Robert Saleh’s wife, Sanaa, a courageous sexual abuse survivor, founded Sanaa’s Stars to bring hope, healing, and comforting care packages to children affected by sexual abuse.
Robert Saleh’s wife Sanaa, a courageous sexual abuse survivor, founded Sanaa’s Stars to bring hope, healing, and comforting care packages to children affected by sexual abuse.
Robert Saleh, the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, is widely respected in the NFL for his sharp defensive expertise, high-energy leadership, and that signature “All Gas, No Brake” mentality he brings to every team he coaches.
Beyond football, Saleh is committed to his family and to supporting survivors of child sexual abuse, inspired by the work of his wife, Sanaa.
Saleh has been married to Sanaa Saleh for many years, and together they are proud parents to seven children, five sons and two daughters.
Robert Saleh with his wife and children (Source: The Sun)
The couple, both with roots in Dearborn, Michigan, keep much of their family life private, but Sanaa’s journey as a sexual abuse survivor has shaped their shared mission to make a difference.
In 2019, Sanaa founded Sanaa’s Stars, a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating child sexual abuse and providing meaningful support to survivors and their families.
The organization’s mission is clear and heartfelt: to deliver hope and love to children who have endured this devastating trauma. According to the official website,
“Our team is committed to delivering hope and love to children who have been affected by this devastating experience. We work tirelessly to make a positive impact on the lives of these vulnerable children, partnering with individuals and organizations who share the same passion.”
One of the key initiatives is the Lights of Love Care Packages, which include comforting items like a safety blanket, a personal serenity journal, battery-operated lights, and affirming messages of hope.
These packages aim to bring a sense of comfort and light to kids in incredibly dark moments, while the broader work focuses on psychosocial support, raising awareness, and partnering with other groups to fight child abuse.
Robert Saleh has been one of Sanaa’s biggest champions, openly praising her dedication and using his platform to amplify her efforts.
During his time as head coach of the New York Jets, he participated in the NFL’s My Cause, My Cleats campaign, wearing custom white Nike Air Force 1 sneakers emblazoned with “Sanaa’s Stars” to spotlight the organization.
In interviews, he’s spoken candidly about why the cause matters so much to their family.
“So my beautiful wife has a charity for sexually abused children, And she is relentless in her pursuit to help young boys and girls who have been abused, so I’m wearing those shoes in support of her and her cause. I always have her back on that.”
“She just wants to bring light to people who are in a dark place in their life. And the things that they do are pretty cool. And the amount of work that she’s put into this is pretty cool.”
Saleh has also highlighted the organization’s tangible impact, like collaborations with groups such as the Jets Women’s Organization, which helped pack and distribute hundreds of care packages to services supporting abused children.
Sanaa’s courage as a survivor turned advocate, combined with Robert’s support, shows how personal pain can fuel powerful change.
Through Sanaa’s Stars, they’re not just raising funds, they’re offering real hope, healing, and a reminder that no child should face such darkness alone.
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