Boys & Girls Club changes name to Bryant Youth Association

In a move that has been at work over the past two-and-ahalf years, the Bryant Boys and Girls Club has been renamed the Bryant Youth Association.

CEO Suzanne Passmore announced the change at a luncheon on Wednesday afternoon.

“We want this club to align with the values and high standards that are reflective in our community,” she said. “We are appreciative of the high value that Boys and Girls Club of America has provided over the years, but believe now is the time to make a change and do what’s right in our eyes for our children.

“We believe that embracing our roots will help us rediscover the passion and community spirit that fueled the establishment of this organization,” she said.

Bryant Youth Association began in 2004 in response to community needs. Through the years, they have accomplished such acts of service as school counseling; backpack and food giveaways; clothes closets; and ensuring that those who experience food insecurity and neglect are taken care of.

“Our roots started in 2004 when the community and the board set the bar high to ensure all children have a safe and nurturing place to go each day,” Passmore said. “No child is exempt from stress, worry or life’s challenges.”

Moving forward, that mission will not change. The focus will remain on age-appropriate children’s needs and a programs that align with community values and education.

“The Bryant Youth Association will continue to be a beacon of hope for the youth of our community, just as it was when it first began,” Passmore said. The association is largely led by the support of the community, whose response, she said, has been “humbling and overwhelming.”

“I have already recharged my phone today from calls and texts of current leaders, parents, former staff, as well as board officers from twenty years ago,” she said. “It is an exciting time at Bryant Youth Association.”