YMCA Brighter Horizons Partners with Truist and City Year - Care Force

YMCA Brighter Horizons Partners with Truist and City Year - Care Force for Building Beautification & Financial Education 

The Greater Kingsport Family YMCA partnered with Truist and City Year-Care Force to update and renovate the Brighter Horizons Youth Center in Rogersville, TN for a beautification and personal finance event. 

Over 40 individuals, consisting of staff and volunteers from each organization and the community, came together on Thursday, May 18 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm to paint the exterior of the facility, build planters and benches, paint murals and deliver age-appropriate personal finance curriculum.

“When the YMCA acquired this facility almost two years ago, it was in desperate need of some ‘TLC’,” said Shari Mefford, Director of the YMCA Brighter Horizons Youth Center. “YMCA staff and community members worked tirelessly to transform the inside of the facility to make it what it is now. They painted rooms, built shelves, installed new flooring, updated electrical and plumbing and added a commercial grade kitchen for prepping and delivering meals to kids in our area. Updating the outside of the facility with a fresh coat of paint, bright colors and murals is exactly what we need to really stand out in this community.”

Conversations between Angela Conner, Community Development Manager at Truist and leadership staff from the YMCA about the youth outreach programs in the community, specifically the YMCA Brighter Horizons Afterschool program, helped to inspire this partnership.

“We’re so thrilled to be joining the YMCA and City Year - Care Force today to beautify the club and deliver financial education curriculum to residents of the Rogersville community,” said Angela Conner, Community Development Manager, Truist. “Truist is committed to inspiring and building better lives and communities and working alongside our partners helps us to bring our purpose to life and support the unique goals of the communities we serve.”

The YMCA Brighter Horizons Youth Center serves as a hub for middle school students and hosts family workshops, quarterly family nights, summer programming, and family engagement events for families in the Hawkins County area. Students participate in weekly art, STEM and Social Emotional Learning events, and have access to daily meals, snacks, personal hygiene items, school supplies and clothing. The commercial grade kitchen is used to cook, prep and package over 250 meals daily to kids at the YMCA Afterschool sites to reduce food insecurity in the area.

“City Year is proud to serve alongside our national partner, Truist to transform the exterior of the YMCA's Brighter Horizons building in Rogersville, TN,” Ted Marquis, VP of Care Force - City Year Inc. said. “Our partnership with the Kingsport YMCA is a great example of how our partnership with Truist allows us to ensure that students have access to the relationships, supports, and learning environments to realize their full potential.”

Through national partnerships, City Year- Care Force engages corporate employees in high-impact volunteer events around the world. Since its launch in 2001, City Year - Care Force has managed over 110,000 volunteers in over 800 events generating over 560,000 hours of community service.

Staff and volunteers arrived on-site around 11:00 am for an overview of the day and the opening program took place at 12:00 pm. After a few words from key members of City Year - Care Force, Truist, and the YMCA, volunteers were split into different teams and begin working on the various projects for the outside of the facility.

Families in the area were invited to come to YMCA Brighter Horizons at 4:00 pm to participate in a personal finance activity, tour the facility, engage with staff, volunteers, and community leaders, to learn more about the opportunities and services the facility offers.

After closing remarks and special thanks to everyone, the event concluded around 6:00 pm.

“We are incredibly thankful for the support from the Rogersville community with the facility and grateful that partners like Truist and City Year - Care Force believe so strongly in our mission of strengthening communities.” Said KC Bittle, CEO/President of the Kingsport Family YMCA. “It is the mission of the YMCA and Brighter Horizons to provide quality programs, services, and resources that improve the well-being of all families and influence future generations.”

The YMCA Brighter Horizons Youth Center is funded through a Grant Contract with the State of Tennessee, the generosity of Hawkins County and Rogersville BMA, East Tennessee Foundation, Speedway Children's Charities, Target Foundation, Hawkins County United Way, Rural Health Services, and community donors.

About the Y

The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits committed to strengthening communities in the areas of youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.  The Kingsport Y currently serves approximately 25,000 people in our community—regardless of age, income, or background—to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors.  Anchored in more than 10,000 communities, the Y has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver lasting personal and social change.  For more information, go to www.ymcakpt.org, call 423.247.YMCA (9622), or visit the Y in person.

About Truist 

Truist Financial Corporation is a purpose-driven financial services company committed to inspiring and building better lives and communities. Truist has leading market share in many high-growth markets in the country and offers a wide range of products and services through our retail and small business banking, commercial banking, corporate and investment banking, insurance, wealth management, and specialized lending businesses. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Truist is a top 10 U.S. commercial bank with total assets of $574 billion as of March 31, 2023. Truist Bank, Member FDIC. Learn more at Truist.com.