Monday, January 30, 2023

What is depression? - Helen M. Farrell


Depression is the leading cause of disability in the world; in the United States, close to ten percent of adults struggle with the disease. But because it’s a mental illness, it can be a lot harder to understand than, say, high cholesterol. Helen M. Farrell examines the symptoms and treatments of depression, and gives some tips for how you might help a friend who is suffering.

Lesson by Helen M. Farrell, animation by Artrake Studio.

Direct: 707.372.4160
Email: info@ffinest.org
Website

Friday, January 27, 2023

Community Service Day, TOMORROW!


When: Saturday, January 28, 2023
Time: 9:00am – 11:00am
Where: Matt Garcia Foundation Office, 717 Texas Street, Fairfield, CA 94533

The Matt Garcia Foundation will provide gloves, garbage pickers and buckets for collecting the trash.

Students can earn community service hours. Lunch provided after the cleanup.

For more information www.FFINEST.org

To receive updated information on volunteering opportunities, sign up for our text alerts. 
Text: 81010 | Enter: @mgfv

Direct: 707.372.4160
Email: info@ffinest.org
Website

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

PG&E 2023 Scholarships

PG&E and its employee groups offer a wide range of scholarships to help the next generation of Californians succeed and innovate in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), as well as other disciplines. In 2022, PG&E made nearly 150 of these scholarships available, each ranging from $1,000 to $10,000.

Each group awards scholarships to students who have shown commitment to specific communities or causes. ERG or ENG scholarships do not have gender or race requirements. Thus, students are encouraged to apply to more than one or all eligible scholarships. Applicants for ALL the scholarships listed must:

Be a high school senior or graduate, have received GED certification or be an undergraduate or postsecondary undergraduate student. Veterans and adults returning to school are encouraged to apply.
Have a primary residence that is a PG&E customer in California at the time of application.
Plan to enroll full time in an accredited college or university in the Fall.

PG&E's Employee Resource Group (ERG) and Engineering Network Group (ENG) scholarships. Deadline: February 24, 2023

For more information including scholarship criteria and applications, visit the PG&E website.

Direct: 707.372.4160
Email: info@ffinest.org
Website

Saturday, January 21, 2023

The psychology of narcissism - W. Keith Campbell


Narcissism isn’t just a personality type that shows up in advice columns; it’s actually a set of traits classified and studied by psychologists. But what causes it? And can narcissists improve on their negative traits? W. Keith Campbell describes the psychology behind the elevated and sometimes detrimental self-involvement of narcissists. 

Lesson by W. Keith Campbell, animation by TOGETHER.

Direct: 707.372.4160
Email: info@ffinest.org
Website

Sunday, January 15, 2023

Downtown Fairfield Tree Lighting

The Matt Garcia Foundation's section of the Fairfield Tree Lighting contained different, engaging activities for our community members! One of these activities included wrapping gifts of socks and mittens for individuals experiencing homelessness in our community. This activity was planned with the intention of allowing those in our community, especially children, to be able to experience the spirit of giving. Many community members wrote friendly, encouraging messages on the gifts that they wrapped. These gifts were donated to Solano Unity Network.

Solano Unity Network is a community organization that aims to create change through community building and mutual aid. Through their outreach program, they support the houseless in Solano County. On December 21st, Solano Unity Network hosted their "Unhoused Persons Memorial Day'' where they and other mutual aid groups honored and remembered the lives of houseless individuals who passed away in 2022. Their memorial included a vigil, warm food, supplies, and friendly company for the unhoused folks in attendance. The wrapped gifts contributed to this event. Thank you to those who were able to contribute to this act of service!

Direct: 707.372.4160
Email: info@ffinest.org
Website

Thursday, January 12, 2023

How to stay calm under pressure - Noa Kageyama and Pen-Pen Chen


Your favorite athlete closes in for a win; the crowd holds its breath, and at the crucial moment ... she misses the shot. That competitor just experienced the phenomenon known as “choking,” where despite months, even years, of practice, a person fails right when it matters most. Why does this happen, and what can we do to avoid it? Noa Kageyama and Pen-Pen Chen explain why we choke under pressure.

Lesson by Noa Kageyama and Pen-Pen Chen, animation by Olesya Shchukina.

Direct: 707.372.4160
Email: info@ffinest.org
Website

Monday, January 9, 2023

Goodbye to Briana and Sakina

Briana and Sakina move forward on their new life journeys and say goodbye for now as board members of The Matt Garcia Foundation. We just want to say Thank you both for all that you have done for us and for me.

Briana and Sakina became a part of our family when they joined The Matt Garcia FoundationIt has been a privilege and an honor to watch Briana and Sakina grow into the beautiful women that they are today.

Many years ago Briana and Sakina joined our community clean-up on the last Saturday of each month as a part of their community Service project from their respective schools as Key Club members and ultimately Key Club Presidents. Briana Esquivias was attending Rodriguez High School and Sakina Ali was from the Public Safety Academy. 

We witnessed them become fast friends. Today their friendship and bond is unbreakable.

For me, they have been much more than board members. They have helped me sort through many different emotions and feelings. I have shared my heartache and joys, one on one, as well as, together. Thank you for listening to me with no judgement.

Briana and Sakina have exceptional leadership skills. They both changed the vibe of The Matt Garcia Foundation in such a powerful and beautiful way. I can never thank you enough for that. 

Briana and Sakina have taught me so much, not just regarding the foundation, but with their amazingly compassionate and empathetic hearts. Briana and Sakina bring a calm and orderly presence to all that they do. 

I am extremely proud of their accomplishments over the years. Watching Briana become a teacher and Sakina recently marry her soulmate has made our hearts overflow with pride. 

Although we will miss them both tremendously, we feel excited knowing that their amazing journeys have just begun.

Thank you Briana and Sakina for blessing us.You both will forever have a place with us no matter where you go or what you do.

We love you,
President Teresa Courtemanche

Direct: 707.372.4160
Email: info@ffinest.org
Website

Friday, January 6, 2023

A New Year.

“Each New Year, we have before us a brand new book containing 365 blank pages. Let us fill them with all the forgotten things from last year—the words we forgot to say, the love we forgot to show, and the charity we forgot to offer.” – Peggy Toney Horton

Direct: 707.372.4160
Email: info@ffinest.org
Website

Tuesday, January 3, 2023

4 things all great listeners know


Dig into different strategies that can improve your listening skills so you can become a high quality listener.

--

It’s easy to tell when someone’s not paying attention, but it can be surprisingly tricky to know what good listening looks like. Good listening is one of the most important things we can do to improve our relationships, develop our worldview, and potentially change people’s minds. So what can we do to become better listeners? Dig into different strategies that can improve your listening skills.

Directed by Maryna Buchynska, and action agency.

Direct: 707.372.4160
Email: info@ffinest.org
Website