About this episode

Karen Olson shares her lifelong passion for helping the homeless and discusses her organization, Family Promise, which supports families in crisis.

Some people discover their purpose early in life. For Karen Olson, 81, that moment came at age 18 when she offered a simple sandwich to a homeless woman outside a New York train station. Decades later, after retiring from her marketing career, she revisited that memory—and learned that nearly 35% of people experiencing homelessness are families. That realization sparked the beginnings of Family Promise. In her book, Meant for More: Follow Your Heart and Find Your Purpose, Karen shares how Family Promise grew from a compassionate idea into a nationwide organization helping families return to independence. Through transitional shelter, counseling, education, and job resources—supported by partnerships with local congregations and community organizations—Family Promise ensures that parents preserve their dignity and children remain in school during times of crisis. An unfortunate accident during a cryotherapy session left Karen wheelchair‑bound, but it has not diminished her determination to combat poverty and homelessness. Her work continues to inspire thousands of volunteers and families across the country. ";Passion First. Plan. Persistence-this is the way to make change happen."…

People in this episode

Hosts: Gail Zelitzky, Catherine Marienau

Guest: Karen Olson

Topics covered

• homelessness
• purpose
• nonprofit
• family support
• community service

Keywords

• homelessness
• Family Promise
• Karen Olson
• purpose
• nonprofit
• community support
• transitional shelter

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Family Promise

Books & works: Meant for More: Follow Your Heart and Find Your Purpose

Places: New York

More episodes of Women Over 70: Aging Reimagined

• 377 Elise Magers: From Interiors to Inner Life: A Creative Evolution · April 21, 2026 · 27 min
• 376 Ashley Rogers: Reawakening Life Through an Unlikely Conversation with AI · April 14, 2026 · 34 min
• 375 Kathleen Harrison: Project Harambee: Transforming Lives in Sub-Sahara Africa · April 7, 2026 · 31 min
• 374 Phyllis Mitzen: A Lifetime of Leadership in Aging · March 31, 2026 · 34 min
• Mariann Aalda: Becoming ‘age-full’: Snapping out of internalized ageism · March 24, 2026 · 29 min
• 372 Sandra Taenzer: Leading the Way In Early Childhood Special Education · March 17, 2026 · 30 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Women Over 70: Aging Reimagined podcast page.