The four clubs – the 49er Rotary Breakfast Club of Nevada City (49er Rotary), the Rotary Club of Grass Valley, the Rotary Club of Grass Valley South, and the Rotary Club of Nevada City – are committed to helping young people in the region, especially those experiencing homelessness. Young people in the SAFE program participate in events and access resources and services at Bright Futures for Youth.
Bright Futures for Youth and its three core programs – The Friendship Club, NEO, and SAFE – address the ever-changing needs of youth, from sixth-graders to those in their mid-20s in Nevada County. The organization helps more than 1,000 young people every year, from providing after-school programs to social-services such as free meals and clothing to ensuring access to health care and counseling.
“We strongly support the far-reaching mission of Bright Futures for Youth to improve the health and well-being of young people in our community,” said Terry Brown, President, 49er Rotary. “Our Rotary Clubs and their community-focused members are committed to helping children and young adults succeed and thrive.”
Bright Futures for Youth will use some of the Rotary District grant to buy audiovisual equipment – including lights, a sound system, speakers and screen – for the recently opened NEO Youth Center. The new A/V equipment will make it possible to provide youth, including those experiencing homelessness, with life-skills training as well as opportunities to enjoy movies and performances. The grant will also fund the installation of an ADA-compliant ramp that will greatly improve access to the Bright Futures for Youth building and pay for new patio furniture and lighting for the outdoor area of the building at 200 Litton Drive.
“We greatly appreciate the financial and moral support of the Rotary Clubs and their members,” said Bright Futures for Youth Executive Director Jennifer Singer. “Rotary has met so many of our needs, helping us make a life-changing difference to so many young people.”
In January 2023, the four Rotary Clubs awarded a Rotary District Grant of $40,000 for the café at the new NEO Youth Center. The 3,700-square-foot NEO Youth Center also includes a small stage, music room, a game area, a flex room for multiple uses and a patio.
The NEO Youth Center is available for 6th grade students to 25-year-old residents and offers a long list of after-school activities and occasional weekend events, from art workshops to live music and open-mic nights. A $500,000 capital campaign, which included the Rotary District Grant, funded the new Youth Center that opened in October.
“Our Rotary Clubs continue to invest in the next generation and the community,” said Greg Bulanti, President of the Bright Futures for Youth Board of Directors and a Grass Valley South Rotarian. “The Rotary District funds will truly make a difference in so many ways, from improving access to our building to encouraging young people to pursue their passions.”
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, founded in 1995, NEO, founded in 2008, and SAFE, launched in 2019 to help youth experiencing homelessness. Bright Futures for Youth focuses on health and wellness, healthy relationships, goal setting, self-awareness, self-sufficiency and community connectedness. For more information, visit www.bffyouth.org or Facebook at Facebook.com/BrightFuturesforYouth.
