today and in the future. The original organization was founded in 1995. For more information, visit www.bffyouth.org or on Facebook at Facebook.com/BrightFuturesforYouth.