Health and Safety Corner

Drinking water is essential for your health!

According to the Centers For Disease Control, drinking enough water every day is important for health. Drinking water can prevent dehydration, which may cause unclear thinking, mood change, overheating, constipation, and kidney stones. Water has no calories, so replacing sugary drinks with plain water can help reduce caloric intake. Water is also in certain fruits, veggies and other healthy drinks (such as watermelon, oranges, spinach).  

How much should you drink?

Women should drink about 2.7 liters daily and men should drink about 3.6 liters. Keep in mind, some of the daily required water intake can come from other healthy drinks and fruits. However, it is recommended to make sure that the majority of your daily fluid intake comes from pure water. 

For more info visit: cdc.gov

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

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Rotary Club Good Character Youth Award

On February 25th, 2026, Karen Reygoza, one of our own members of the Matt Garcia Foundation, was one of 20 local high school youth to receive the prestigious Good Character Award! Karen was nominated by Fairfield Police Activities League (PAL) Director Heather Sanderson. 

In addition to Karen, the other outstanding PAL youth members who also received the Good Character Award are: Italia Faatsui-Gi, Mohammad Ammar Ajmerwala, Enrique Garcia and Oscar Chavez.

The Rotary Club of Fairfield-Suisun honors youth who demonstrate exceptional ethics, kindness and community service. The award aims to foster good mental well-being, and encourages positive and responsible citizenship.  

Karen Reygoza sets a great example by being active with the Matt Garcia Foundation, exhibiting kind behavior, and helping others. Way to go Karen, we are so proud of you and the other award recipients for 2026!!

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Outstanding Youth!

Georgia Marie Teat is a 8th Grader with the Matt Garcia Career and College Academy

Georgia is a hardworking and dedicated student who brings positivity wherever she goes. In our after-school program, she is known for always having a smile on her face and making others laugh. Georgia is consistently helpful to staff and peers, demonstrating kindness and a strong sense of responsibility. She shines during art activities, where her creativity truly stands out, and she also shows a wide range of athletic ability. Most importantly, Georgia has shown true determination in her academic work, striving to do her best and continually grow. She is a wonderful role model and a valued student in our program.

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3 tips on how to study effectively

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Happy St. Patrick's Day!

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Recipe of the Month

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Health and Safety Corner

1. Home Heating systems: 
During the cold winter months home heaters are in high use. They can also be very dangerous. Here are some safety tips to remember when using various types of home heaters, including space heaters, fireplace heaters, and central air heating systems. 

Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from all heat sources including fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators, space heaters or candles.
Never use an oven to heat your residence
Turn space heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed. Also, be sure to use space heaters in compliance with the manufacturer’s guidelines.
Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected annual be qualified professionals.

2. Carbon Monoxide poisoning:
Carbon monoxide, also known as CO, is called the “invisible killer” because it's a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas. It is undetectable to the human senses, so people may not know that they are being exposed.

CO poisoning can occur when a fuel-burning appliance or machine, such as a furnace, heater or generator, is not working or vented properly.

Did you know:
Breathing in CO at high levels can be fatal. More than 150 people in the United States die every year from accidental nonfire-related CO.

For more information you can visit: 

https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/home-fires/prevent-fires/heating/ 
or contact your local Fire Department.

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How to enter flow state

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2nd Tuesday of Every Month, TONIGHT

The Homicide Survivors Support Group offers a compassionate space for those affected by violent loss. Together, we share our grief, support one another, and honor our loved ones. Our mission is to foster healing, resilience, and hope in the face of

unimaginable loss.

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Outstanding Youth

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Human Nervous System - How the Brain Works!

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Saturday, February 28 : Last Saturday Community Clean Up

When: Saturday, February 28, 2026, 2026

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

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Assist-A-Grad Scholarship

Secure your future by applying for an Assist-A-Grad Scholarship. 

The Matt Garcia Foundation - Keep the Dream Alive Scholarships are being offered through the Assist-A-Grad organization. You can find the full scholarship guide and application instructions at https://www.assist-a-grad.org/ 

Don't miss out on this chance to invest in your education! 

Important Dates:

• Application Deadline: Monday, March 2, 2026
• Interview Period: April 1 - April 25, 2026 (Up to sponsors)

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How Your Brain Chooses What to Remember

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CPR in Action | A 3D look inside the body

This 3D animation was designed to share life-saving information with the general public to demonstrate the importance of good, effective CPR! 

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Happy President's Day

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Happy Valentine's Day

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2nd Tuesday of Every Month, TONIGHT

The Homicide Survivors Support Group offers a compassionate space for those affected by violent loss. Together, we share our grief, support one another, and honor our loved ones. Our mission is to foster healing, resilience, and hope in the face of

unimaginable loss.

Direct: 707.372.4160
Email: info@ffinest.org
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Our Vision & Values

OUR VISION:

“Every day we learn something new. Take life as a test and shoot for a better score each day…It doesn’t have to be an “A” the next day, but let’s hope it improves.” – Matt Garcia

OUR VALUES:

Unity

Forgiveness

Compassion

Leadership

Respect for Diversity

Empowerment

Celebration of Hope

Transformation

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Encouraging Words

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what

makes you come alive and then go do that.

Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

– Howard Thurman

What’s The Story of Groundhog Day? The History Behind the Tradition!

Where Did Groundhog Day Come From? The History Behind the Tradition

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Coloring Fun!

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Saturday Community Clean Up, January 31st

When: Saturday, January 31st, 2025

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

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Quote of the Month

“It isn’t where you came from. It’s where you’re going that counts.” 

 -Ella Fitzgerald

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The Ultimate Guide to a Delightful Treat

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National Quality of Life Month

Since January is National Quality of Life Month, a good way to start is to focus on how to save a life in an emergency. 

Are you certified in CPR and First Aid? FYI, some of the CPR standards changed in late 2025 so it might be a good idea to renew your certification if your card is expired. 

Also, if you’re not familiar with the “Stop The Bleed” training, the course is very simple and the life saving steps you learn are truly life saving. bleedingcontrol.org

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Third Thursday Meet-up, TODAY

Direct: 707.372.4160
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2nd Tuesday of Every Month, TONIGHT

The Homicide Survivors Support Group offers a compassionate space for those affected by violent loss. Together, we share our grief, support one another, and honor our loved ones. Our mission is to foster healing, resilience, and hope in the face of

unimaginable loss.

Direct: 707.372.4160
Email: info@ffinest.org
Website

 

Target : "Shop With Heroes"

It was another year collaborating with Target for the “Shop with Heroes” event. 25 lucky students from the Matt Garcia College and Career Academy were recipients to have a special Christmas shopping time with some local heroes; Fairfield Fire Fighters and City of Fairfield Police. It was such a great morning! 

We thank the Fairfield Police and Firefighters for their generous time and even some of them pitching in to help with some of the shopping expenses; so very generous of them! 

Thank you to our local Target store and employees for making this a very special holiday event for some really special students! Last be not least…thank you to the parents who got their children up extra early for this special event, we always appreciate the parents, siblings, and/or guardians who are willing to bring the lucky students!!

May the new year bring good health, peaceful days, and much hope for the future to each and every one of our local heroes and their families, as well as the students and all of their families! Thank you again Fairfield Target for another year of generosity and spreading the holiday cheer!!”

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Fairfield Downtown Tree Lighting

The Fairfield Downtown Tree Lighting on December 5th was absolutely MAGICAL this year. The street outside the window of The Matt Garcia Foundation office looked like a winter wonderland as endless “snow” fell, leaving the kids in awe. The lines for the hot chocolate, cotton candy and popcorn were huge as our wonderful volunteers scrambled to make sure no one went without, and our rock painting table was always full of happy children. Everyone seemed to have a fabulous time! So much laughter and love were present, along with a strong sense of togetherness and community. We couldn’t be happier with the evening! We would like to thank EVERYONE who came out to help and those that stopped by to visit our little corner of the city. You are all AWESOME!

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A Note...

I am Teresa Courtemanche, President of the Matt Garcia Foundation and the mother of Matt Garcia, who was shot and murdered. I also co-facilitate our Homicide Survivors Support Group (HSSG) alongside another courageous mother, Rita Edmonds-Norris, the mother of Chad Norris, who was also shot and murdered.

Our tagline captures the heart of our group:

“We are the group that nobody wants to belong to, but we are so grateful to have it.”

HSSG exists because the loss of a loved one to homicide is unlike any other. Rita and I lead from lived experience, creating a space of trust, understanding, and compassion for those navigating this complex and lifelong grief.

We are deeply grateful to Andy Ramirez, Vice President of the Matt Garcia Foundation, and his wife Katrina, for their generous $1,000 donation to HSSG.

Their support makes a meaningful difference and helps sustain our group as the only homicide survivors support group in Solano County with a licensed clinical social worker present each month.

The Ramirez family’s commitment to the Foundation spans many years. Andy’s steady leadership, Katrina’s generosity, and their daughter Isabella’s hands-on involvement—including helping with monthly PAL pizza deliveries—reflect a family devoted to service and community.

Thank you, Andy, Katrina, and Isabella, for standing with us and for supporting healing, hope, and connection for those who need it most.

Teresa Courtemanche
President

January Highlights

• January 4: World Braille Day (celebrates Louis Braille) 
• January 5: National Bird Day (awareness for endangered birds) 
• January 11: Human Trafficking Awareness Day
• January 14: World Logic Day
• January 17: International Mentoring Day & World Waterfowl Day 
• January 19: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday
• January 24: International Day of Education
• January 27: Holocaust Remembrance Day (International Day) 
• Last Monday: World Leprosy Day 

Fun & Food Days 

• January 3: National Chocolate-Covered Cherry Day 
• January 10: National Houseplant Appreciation Day 
• January 16: International Hot and Spicy Food Day 
• January 20: National Penguin Day 
• January 26: Bubble wrap appreciation day
• January 28: National Lego Day
• January 29: National Puzzle Day

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Happy January 1st

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