Hi Friend,

It was a beautiful summer afternoon, and the youth and children served by Brightpoint (formerly Children’s Home & Aid) came ready for a party!

Our annual Back To School Bash, held at our Englewood location in Chicago on Saturday August 12, is both a celebration of the end of summer and a way to get kids excited and prepared to return to school.

It’s one of my favorite events of the year! I love meeting the children, youth and families who benefit from the programs Brightpoint provides every day, with the help of generous donors and partners.

Aaron* and Kevin* are just two of the hundreds of youths who participated in Brightpoint’s Youth Services programs this summer. By providing mentoring, job training, and violence prevention, Brightpoint supports youth aged 14-24 so they can thrive. Our programs provide safe and engaging activities that help youth build community and learn job skills and real work experience that will set them up for future success.  

Aaron has been in our youth mentoring and job training programs since he was ten. Now 18 and a recent high school graduate, he is heading off to college next week. Thanks to donors who contributed to our Back to School campaign, Aaron will move into the dorm with the essential supplies (laundry hamper, sheets, power strips and Command strips!) to make his transition to college go smoothly. 

Eleven-year-old Kevin showed up at our block party bright and early, dressed in his football uniform even though his practice didn’t start until 5pm. As a participant in our youth mentoring program, Kevin loves the outings and activities that help keep him occupied and engaged during the summer months. He came to our block party early to help stuff 350 backpacks for fellow students – community service and volunteerism is an important part of our mentoring program.  

You would have been inspired talking to Kevin and Aaron and the many other young people just like them who spent their summer in our jobs and mentoring programs. They have big dreams and love to talk about them. (One young man told me he planned to be a lawyer, but his backup plan was to play in the NBA, and his backup backup plan was the NFL!)  

It is our honor and privilege to walk besides these young people while they are in our programs, watching them grow, learn and develop into the citizens and leaders we all need.  

Your support of Brightpoint helps make these services possible – thank you so much. To see photos from the Block Party and to read more about the activities (including the unveiling of a beautiful mural the kids worked on all summer as part of the work program) please visit www.brightpoint.org/backtoschool. 

Thanks so much for all you do!

Maureen Kelly
Director of Annual Giving

*Names have been changed for privacy