Generations Ahead

09/01/2026

🎉 Congratulations to our very own Board Member, Courtney Doyle, on being named to 40U40!

This recognition is so well deserved! We are incredibly proud and honored to have Courtney on the Generations Ahead board. Her leadership, passion, and dedication make a difference every day.

We’re grateful to have you, Courtney, and we know Cherryland Electric is lucky to have you, too! 💙

Congratulations! 🌟

08/20/2026

🎉 Help us cheer on Grand Traverse Pie Company! 🥧❤️

Congrats to GT pie on being nominated for Newsweek’s Readers’ Choice: America’s Best Pie!

Our community’s support means so much to us, and when you support the businesses and organizations that support our mission, you help us continue empowering teen parents and building brighter futures for young families. 💙

👉 Take a moment to vote and show them some love! Every vote counts!
https://www.newsweek.com/readerschoice/americas-best-pie-2026?utm_campaign=&utm_medium=email&utm_source=toastemail

We’ve been nominated for Newsweek Readers’ Choice: America’s Best Pie…and there’s still time to get those votes in! 🤞🏼💕🏆

08/19/2026

🎉 Welcome to the Generations Ahead team, Kristin! 🎉

We’re excited to welcome Kristin Spangler as our new Program Coordinator!

With more than 20 years of experience in education, youth development, nonprofit programming, and community engagement, Kristin brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for building connections. Most recently, she served as Operations Manager and Program Coordinator for Building Bridges with Music, coordinating educational programs, community events, partnerships, and outreach across Northern Michigan.

At Generations Ahead, Kristin will work alongside our case management team to provide programming for our clients and lead our Baby Pantry, helping young families access essential items and resources. 💛

Kristin is passionate about creating welcoming, supportive spaces where young people and families feel connected. Outside of work, she’s a mama to two awesome humans and enjoys paddleboarding, gardening, hiking, live music, and dreaming about her next passport stamp. 🌿🎶🏄‍♀️✈️

Join us in giving Kristin a warm welcome! We’re so glad to have you on the Generations Ahead team! 💙

08/10/2026

Help the Next Young Parent Cross the Finish Line

Last year, because of people like you, Generations Ahead celebrated a record nine young parent graduates. Each diploma represented more than academic success, it meant a brighter future for a family.

Today, more than 75 young parents rely on Generations Ahead, and over a third of them will be heading back to school this fall, all while balancing homework, jobs, and raising children.

Your support helps remove the barriers that can stand between a teen parent and graduation. A gift can help provide childcare, gas cards, groceries, and other essentials so they can stay focused on earning a diploma.

Join our Back-to-School Campaign and help us reach our $20,000 goal by August 16 - just in time for them to go back to school. Create a fundraising page, share our mission with family and friends, or make a gift today.

Together, we can help the next young parent cross the graduation stage.

https://secure.qgiv.com/event/b2s2026/

One diploma. One family. Generations of impact.

08/07/2026

A backpack isn't the only back-to-school essential.

For the young parents at Generations Ahead, staying in school often depends on having reliable childcare, transportation, and groceries. When those basic needs are met, they can focus on earning the diploma or degree that will change their family's future.

Our Back-to-School Campaign aims to raise $20,000 to help provide that support. Every gift helps remove barriers and keep young parents on the path to graduation.

Will you help invest in the next success story?
https://secure.qgiv.com/event/b2s2026/

08/06/2026

Yesterday, the Traverse City Noon Rotary Club hosted a diaper drive to support the young families at Generations Ahead, and then they went one step further.

After hearing about our Back-to-School Campaign, the club, along with one incredibly generous visiting Rotarian, committed more than $15,000 to help young parents stay in school while raising their children.

💙 To the members of the Traverse City Noon Rotary Club: thank you for believing in the potential of the young families we serve. Your generosity inspired us to dream even bigger.

🎯 We're raising our campaign goal from $15,000 to $20,000!

With 11 days to go, we hope our community will help us reach the finish line. Every gift helps remove barriers like childcare, transportation, groceries, and other essentials so young parents can stay focused on earning their diploma.

❤️ Will you join us? Donate today: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/b2s2026/

08/03/2026

For young parents, going back to school means balancing classes, work, childcare, and the challenges of making ends meet.

This year, Generations Ahead celebrated a record nine graduates, proving that with the right support, young parents can achieve incredible things.

Now, we're raising $15,000 through our Back-to-School Campaign to help cover essentials like childcare, transportation, and groceries so more young parents can stay in school and earn their diploma or degree.

Will you help make education possible for the next young parent?
https://secure.qgiv.com/event/b2s2026/

07/26/2026

Back-to-school looks different when you're raising a child.

For the young parents we serve, it means balancing classes, work, childcare, and the constant stress of making ends meet. It's no surprise that fewer than 50% of teen parents graduate before age 22.

But with the right support, those odds can change.

This June, one young mom who came to Generations Ahead at 16 years old and pregnant crossed the graduation stage with her toddler by her side. She was one of nine young parents who graduated this year, the most in our history.

Now we're working to help even more young parents stay in school.

Our goal is to raise $15,000 through our Back-to-School Campaign to help cover essentials like childcare, transportation, and groceries so parents can focus on earning their diploma or degree.

Will you help the next young parent beat the odds?

Generations Ahead Back to School Fundraiser 2025 Supporting Teen Parents Education Grand Traverse County

06/09/2026

We are honored and excited to announce that Generations Ahead has been selected as the 2026 Community Benefactor Partner for the Community Engagement Room at West Shore Bank!

We are incredibly grateful for this opportunity, not only because of the community's support, but because it helps raise awareness about the important work we do serving teen parents and their families throughout our region.

The Community Engagement Room is a valuable gathering space for local organizations, businesses, and community groups. Rather than charging a rental fee, West Shore Bank encourages room users to make a donation to GA 🤩

Every contribution made through the use of this space will directly support Generations Ahead and help us continue empowering teen parents with the resources, education, and support they need to build bright futures for themselves and their children.

Thank you to West Shore Bank for this partnership, and thank you to everyone who chooses the Community Engagement Room and supports Generations Ahead. Together, we are creating stronger families and a stronger community.

06/03/2026

A heartfelt thank you to for their generous donation to help purchase car seats for the young parents we serve.

With 13 babies on the way and several little ones already growing out of their infant car seats, this support comes at just the right time. Safe transportation is essential for every child, and because of Serra's kindness, more families will have the resources they need to keep their babies safe from day one.

We are so grateful for community partners like Serra who invest in the well-being of young families and show them they are supported every step of the way. Thank you for helping us welcome these new babies with care, safety, and love! 💙