Latest news with #BrighterDays
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Brighter Days Celebrates Four Years of Delivering Exceptional Support to Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities
06/06/2025, Gibsonia, Pennsylvania // PRODIGY: Feature Story // Brighter Days, a provider of in-home and community-based services for individuals with intellectual disabilities, commemorates its fourth anniversary. Founded with a mission to deliver relationship-centered support to a population typically underserved by traditional providers, it has spent nearly the last half-decade improving lives through meaningful connection, purposeful care, and persistent commitment to inclusion. 'This company started as an idea from frustration with the lack of quality care and the impersonal way services were being delivered,' David Brown, founder and CEO of Brighter Days, says. 'I wanted to build something better, and I poured every ounce of passion, experience, and energy I had into creating an agency that truly puts people first. Four years later, I'm proud of what we've accomplished, but even more grateful for the relationships we've built.' Brown drew on years of experience as a behavior specialist, program manager, and direct support professional, as well as a business degree from a top-ranked university, to create a service provider that combines professional excellence and a community-rooted approach. Brighter Days' services are designed to empower individuals in home and community settings. Through tailored In-Home and Community Support services, clients receive help with daily needs and personal goals. Meanwhile, its Community Participation Support offers meaningful opportunities for community engagement and social inclusion. The company has also become known for offering unique and impactful social groups. These gatherings are bridges to lasting friendships, romantic relationships, and a sense of belonging. For individuals with intellectual disabilities who might face isolation due to structural and social barriers, these relationships can be life-changing. Brighter Days understands that true support goes beyond logistics. It's about human connection. Within its first year, Brighter Days experienced exponential growth. That early momentum reflected the trust that families and referral partners quickly placed in the company's values and vision. By the second year, Brighter Days had already established itself as a reliable partner in the lives of a significant number of individuals and their families. These are the clients who had previously struggled to find the right fit and who finally felt seen, heard, and supported. Brighter Days never lost its small-agency feel despite its rapid growth. Brown made a conscious choice early on to resist the common pitfalls of scaling, such as diluted services, impersonal care, and staff burnout. 'We doubled down on what made our organization special: meaningful relationships, high-touch service, and community-first thinking,' says Brown. 'We personally reassured clients who were concerned about being 'just another number.' That commitment has endured across county lines and service areas. 'One family told us they were shocked after learning how much our company expanded because, to them, it still felt like they were one of the only families being served,' the founder says. That, Brown says, is by design. Key to this integrity has been Brighter Days' approach to staffing. When many providers were struggling to hire during the post-COVID labor crunch, Brighter Days stood out by offering what was then an industry-leading wage. This forward-thinking strategy attracted the right applicants: people who love this work, who believe in the mission, and who treat their clients with the same care and respect they would show their own families. 'Quality care starts with quality staff, and that means investing in them accordingly,' Brown says. Brighter Days' vision is ambitious yet grounded. Brown emphasizes that growth isn't about chasing numbers or profits. It's about meeting real needs with real integrity. He states: 'There are so many people across this country who deserve genuine, high-quality, relationship-based care. We'll continue to offer exactly that.' Media Contact Name: David Brown Email: [email protected]
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Local recovery group holds a car show to send kids to camp
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — A local youth recovery group is trying to send its kids to summer camp after raising money with its first-ever car show. The group, Brighter Days, is a religion-based program aimed at keeping kids from turning to addiction. It focuses on young adults who struggle with various issues, whether it's their life at home or getting bullied. To help raise the money to send their kids to summer camp, Brighter Days partnered with local car clubs and other groups to make the show happen. Director Rosemary Hernandez hopes the trip to summer camp can help keep the kids on the right path. 'Once you turn to addiction and you have to go into recovery, recovery is a lifelong process,' Hernandez said. 'You'll be in recovery for the rest of your life. So, if we can prevent that and show them that there are other ways to deal with what they're going through besides turning towards addiction, that's what our main purpose is.' Hernandez hopes to fund a week-long trip to Pine Cove for the program's kids. She also hopes Brighter Days can continue growing the car show to prevent more kids from becoming addicted. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
BBC News
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Ariana Grande becomes old woman for Brighter Days short film
This isn't the Ariana Grande that any of us are used to seeing! So what happened? The pop star has in fact transformed into a much older version of herself for her short film. Brighter Days was released on Friday alongside the deluxe version of her album Eternal Sunshine. It's full title is Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead, and it contains some never-heard-before new songs, Twilight Zone, Past Life, Hampstead, Warm and the film Ariana convincingly becomes an elderly lady called Peaches with what seem to be prosthetic wrinkles, grey hair and wrinkled hands. The 26-minute film shows a clinic where people can have their memories wiped as well as being able to watch memories back. The elderly Peaches (Ariana Grande) is wheeled into a special room where she can watch the last four of her memories. These include video clips from the pop stars actual childhood, showing her family, and performing Eternal Sunshine and Dandelion as a pop star. The album Eternal Sunshine went straight in at Number 1 on the Official Albums Chart when it was released March last year.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ariana Grande's new short film includes movie references to 'X-Men' and 'Minority Report.' Here's every detail you may have missed.
Ariana Grande released the deluxe version of her album "Eternal Sunshine" on Friday. The release was paired with a short film co-directed by Grande and Christian Breslauer. The short film features a string of movie references and an explicit shout-out to Steven Spielberg. Ariana Grande released "Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead" on Friday, an extended version of her Grammy-nominated seventh studio album. Grande has described "Eternal Sunshine" as a concept album, drawing liberally from Michel Gondry's "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." The 2004 sci-fi film stars Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet as ill-matched lovers who decide to erase their memories of each other, arguably dooming themselves to a never-ending loop of heartbreak. The deluxe edition's arrival was paired with a short film, co-directed by Grande and Christian Breslauer, who previously helmed the visual for "Yes, And?" Much like the album itself, "Brighter Days Ahead" is thematically and aesthetically influenced by Gondry's cult classic — as well as other significant moments in cinema. Keep reading for the key references and details we found. Grande's character is called Peaches, a reference to Winslet's character in "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." Grande's fans first met Peaches in the music video for "We Can't Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)," which premiered last March. The character's fruity name is a clear nod to Clementine, the impulsive yet lovable heroine from "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," who is portrayed by Winslet. "We Can't Be Friends" shows Peaches arriving at Brighter Days, Inc. for a futuristic memory-erasure procedure. (In Gondry's film, the clinic is called Lacuna, Inc., a word that means "a blank space or a missing part," according to Merriam-Webster.) Grande's new short film picks up 70 years after the events of "We Can't Be Friends." "Now, she finds herself once again in the waiting room of Brighter Days Inc., but this time for a very different appointment," the video's description reads. "The company now offers advanced memory restoration, allowing her to revisit a curated selection of moments from her life — both cherished and painful." In the opening scene, we can see that Grande's signature hand tattoos have become faded and blotchy with time. Peaches uses a machine to revisit four past memories, which play out like a series of mini music videos. The short film features six songs from "Eternal Sunshine." "Intro (End of the World)," "Eternal Sunshine," and "Supernatural" were all included on the album's standard edition, while "Dandelion," "Twilight Zone," and "Hampstead" are deluxe tracks. The memory machine bears an uncanny resemblance to Cerebro from the "X-Men" franchise. Cerebro is a supercomputer that amplifies the telepathic powers of Professor Charles Xavier, played by Patrick Stewart in the original "X-Men" trilogy. Perhaps Grande is lobbying for a role in the newly expanded MCU? The machine's design also evokes Steven Spielberg's 2002 sci-fi film "Minority Report." The futuristic action flick "Minority Report" stars Tom Cruise as Chief John Anderton. His police department, Precrime, is tasked with analyzing psychic premonitions, which they use to catch would-be killers before they commit premeditated murders. The memory machine depicted in Grande's short film resembles the technology in "Minority Report," especially the spheres where Peaches' memories are stored. The "Brighter Days Ahead" credits seem to confirm this parallel; they include a line that reads "Additional Thanks to Universal Studios, Steven Spielberg," the director of "Minority Report." Even before her Oscar-nominated turn as Glinda in "Wicked," Grande was no stranger to referencing movies in her work. She previously included nods to "Catwoman" in "The Boy Is Mine" (2024) and "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery" in "34+35" (2020). Most famously, Grande's 2018 "Thank U, Next" video paid homage to a handful of female-led rom-coms: "Mean Girls," "Legally Blonde," "13 Going on 30," and "Bring It On." When she performed the hit song on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" with cowriters Victoria Monét and Tayla Parx, they reenacted the iconic final scene from "The First Wives Club." Grande used a similar looping machine for a live performance of "Positions." Following the release of "Positions" in 2020, Grande collaborated with Vevo to produce a series of live performances of songs from the album. To kick off her performance of the title track, Grande used a looping machine to stack her vocals and harmonies — almost identical to the one she uses in "Brighter Days Ahead" to perform the "Eternal Sunshine" title track. "That was one of the first instruments she had as a child, and she would loop her vocals to make songs up," Vevo exec Ed Walker told Business Insider. "She told us this story on set, about how it was crazy because she hadn't used one of those loopers in like, 10 years. She got one in the studio and she just used it and then she was like, 'Right, we're starting the song with this.' It took her back to being in her bedroom." Grande has also said she "fell in love" with using looping machines after watching Imogen Heap perform at a young age. Grande's real dad, Ed Butera, plays a Frankenstein-like version of her dad in the film. The final segment of the short film is a black-and-white music video for "Hampstead," the final track on the deluxe album. Grande's dad, Ed Butera, plays a doctor who literally stitches his daughter's body back together. He finds her still-beating heart in a tavern and her brain in a pile of junk, echoing the song's lyrics: "I left my heart at a pub in Hampstead / And I misplaced my mind in a good way." In the end, the doctor is able to resurrect his daughter by playing a song for her on his piano. Read the original article on Business Insider
USA Today
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Masters Survey 2025: Who has appreciated getting Masters ticket from you the most and why?
Masters Survey 2025: Who has appreciated getting Masters ticket from you the most and why? Of all the people that you've given Masters tickets to, who appreciated it most? That's the latest question of the Golfweek Masters Survey. A badge to the Masters is the Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory golden ticket of golf. A contestant can purchase up to eight, which sounds like a decent number until you factor in family, coaches, managers, and other members of "the team." That doesn't leave many to dole out to friends and extended family. Matt Kuchar likes to hook up his college friends with practice round tickets and to see the joy on the faces of their kids. Rickie Fowler remembers some friends who drove through the night when some tickets became available last minute and Adam Scott remembers the tears in the eyes of a mate who had come all the way from Australia. Who appreciated getting tickets the most? We asked, they answered. Check out the responses below. Adam Scott I think my buddy who's a golf pro in Australia. It was the tears in his eyes that gave it away. He's the only one who has cried. Adam Hadwin I gave Monday-Wednesday tickets to a guy who I had bought a couple of cars off of and he'd been trying to go for 15-20 years and it never worked out. Corey Conners Coach Herb Page (former men's golf coach at Kent State). He's been very meaningful to my career both as a person and a player. He's always cheering me on. Billy Horschel Everyone who's gotten one from me over the years has been very appreciative of it. But the one person that jumps to mind is a friend, an older gentleman named Avi Armon. There were several guys my age that played a lot together when I was a kid and he would always come out and watch us play and one of those guys who'd say, "Hole this shot and I'll give you five bucks," or something like that. He was always a really good guy, good family friend and someone who just loved the game of golf. Gary Player Everybody. It's such a treat to come to the Masters how could you not give your highest appreciation. Gary Woodland My dad. He is the one who got me into the game. Just seeing him walking the course makes me feel good inside because being at the Masters is probably something he never dreamed of growing up in Topeka, Kansas. Mackenzie Hughes My parents and in-laws. I think they really appreciate what an accomplishment it was to get there. They've been four times and every year feels just as special. Rickie Fowler I've had a couple times where last minute we ended up having a ticket or two to spare and they never went to waste. I remember a couple of my buddies, some wakeboard guys, live in Orlando and happen to have a couple spare tickets for the weekend, and they popped in the car, drove through the night and came straight up. Jason Day We donate a couple badges every year to our foundation (Brighter Days) and it's nice that people spend the money which goes to a good cause and they, in turn, get to enjoy the day. Keegan Bradley Probably my dad. He loves coming and walking around. Kevin Kisner My mom. She got a clubhouse badge and that was her dream. Matt Kuchar It's typically been family for tournament days. On Monday, I usually bring college friends, who take their kids, and there's something about seeing the Masters through the eyes of a kid – you can tell how excited they are to be there – that gets me excited as well. Stewart Cink Our good friend Robin, who lives in Montana. She came with her husband right before he died and she always mentions how wonderful it was and how she cherishes those memories. Webb Simpson It's hard to say one person, but I would say to know and experience the reaction of your friends, especially older friends, who have never had the opportunity to go, it's a gift to be able to see that. Xander Schauffele Probably one of my dad's friends. Getting a ticket is tough and them knowing me for a while and being able to support me made it extra special. Being on property as a golf fan is as good as it gets. Zach Johnson Anybody that goes for the first time, doesn't matter who it is. But probably one of my college teammates, he's a year older than me and still one of my dearest friends. He brought his dad, who had battled cancer, got through it and it came back and within six to eight weeks, he passed away. So, that was their last hurrah doing something like that as father and son. And I made a hole-in-one in the Par 3 Contest and gave him the ball. It's the only one I ever made.
