Beyond the Game.
Beyond the System.
November Saturdays was built to close the gap between survival and belonging — restoring dignity, building mentorship, and creating a path for kids who deserve more than being left on the outside looking in.
Why “November Saturdays”?
In the South, college football is more than a sport. It is rhythm, memory, family, and belonging. But for many kids, those Saturdays are not celebration. They are another day of instability, financial strain, or trying to survive.
For a lot of families, late-fall Saturdays hold some of their best memories — tailgates, community, the feeling of being part of something bigger than themselves. But when you grow up in foster care, or inside the daily reality of addiction, displacement, or financial hardship, a Saturday in November can feel like another reminder of what you are missing.
“November Saturdays” represents the gap between those two realities. It is the feeling of being on the outside looking in at a community you want to be part of, but cannot quite reach.
We built this foundation to close that gap. We believe every child deserves structure, mentorship, and the uninterrupted joy of being part of a team.
A Letter from Kensley Tolliver
I didn’t start this foundation because I read about these issues in an article. I started it because I lived them.
My story involves foster care. It involves navigating the fallout of addiction. It involves betrayal, grief, and the profound disorientation of having to figure out who you are when the systems that are supposed to protect you fall apart.
What saved me, time and time again, were the people who stepped in to bridge the gap — mentors, coaches, and community members who saw me not as a statistic, but as a person with potential.
I founded November Saturdays because I wanted to build the infrastructure I needed when I was younger. I wanted to create a bridge for kids who are standing where I once stood — in a way that restores dignity, builds mentorship, and interrupts generational trauma.
This work is personal. It is heavy. But it is the most important thing I will ever do.
What drives the work.
Everything we build runs through three commitments: connection first, consistency over performative charity, and clearing the path so kids can fully step into who they are becoming.
BELONG.
We believe connection is the antidote to trauma. Before a child can achieve, they must know they are safe, seen, and valued. We create environments where kids do not have to earn their right to belong.
MENTOR.
We do not believe in drop-in charity. We believe in consistent presence. We pair resources with relationships so every child we support has trusted adults in their corner for the long term.
ACHIEVE.
We remove financial and systemic barriers that keep kids on the sidelines. By covering costs, providing gear, and delivering practical support, we help clear the path forward — on the field and in life.
The women behind the work.
November Saturdays is led by people who understand both the emotional weight and the operational reality of showing up for a community with intention.
Kensley Tolliver
Kensley is the visionary behind the November Saturdays Foundation and co-host of ex.clusively: Beyond the Game. Drawing from her own experiences navigating foster care and personal adversity, she built this organization to ensure no child has to face their hardest seasons alone.
Olivia Blankenship
Olivia is the operational force behind the foundation’s programs and co-host of ex.clusively: Beyond the Game. With a deep commitment to empathy and community building, she helps ensure every initiative is executed with care, consistency, and real support.
Trust is earned through transparency.
We want supporters, donors, and partners to understand exactly what this work stands on: clarity, credibility, and a real commitment to stewarding support well.
The November Saturdays Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Our commitment is not only to meet needs, but to do it with accountability, dignity, and consistency.