2022 Spooktoberfest Downtown Fairfield
Children dressed in their Halloween costumes could be seen walking downtown Fairfield trick or treating at this year’s Spooktoberfest. It was so wonderful seeing all the businesses passing out candy to the trick or treaters. After getting their candy they were able to sit on the grass and watch Casper.
The group from the Missouri Street Theatre, MYST, gave a great A Capella performance. Also, thanks to Gordons Music for always helping us with our sound needs and anything else we ask for.
A BIG shout out to The Matt Garcia Foundation volunteers who always step up to Keep Matt’s Dream Alive. We are forever grateful to our board members, advisory board, and community volunteers.
You have made, and continue to make, The Matt Garcia Foundation what it is and has been for these past 14 years.
Kindness Rocks Project
“One message at the right moment can change
someone's entire day, outlook, life."
-Kindness Rocks Project
The Matt Garcia Foundation hosted The Kindness Rocks Project Workshop in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month in May.
We were able to promote positivity through creating rocks with uplifting, powerful messages that were placed around our community. As a group we started conversations about mental health, with hope that these will continue more and more with our friends, families, and community members.
This was not just an event, but part of a movement toward ending the stigma around mental health. Thank you to our attendees for being part of this, as well as to NAMI Solano County and Yellow Heart Committee for helping us strengthen the conversation.
September 1, 2021 : Matt Garcia Day
On September 1st, 2008, my son, Fairfield City Councilman, Matt Garcia, was murdered. It is hard to believe that it has been almost 13 years since we lost Matt.
The City of Fairfield recognizes September 1st. as The Matt Garcia Day.
Matt LOVED Fairfield! Leading up to September 1st, be 1 of 100 and make a donation of $100.00 to receive your Iconic Memorabilia Shirt of Matt and embroidered STAND with FFINEST Hat and FFI♥U logo to HELP Keep Matts Dream Alive. You can place your order here, shop.fairfieldiloveu.com, and/or purchase & pick up your orders at the FFI♥U Store, 3067 Travis Blvd, Fairfield, CA 94533
All Proceeds go to Support Youth, Help Stop Crime & Strengthen Our Communities. These are three campaign promises Matt made when he was elected. Thanks for keeping Matt's Spirit & Legacy Alive as #WE live out Matt's campaign promises! I am so grateful for your support!
Matt's Mom, Teresa
President of the Matt Garcia Foundation
Summer Night Out
On July 17th, The Matt Garcia Foundation hosted Summer Night Out in the heart of our city – Downtown Fairfield. It was a night full of painting, open mic, snacks, and most importantly – community. Artist Zachary Young guided us through a blind contour drawing. It was wonderful to see the many different creations that resulted from the same instructions and colors that everyone was given to start with!
Fellow foundation member Ofelia shared, “Thank you for hosting and organizing such a great event! My mom and I had a great time. We keep reflecting on how relaxing and fun it was. In fact, we went out yesterday and purchased art supplies to begin painting more often.”
We had an evening full of wonderful moments and connections, along with creativity and ice cream! This is community; this is Keeping the Dream Alive.
Turkey and Trimmings Grocery Giveaway
Volunteers from The Matt Garcia Foundation lent a hand to BayNorth Church of Christ and True Love Baptist in dispersing over 300 bags of groceries and over 300 turkeys to members of our community. Thank you to all who volunteered to make this a possibility.
On behalf of the Matt Garcia Foundation, I would like to thank all the businesses, vendors, volunteers, and attendees of the 2020 Halloween Event for making this event a success. This event would not have been possible without your help. Our goal for this event was to allow our city’s youth to safely trick-or-treat while also bringing business to downtown Fairfield. It was thrilling to see Downtown be so full of life and joy, and we hoped that we helped establish a connection between our businesses and potential customers.
Thank you all again. Matt’s dream is as alive as ever.
Nathan Nevins, Board Member
The Matt Garcia Foundation
List of groups in particular we want to thank:
- Larry’s Produce, for providing the Matt Garcia Foundation with a discount on the pumpkins
- The Fairfield Police Department, for giving us permission to host this event
- Delta Graphics, for providing us with flyers for the event
- Shawndra Rentschler of Color Street, for donating $115 worth of candy
- Tara Cruz of Shop La Jefa, for helping to plan the event
List of businesses who participated:
- Shawndra Rentscher, Color Street – Baja Ice Cream
- Solano Hispanic Chamber of Commerce – Shop La Jefa
- Doriss Panduro for Fairfield City Council District 5 – Cyber Cave
- Carolina Ramirez, Club Nutrición Viva Feliz – Gala Rentals
- Downtown Cuts n Style – Terisita Floral
- Gordon’s Music & Sound – ERA Antiques & Collectibles
- Kameron Holzendorf for Fairfield City Council District 4 – K&A Furniture
We wanted to share a few pictures from our 10th annual Matt Garcia Foundation Golf Tournament. We want to thank all our sponsors, players, donors, and our volunteers for another successful tournament! YOU ALL are the reason we get to Keep Matt’s Dream Alive! #FFINEST @ Green Valley Country Club. Check out our Facebook page to see more photos from the day.
Sincerely,
The Matt Garcia Foundation Board of Directors
The Matt Garcia Foundation would like to shout out a Huge THANK YOU to Ronnie Siaz from Sac City Baseball.
The 2nd. Annual Youth Baseball Clinic was a success!
When Matt Garcia was in sixth grade, he told his parents he wanted to be the mayor of Fairfield one day. His dream might have come true, as he was elected to the Fairfield City Council in 2007.
But on September 1, 2008, he was gunned down while standing in a driveway with a friend. The shooter claimed he thought Garcia, who was just 22 years old, was someone else, a drug dealer he wanted to settle a score with.
But Garcia’s dream lives on through the Matt Garcia Foundation. That dream was to create safe places for youth activities and to change the culture of crime and violence in the city.
Ninth Annual Golf Tournament – A Great Success!
The Matt Garcia Foundation would like to share a highlight for one of our supporters.
THEIR STORY:
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Matt Garcia Community Art Sculpture
The Matt Garcia Foundation and local Fairfield California Artist Mr. Chad Glashoff unveiled the Community Art Sculpture in Honor of Matt Garcia and ALL those that have been affected by Violence.
The video showcased the full Event with the speakers in the following order. District Attorney Krishna Abrams, City of Fairfield Mayor Harry Price, Assemblymember Jim Frazier field representative Aeriel Silva, Matt Garcia Founders Teresa and Raymond Courtemanche, Matt Garcia College and Academy Teacher Jameson Harrigan, Local Artist Chad Glasshoff, Violent Crime Survivor Corrie Chavez, Reverend David Isom, Victim’s Voices (Justice for Jessie) Vernalisa Gutierrez, Mission Solano Program Manager Cindy Bradford, and Local Artist Zachary Young.