announcements

Willows Youth Services Center
is Open

Willows Youth Services Center, located at 12735 Willows
Road NE, Kirkland, WA 98034, is open, and the shuttle services are available.

For more information, including transportation options, call or text 425.449.3868.

Celebration of Youth 2026

Join us on April 24 and
May 8 and celebrate Friends of Youth’s 75‑year legacy, and explore how our community supports youth and young families today.

Learn More!

Join the Sparks of Change Network today!

Your monthly gift ensures more youth have experience life-changing opportunities.

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and join the Sparks of Change Network!

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latest news

celebrating 75 years of impact, community, and joy

Last night, our community came together for a milestone moment— 75 years of supporting youth, young adults, and families . What began as a small nonprofit with a big heart has grown into a vibrant, resilient organization that continues to uplift generations. And in true anniversary fashion, we celebrated with one powerful theme: JOY . A Community Reunion Filled With Heart The event brought together the people who helped shape our organization across decades— past and present

celebrating hope and healing: bridge pointe ribbon cutting

Last month, Friends of Youth welcomed community members to our Kirkland campus for a very special occasion—the ribbon cutting ceremony for Bridge Pointe , an innovative housing program designed for young adults, ages 18 to 24, transitioning from inpatient behavioral health treatment. This event marked three months of operating our first Bridge Pointe house and celebrated the upcoming opening of our second home as we look ahead to 2026. The ceremony brought together local lea

give a young person their next good memory. it’s not too late to give an end-of-year gift that makes a real difference!

Food is more than nourishment—it’s memory, dignity, and hope . For Sam, his first holiday without a home could have been unbearably lonely. But at Friends of Youth’s Willows Young Adult Shelter, the warmth of shared meals and laughter in the kitchen made him feel seen. Sweet treats from the farmers’ market weren’t just snacks—they were moments of belonging. Sam lived at Willows for ten months. Living with a disability made employment difficult, and navigating benefits felt o

celebrating a season of giving: thank you for making our giving tree a success!

This year, our community came together in an extraordinary way to support the Friends of Youth Giving Tree—and because of you, more than 300 young people and families will experience a brighter, more joyful holiday season. Each tag selected, each gift purchased, and each act of kindness reflected the heart of a community that believes every young person and family deserves to feel seen, supported, and celebrated. Your generosity did more than fulfill wish lists —it reminde

building community through shared space and care

At Friends of Youth, we believe community grows stronger when people have space to gather, connect, and care for one another. Recently, we were honored to open our Kirkland Youth Services Center (KYSC) administration office's large conference room to community partners for two meaningful events, each rooted in collaboration, equity, and shared purpose. We were grateful to host Eastside Pathways for their recent gathering event that brought together regional leaders and par

nourishing futures: end of year celebration

This month, Friends of Youth hosted our first End-of-Year Celebration at Novelty Hill – Januik Winery , bringing together community members, partners, and supporters to reflect, reconnect, and recommit to the work ahead. It was a joyful evening before the holidays, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who joined us. During the evening, we shared the challenges young people are facing today and shared our vision of a future where every Friends of Youth young person and fam

now enrolling: dbt skills class for teens starting january 2026

The DBT team at Friends of Youth is excited to share that our next Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills Class will begin in early January 2026, and enrollment is now open! This structured, evidence-based program is designed to support teens navigating emotional regulation, relationship challenges, impulsive reactions, and/or intense mood changes. DBT skills are taught in a strengths-based, trauma-informed way that helps build resilience, improve communication, and suppor

burgermaster and you: small change, big impact!

November is National Youth Homelessness Awareness Month, and this past November, we were proud to partner once again with Burgermaster and YouthCare for the second annual Your Change, Their Chance Round-Up Campaign. Throughout the month, Burgermaster guests were invited to round up their order total to support local youth experiencing homelessness in our communities . Every cent raised went directly to Friends of Youth and YouthCare, helping provide safe housing, counseling

a home for healing: friends of youth celebrates bridge pointe ribbon cutting

Friends of Youth has officially opened Bridge Pointe Housing, a healing place for young adults, 18 - 24, transitioning from inpatient treatment.   On Tuesday, November 4, 2025, Friends of Youth hosted a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Bridge Pointe Housing with honored guests and speakers including, Friends of Youth President and CEO, Paul Lwali; Friends of Youth Senior Director of Youth and Family Services, Brooke Drennon; Friends of Youth Senior Director of Homeless Youth Se

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Friends of Youth welcomes, honors, and celebrates our clients, colleagues and communities’ diverse identities, histories, knowledges, languages, and cultures. Our organizational values shape the way we work individually and collectively, as we prioritize young people’s belonging and achievement. We work to challenge, alter, and ultimately dismantle interconnected systems of structural and historic oppression. We collaborate with community stakeholders and partners to develop policy and decision-making frameworks that advance racial equity.