Today, 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

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!

A huge THANK YOU to Target Fairfield for making this amazing morning possible. The Matt Garcia Foundation received a $2,500 Heroes to Helpers Grant. We also partnered with Fairfield Police Department and Fairfield Fire Department. 

A total of 25 students were selected from 2 schools; the Matt Garcia Career and College Academy and the PSA,Public Safety Academy. Each student received a $100 Target gift card and was partnered with a FF police officer or Fairfield Fire Department officer to shop the isles at Target for anything they wanted. We are so grateful to everyone involved who helped create this magical morning for these students.

THANK YOU ALL

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.

Carbon Monoxide: The Silent Killer

Approximately 200 people are killed each year by accidental carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. CO is a by-product of combustion, produced by a variety of fuel burning appliances, such as wood stoves, fuel burning furnaces, gas dryers and gas water heaters.  Here are several things you should do to start out the new year:

• Make sure your fuel burning appliances are in good working order and maintained  
• Install properly working carbon monoxide alarms in your home & test them regularly

Contact your local fire department for more information.

Cervical Health Awareness Month

The United States Congress designated January as Cervical Health Awareness Month. More than 14,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer each year, but the disease is preventable with vaccination and appropriate screening.

This Month in History 

January 1, 1863 - The Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves in the states rebelling against the Union.

January 17th is National Day of Racial Healing

Famous January Birthdates

Martin Luther King Jr. - January 15, 1929

Muhammad Ali - January 17, 1942

Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.

― Dr. Seuss