September 16, 2025
Helping Students Shine for the 2025–2026 School Year
The start of a new school year brings excitement, fresh goals, and sometimes a few jitters.
We believe every child deserves to step into the classroom feeling confident, supported, and ready to thrive. That’s why our teams across Los Angeles came together this August to host Back-to-School celebrations filled with fun, family, and encouragement.
Metro-South: Building Friendships and Confidence
The Youth Ambassador Committee of our Metro-South program, pictured above, kicked off the school year with a Back2School event full of laughter and bowling. Youth shared their goals, swapped advice, and celebrated together while strengthening friendships. These small but powerful moments created a sense of community that will carry them through the school year.
San Gabriel Valley & East LA: Creativity, Care, and Connection
In San Gabriel Valley and East LA, families gathered for a vibrant Back-to-School celebration at the Clubhouse. The afternoon overflowed with joy: kids enjoyed pizza, ice cream, and games while also diving into vision board collaging and story time.
Every child left with back-to-school supplies and sticker books, helping them step into the classroom feeling prepared.
The most powerful part of the event came from the caregivers, who wrote heartfelt messages of encouragement to their youth for the year ahead. These simple notes of love and belief will travel with the kids far beyond the first day of school.
One caregiver was so inspired by the event that she referred two new families to Friends LA—a powerful testament to the way our program builds trust and community.
Why Back-to-School Matters at Friends LA
Every backpack given, every game played, and every story shared was about more than celebrating the season—it was about equipping children and families with the confidence, resilience, and community support they need to thrive in school and beyond.
As the 2025–2026 school year begins, we are proud of the progress our youth are making and inspired by their determination. Together, with our dedicated Friends, caregivers, and supporters, we are setting the stage for another year of growth, resilience, and joy.