Youth Opportunity Is a
Community Investment
Asheville and Buncombe County is full of young people with talent, drive, and potential. Making sure they have what they need to act on it — that's what Youth Opportunity is all about. And it's something no single organization can do alone. It takes schools, families, businesses, neighbors, organizations, and community members all showing up together.
TWO Events. ONE Summer of Impact
One of Two Impact Areas. All of Our Energy.
Youth Opportunity is one of United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County's two core Impact Areas. Through Community Schools and United for Youth, we work alongside schools, local government, nonprofits, and families with one shared goal: ALL Asheville City and Buncombe County students graduate from high school ready and fully prepared to pursue their goals and dreams.
Why It Matters
A lot of students in our community are dealing with things that have nothing to do with how smart or capable they are. Housing instability and limited healthcare access are just two examples. Those gaps don't just disappear. They follow a kid if nobody addresses them. United Way works with community partner organizations and community members to address these unseen needs. We believe that what happens in the community and at home matters just as much as what happens in the classroom.
When Youth Succeed, We All Do
Investing in young people pays off in ways most people don't think about until later. Students who get real support graduate more prepared, and that shows up in the workforce, in neighborhoods, and in the overall health of this community. Families who feel connected to schools tend to be more stable, and that stability has a way of spreading.
The student sitting in a classroom today is a future coworker, neighbor, and community member. What we put into that kid now comes back to all of us.
Get Involved This Summer
This summer, United Way is hosting two events connected to this work. Both are open to the public and are real ways to support students and families right here in Buncombe County. Find out more about each one below.