FOLSOM — The Folsom City Council paused its regular business Tuesday night to recognize the quiet heroes who give their time and talent to strengthen the community. Five residents were presented with the 2025 Spirit of Folsom Awards, a program launched last year to spotlight outstanding civic contributions and volunteer service.
The awards, created in 2024 to formalize the city’s recognition of community service, are presented annually with each councilmember nominating one recipient from their district. The 2025 honorees are Beth Graybill, Tom Handy, Kathy Cole, Michael Raffetto, and Joanne Brausch.
The recipient’s stories and backgrounds, shared by the council in heartfelt remarks, reflected the theme of the evening: ordinary residents making extraordinary impacts. Here’s a look at each of the 2025 honorees;
Beth Graybill
Mayor Sarah Aquino began the recognitions with District 3 honoree Beth Graybill, a longtime volunteer at the Folsom Public Library.
“Beth has been volunteering at the library every Wednesday since 2017,” Aquino said, quoting Library Director Tom Grenaizen. “She comes in quietly for a few hours each Wednesday to help us get the library ready to open, primarily pulling the books for pickup that our residents requested the previous day. She’s lovely to work with, and the staff looks forward to seeing her each week, asking after her when she’s gone.”
Aquino added a personal touch, presenting Graybill with a lighthearted poem that drew smiles from the council and audience alike: “One book, two books, red book, blue book, big book, kids book, old book, new book. Elizabeth Graybill doesn’t stall. Elizabeth Graybill pulls them all.”
The mayor said Graybill’s dedication over eight years embodies the essence of the Spirit of Folsom.
Tom Handy
Vice Mayor Justin Raithel presented the award to District 1 honoree Tom Handy, a name that has long been associated with civic pride and volunteerism.
“Tom has been a staple of community service for many decades in Folsom,” Raithel said. “You might recognize his name from Handy Family Park or from his mom being our first female city council member. Tom has continued his family’s legacy of service to Folsom to this day.”
From managing the snack shack at the Lembi Sports Complex with his wife Debbie — where proceeds support youth sports — to maintaining landscaping at the historic Eagle Cemetery and serving on the sidelines as part of the “chain gang” during high school football games, Handy has contributed in countless ways.
“Tom has built bridges for trail days, been active in the Folsom High School Alumni Association, and volunteers every year for our beloved Community Service Day,” Raithel said. “Multiple generations of Folsom’s youth would agree with me that their lives have been impacted by Tom’s service and that Tom truly embodies the Spirit of Folsom.”
Kathy Cole
Councilmember Mike Kozlowski honored District 5 recipient Kathy Cole, calling her volunteer resume “extraordinary.”
Cole serves as chair of the Folsom Historic District Commission, is a board member of the Folsom Historic District Association, coordinates volunteers for the FHDA, and has been a member of the Folsom Historic Hometown Parade Committee, the Folsom Water Vision Advisory Committee, and more.
“As a volunteer herself, Kathy built and leads the FHDA volunteer and ambassador program, growing it to nearly 100 members,” Kozlowski said. “She personally meets with each volunteer to thoughtfully match them with roles based on their strengths and the district’s needs. She doesn’t just coordinate — she works long hours beside her team at major events, including two each year that run for more than fifteen hours in a row.”
He emphasized Cole’s refusal to accept payment for her work, saving FHDA thousands of dollars, and her leadership in planning the annual volunteer appreciation event. “She’s a doer, a problem solver, and most importantly, a joyful presence in our community,” Kozlowski said. “She makes our team better.”
Michael Raffetto
Councilmember Barbara Leary recognized District 2 honoree Michael Raffetto, a familiar figure in Folsom’s youth sports community.
“Mike has a very long history supporting our youth and youth sports in the city of Folsom,” Leary said. “It would be surprising to me if anyone that ever had a kid playing soccer didn’t know who Mike was because he’s tall and hard to miss, and he’s out on the fields all of the time.”
Raffetto has volunteered with Folsom Soccer Club for 22 years, serving as a head coach for recreational and competitive teams and as an assistant coach for other divisions. Beyond coaching, he spent a decade helping to line fields for play, organized coach appreciation dinners, and secured raffle prizes.
Leary also noted Raffetto’s patience in mediating differences between parents and coaches, his help at the Festival of Eggs, and his role interviewing high school seniors for FAA-sponsored scholarships. “Mike’s always there to help, and he’s a wonderful neighbor,” she said.
Joanne Brausch
Councilmember Anna Rohrbough closed the ceremony by honoring District 4 recipient Joanne Brausch, whom she first met through Brausch’s leadership in local traffic safety.
A 27-year resident, Brausch described herself as a “serial volunteer,” having served in PTOs, PTAs, Little League, scouting, sober grad nights, and the original Castle Park build of 1996. Today, she continues that legacy as president and community coordinator of Folsom Kids Play, a nonprofit that supports city parks and recreation.
“She is currently engaged in the rebuild of Castle Park, and she has been a force behind moving this forward,” Rohrbough said. “It’s taken a few years. Now, officially, it’s offline, but she is the reason that we had an amazing farewell sendoff to the Castle Park, and there were over five, six hundred people there.”
Rohrbough called Brausch not just a leader but a friend, praising her for reminding the community that “parks have really do matter.”
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