Bright Beginnings at the Y

Bright Beginnings YMCA of Greensboro Bryan YMCA

July 30, 2025

At the YMCA of Greensboro, Bright Beginnings is more than a back-to-school program—it’s a celebration of community care. It’s about ensuring every young person starts the school year with confidence and the joy of knowing their neighbors believe in them.

Bright Beginnings around the Y

Bright Beginnings is a YMCA of Greensboro initiative led by dedicated team members at each branch. Each branch team coordinates their own approach—organizing youth referrals and planning shopping events for participants under the age of 19. These referrals may come from trusted community partners or through the Y’s financial assistance program. While shopping dates and formats may vary by location, the shared goal is the same: to provide school age youth—typically ages 5 to 18 attending Guilford and Rockingham County schools—with new clothing and school essentials that set them up for a strong start.

Bright Beginnings at Bryan Family YMCA

This year, thanks to the initiative of Amy Overton, Membership Director at the Bryan Family YMCA, and the collaboration of Stevra Gonzalez, Development Officer on the Philanthropy Team, we’ve taken a bold step to enhance the experience for teens. This effort helps the Y extend our impact.

“Last year was the first year that I was responsible for planning and executing Bright Beginnings,” says Amy in reference to the program at the Bryan Family YMCA. Motivated by her past connection to Athleta and inspired to create a more empowering experience, she reached out to explore new retail partnerships. “I have volunteered in prior years, but it was when I actually did all the behind the scenes work that the challenges became more clear and that the opportunity to do something different than what anyone has done before was something that I had the freedom to explore.”

Together, Amy and Stevra visited a local Old Navy store with a heartfelt ask: Will you join us in uplifting local youth as they prepare for a new school year?

The answer was yes!

This year, the Bryan Family YMCA will focus on supporting students in grades 8–12—recognizing that all youth, especially teens, deserve to feel good about their first day of school. Across the YMCA of Greensboro association, we partner with local organizations like the Family Justice Center, United Way of Greater Greensboro Family Success Centers, and North Carolina Guilford County Department of Social Services, as well as use internal referrals and financial assistance to connect with families who could benefit from a little extra support.

As Amy says, “People often forget about teens.” Bright Beginnings is our reminder that everyone benefits when neighbors support neighbors—and every child deserves to begin the school year with a smile.

Together, we aim to serve 500 youth in Guilford and Rockingham Counties this year. You can help make that happen. Whether by donating (school supplies, monetary donations, and more!) or volunteering a few hours to shop side-by-side with a young person, your involvement helps fuel futures.