Bright Futures for Youth

08/25/2026

Bright Futures for Youth is providing paid internships for the roles of Fund Development Assistant and Friendship Club Program Assistant as part of its grant-funded California Youth Service Corps program. The program is for ages 16-30 that may have experienced barriers to employment and are needing on-the-job training, coaching and supports to obtain the job skills necessary to be sustainably employed. Learn more about the openings and apply on our website. ;

Interested in making a life-changing difference for children and young adults in Nevada County? Join Bright Futures for Youth. Current Openings

08/18/2026

High school students, mark your calendars in time for homecoming. Bright Futures for Youth’s Cinderella Project is hosting a special pop-up event Saturday, August 22, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Native Wren at 125 Mill St. in downtown Grass Valley. The Cinderella Project provides FREE dresses, gowns, suits, tuxedos and accessories for proms, homecomings and other special events—helping local students celebrate these once-in-a-lifetime moments without the stress of the cost. A special thank-you to Wrynna Kohler, owner of Native Wren, Bright Futures for Youth Friendship Club graduate who now serves on the Bright Futures board, for helping make this event possible and supporting local students. Know a high school student who could benefit? Please share this post and help spread the word.

08/13/2026

New year, new supplies, big smiles! Back to school means backpacks bursting with brand-new gear. From backpacks and notebooks to pencils, crayons, rulers, and sketch pads, local students got what they needed to walk into class feeling prepared and excited to learn. A special thank-you to the South Yuba Club, whose members' generous supply drive back in February provided so many of these essentials, and to our dedicated Friendship Club staff at Bright Futures for Youth, who organized the give-away to help set these students up for a successful year ahead.

08/05/2026

In Loving Memory of Barbara Thomas: Barbara Thomas gave 20 years of service to The Friendship Club and now Bright Futures for Youth — and she gave it fully. From the moment we first had lunch together, she jumped in with both feet: as a board member (President, twice!), as a Friendship "Angel" to Cheyenne, as a donor party host, a strategic partner and what we affectionately called our "Triple A" board member — Ambassador, Advocate and Asker. Barb was exactly the kind of board member every nonprofit dreams of. But one of the most profound ways Barb changed the life of a young person was when she became an Angel, and then a surrogate grandmother to one of our girls after she lost her mother. This was a role that was close to her heart.
Barb led with kindness and fun, and she cared deeply about our programs and the youth we serve. She will be missed more than words can say, but her legacy of community and connection lives on in all of us.Fly high, BT. ET is there for you.
In love and friendship,
Jennifer Singer
Executive Director, Bright Futures for Youth

View Barbara Thomas's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

07/21/2026

PERFECT STRANGERS shines a light on the hidden world of s*x trafficking through firsthand accounts. Nevada City Police Chief Dan Foss is a featured speaker. For anyone who has ever thought, “that couldn’t happen here” or “that could never happen to my family”, this film is an important reminder that awareness matters. Join us for a free screening at Odd Fellows Hall in Nevada City, at 223 1/2 Broad St. (front entrance), 7 p.m. on July 23 and 30 and August 6.

07/07/2026

Jennifer Singer – who cofounded The Friendship Club more than 30 years ago and grew it into Bright Futures for Youth — is stepping down as Executive Director at the end of the year to spend more time with family and start consulting locally. She'll stay on as a strategic adviser. What began as an after-school program for a few girls now reaches 1 in 12 young people in western Nevada County. Taking over January 1, 2027 is Sienna Crawford, Development Director, with the organization since 2022. Read the full announcement here and watch the videos. https://bffyouth.org/executive-director-jennifer-singer-to-step-down-end-of-year ;

Development Director Sienna Crawford will oversee the nonprofit that connects with about one of every 12 young people in western Nevada County Community leader and longtime youth advocate Jennifer Singer will step down at the end of the year as Executive Director of Bright Futures for Youth, an afte...

06/26/2026

We're excited to welcome Leah Ellis as the new Program Manager of Bright Futures for Youth's Friendship Club. With an educational background in psychology and clinical counseling, Leah brings the kind of skill it takes to help our girls and young women build resiliency and thrive. And she's no stranger to our community — her roots run deep in . Read more about Leah and The Friendship Club.
https://bffyouth.org/leah-ellis-named-friendship-club-program-manager/

Ellis joins organization that has been empowering and educating girls and young women for more than 30 years. Leah Ellis, a former local substitute teacher whose educational background includes clinical counseling and psychology, has been named Program Manager at The Friendship Club, an after-school...

06/22/2026

A talent show capped off the GREAT Camp for incoming 6th graders, whose skills included playing musical instruments and making jewelry. Team-building games, relay races, leadership lessons, field trips and so much more happen at GREAT Camp, run by the NEO Youth Center team and the Grass Valley Police Department. This week’s camp is for incoming 7th & 8th graders.

06/19/2026

Making friends is easy, especially when you are having a lot of fun together. The Friendship Club just wrapped up its new friends camp, where incoming sixth-graders spend a few days with others entering the program. Painting rocks, putting stickers on hats before going to the pool, playing games and so much more. It was a blast and helps open the door to new friendship -- and experiences.

06/18/2026

With school out for summer, the Food Bank of Nevada County Nevada County is offering free, packed lunches for ages 2-18 through July 31 for pickup at several apartment complexes in the community. Thanks to the Food Bank for providing these meals.