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At Breaking Chains Academy, every student who walks through the door is seen for who they can become—not where they came from.

“Often our kids are the kids who get judged, pushed aside, overlooked, even demonized,” said Luis Granados. “We want the highest-risk kids in our classroom.”

Breaking Chains Academy is a nonprofit organization serving at-risk youth throughout Canyon County by providing education services, workforce training, and wraparound support. Many students arrive after being expelled from traditional schools or dropping out entirely, carrying burdens far heavier than most people realize.

“The majority of our kids are low-income,” Luis shared. “They’re waking up on a couch with no good morning and no breakfast.”

That’s why the academy focuses on more than academics alone. Students are welcomed with meals, individualized study plans, GED and high school completion support, mentorship, and job training opportunities through partnerships like the Department of Labor.

For Luis, this mission is deeply personal.

“I was actually a student in this program,” he said. “I got involved with the program when I was 14 years old.”

Luis recalls standing in a courtroom as a teenager while a judge reviewed his future. What changed the outcome, he says, was the foundation the program helped provide.

“She looked at me and said, because you have a base of education, work experience, and a strong support system, I do believe you can become a productive member of this community,” Luis shared. “Because of those three things, she gave me a second shot.”

Today, he works to provide those same opportunities to the next generation of students.

One story that continues to inspire him is a young man who, after surviving being shot three times, earned his GED just one month later. Soon after, Boise Barber College offered him a full-ride scholarship.

“A year later, at 17, he became a barber,” Luis said. “At 19, he became a barbershop owner. At 20 years old, he bought his first home.”

For Luis, success is measured in moments like these—watching students build stable lives, careers, and families after overcoming incredible obstacles.

“When I see these kids show up and now they’re 30 years old and they have a little family, they’re showing up in a new car, they’re talking about their apartment or their house,” he said. “To me, that means the most.”

Organizations like Breaking Chains Academy are helping strengthen communities across Idaho by investing in people who simply need someone to believe in them. Through community partnerships and local support, programs like this continue changing lives one student at a time.

First Federal Foundation is proud to support organizations making a difference throughout Southern Idaho. Since 2003, the Foundation has awarded more than $1.5 million to nonprofits serving educational, civic, health, human services, social, and cultural needs across the region.

Applications are open now through June 30, 2026, for qualifying nonprofit organizations throughout Idaho.

Learn more or apply today