1. • As 2024 comes to a close, we reflect on an incredible beginning to what will hopefully become a lifelong commitment to support and service. Bright Youth was founded in February 2024 with a leadership team of 4 members, but in just one year, we’ve grown to 35 members across 9 towns in New Jersey. Thank you so much to everyone who was a part of our BrightYouth family this year: we couldn’t have done it without you.

   • Our members have made such a great impact on the communities around us in the short amount of time we’ve had together. We organized various clubs at the Summit Public Library and Summit Community Center, including the Rubik’s Cube Club, D&D Club, Fun Math, Science Corner, and Crochet Club, contributing over 200 volunteer hours towards these projects. Starting in June, we hosted 7 monthly hiking events at Watchung Reservation and South Mountain with special needs kids, spanning over 10 miles in total. To end the year, we became the first organization in North America to join and promote the Forever Love Project, a global postcard swap initiative that fosters cross-cultural connections and meaningful exchanges. Finally, to spread cultural awareness, we worked with the Summit Public Library to organize events such as the Chinese Corner, the Annual Art Show, and Chinese New Year celebrations.

   • We’ve also made an effort to support those in need in our communities. Bright Youth members volunteered for 24 weeks at GRACE’s food distribution events at the Summit Community Center, contributing over 100 volunteer hours. We donated 10 laptops to help low-income families access technology for education and communication. At the Summit Farmers’ Market, our members collected fresh produce and food items from vendors for GRACE and raised over $2,000 in cash donations during the market's six-month season. For Thanksgiving, Bright Youth members participated in GRACE’s community meal talent show with over 10 performances, including magic tricks, ballet, k-pop dance, and music.

   • Thank you for being part of our journey in 2024 – we’ve come so far, and this is just the beginning. Together, let’s work just as hard (and have just as much fun) in 2025!

Love,

The BrightYouth Team

Why Support Bright Youth?

✅ Empower teens to take on responsibility and develop leadership skills through real-world experiences.

✅ Foster connections within families and communities through meaningful service.

✅ Build a stronger, more inclusive, and compassionate society.

Join Us and Make an Impact

👉 Become a member: Visit brightyouth.org to register and join our growing community.

👉 Donate: Support our initiatives and help us create lasting change.