Close to 200 young people spent Friday, July 10, at Ridge Road Park playing giant Jenga, spinning an affirmation wheel, and building dream boards at the Westchester County Youth Bureau's fifth annual Invest Fest.

For the first time, Bronxville, Scarsdale, and Eastchester families are eligible for the county program behind the event. The Youth Bureau expanded its "Invest in Kids" initiative beyond the 11 urban communities it served since 1993, opening the 2026–2028 funding cycle to youth across all of Westchester. That means local children can now access 63 funded programs run by 45 agencies countywide.

Those original 11 municipalities were Elmsford, Greenburgh, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Ossining, Peekskill, Port Chester, Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown, White Plains, and Yonkers. The expansion acknowledges that youth-service needs now extend beyond the county's urban centers, according to the county's funding announcement.

Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said at the event that partner agency volunteers "have so much enthusiasm and clearly love showing our kids a good time." He added that funded agencies provide programming for county youth "not just today but all year long."

The county allocated $3.1 million in its 2026 budget for Invest in Kids, which supports services ranging from substance-use prevention and academic tutoring to employment readiness and civic engagement for residents 21 and under. The Youth Bureau received 45 percent more proposals for this cycle than it did in 2022, according to the county's funding announcement.

Twenty partner agencies staffed activity stations on Friday, July 10. Kids rotated through the WJCS Affirmation Spinning Wheel, the Westchester Children's Association Dreamboard, and the United Way Spatial Awareness Cup Challenge, alongside cornhole, bookmark making, and a picnic lunch with a live DJ.

WCYB Executive Director Ernest McFadden said the fest gives young people a chance to "experience camaraderie with other youth throughout the County, while gaining access to existing youth services and supports."

Among the agencies on hand: Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Clay Arts Center, Teatown Lake Reservation, Volunteer New York!, and the Westchester Jewish Community Center.

Families interested in year-round Youth Bureau programming can reach the office at 914-995-2745 or [email protected]. The bureau is at 112 East Post Road, 3rd Floor, White Plains.