Folsom's Hope: How One Mom Built an 18-Year Movement for Kids Who Needed More

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... (https://www.buzzsprout.com/2359248/fa...) When Salwa Kasabian transferred her children to a school many families were actively trying to avoid, she discovered something that would change the course of her life—and the lives of countless students across Folsom. What started as volunteering in her children's classrooms revealed a hidden reality: many students lacked the support, structure, mentorship, and safe spaces they needed outside of school. Rather than turning away, Salwa stepped forward. Eighteen years later, Folsom's Hope has grown from a simple Lunch Buddy mentoring program into a comprehensive nonprofit serving elementary, middle school, and high school students through after-school programs, academic support, mentorship, meals, social-emotional learning, and internships. Along the way, the organization has built powerful partnerships with schools, churches, local government, businesses, colleges, and community organizations—all focused on helping young people succeed.  In this episode, Salwa shares: •  How a denied school transfer changed her life  •  The surprising needs hidden within an affluent community  •  Why after-school hours are critical for student success  •  The origins of the Lunch Buddy mentoring program  •  How Folsom's Hope grew from a handful of students to a $700,000+ operation  •  The importance of community partnerships and collaboration  •  Challenges faced by schools that don't qualify for Title I funding  •  Success stories of students who have returned to serve the organization  •  New efforts to close academic gaps through summer intervention programs  •  What the future holds for Folsom's Hope and the students it serves  This conversation is a powerful reminder that lasting change often begins when one person chooses to respond to a need they can no longer ignore. Learn More About Folsom's Hope 🌐 Website: https://www.folsomshope.org/ 📱 Follow Folsom's Hope on Facebook FolsomsHope and on Instagram @folsomshope  🤝 Volunteer, donate, or learn more through their website Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story!  We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/  And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing.