We exist to
Empower Support Transform
Communities
Center of Hope is a safe, structured, and supportive place for students to grow academically, emotionally, and socially in Fullerton.
For Families
Supporting your student’s academic success, emotional well-being, and character development
Partner With Us
Center of Hope exists because people like you choose to invest in the next generation.
Serving students and families in underserved Fullerton neighborhoods through free, high-impact after-school programming.
Why Center of Hope after-school matters
When the school day ends, many students go home to empty houses, crowded apartments, or neighborhoods where gangs, drugs, and negative influences are nearby. Center of Hope provides a safe place to land. We walk with students during the most vulnerable hours of the day, offering homework help, mentorship, positive peer relationships, and caring adults who believe in their potential.
- Safe: Supervised, structured, and relationship-centered environment.
- Supportive: Homework help, tutoring, and mentoring.
- Holistic: Social-emotional support, leadership development, life skills.
- Family-focused: We support parents and guardians, not just students
What students experience at Center of Hope
Academic Support
Homework help, tutoring, and study skills that help students stay on track and build confidence in the classroom.
Positive Community
Small groups, games, and activities that help students build healthy friendships and social skills.
Leadership & Character
Practical opportunities to grow in responsibility, communication, and service to others.
Mentoring & Guidance
Caring adults who listen, encourage, and walk alongside students through real-life challenges.
Who We Serve
Center of Hope primarily serves elementary, middle, and high school students in underserved neighborhoods of Fullerton. Many of our students come from single-parent or grandparent-led households, work hard to overcome academic challenges, or are navigating social and emotional pressures without much support. Our goal is simple: no student should feel alone.
Franklin Garcia
Franklin Garcia is a pastor, educator, and community leader deeply rooted in the Fullerton community. He holds a doctoral degree and serves as an adjunct professor at Biola University, where he equips emerging leaders with a commitment to integrity, service, and transformational impact. His work blends academic rigor, pastoral care, and hands‑on community engagement.
Raised by his aunt and uncle in the absence of his parents, Franklin navigated significant challenges throughout his childhood and adolescence. These experiences shaped his understanding of what it means to grow up without consistent support, guidance, or stability — and instilled in him a deep empathy for young people facing similar obstacles.
As both a father and a community leader, Franklin has seen firsthand the complexities children and families encounter as they strive to build healthy futures. His personal journey, combined with years of ministry and educational leadership, fuels his passion to create environments where young people feel seen, supported, and empowered.
Center of Hope OC was born out of that conviction. Franklin’s vision is to provide a safe, structured, and nurturing space where students can thrive academically, emotionally, and socially. His leadership reflects a deep belief that every child deserves guidance, opportunity, and a community that champions their potential.
