Meet Our Founder

Ashley Garcia-Rivera is the founder of Suitcases of Hope, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring dignity and care for children entering the foster care system.

Ashley’s passion for this work is deeply rooted in lived experience. Having experienced foster care and adoption herself, she understands how moments of transition, often filled with uncertainty and loss, can leave lasting impressions on young people. One of the most common and painful images she witnessed was children carrying their belongings in trash bags. Suitcases of Hope was created to change that reality by ensuring that youth entering care have something that reflects respect, stability, and hope.

Ashley began her advocacy journey in 2013 as a youth speaker, sharing her story on both local and national platforms to raise awareness about foster care, adoption, and the need for stronger, more compassionate systems of support. Over the years, she has used her voice to educate communities, engage professionals, and inspire action, bridging personal experience with systems-level understanding.

Through Suitcases of Hope, Ashley continues her lifelong commitment to advocacy by turning awareness into tangible impact. Her work is guided by a belief that small acts, such as providing a bag, can carry profound meaning, reminding children that they are valued, deserving, and never forgotten.