It was a night to remember for all in attendance and one that will make a difference in the community for the year to come, as the Folsom Police Foundation’s 4th Annual Gala was a great success on Saturday.
Over 300 people in formal and elegant attire gathered in the main auditorium of Lakeside Church on Saturday evening to celebrate, honor, and benefit the Folsom Police Department in grand fashion. The term “grand fashion” extends well beyond the elegance and professionalism of the event that was evident from the moment attendees stepped in the door. When all was said and done, the event garnered over $150,000 in fundraising in a single night, more than doubling the amount raised in 2023.
“The money we raise tonight is going to help us strengthen our community by expanding current police programs and launching new initiatives that focus on safety. We’re especially committed to supporting youth activities and fostering positive relationships between our officers and the community,” said Adrian Blanco, as he addressed the attendees Saturday night. Blanco is the president of the Folsom Police Foundation as well as a local business owner in the city. On Monday, Folsom Times caught back up with Blanco to confirm the final success of the night, a result with which he and the foundation were very pleased with when all was said and done.
“This year’s gala was so successful and so popular. It was strong right from the start; we sold out of tickets a whole month before the actual event this year,” Blanco shared. “We had so many people here this year. Many of them were here for their very first time, but I think everyone who came out is well aware that we are not in a bubble in Folsom. We have crime here, and much more of it than before. In times when we keep hearing of places talking about defunding their police, Folsom clearly came out to make it obvious that this is not the case in our town. Folsom stands behind its police department, its chief, and all of its officers.”
Saturday’s festivities began with an invocation by Chaplain Ron Perry, followed by the Folsom Police Department Honor Guard taking to the stage. Local resident Alanna Schlag then performed an amazing rendition of the National Anthem that brought a wave of cheers and tears from the crowd that consisted of law enforcement and their families, city dignitaries, business owners, local media and many members of the Folsom community at large.
Following dinner, longtime Folsom resident and media personality Cristina Mendonsa took the stage to officially open the event. Mendonsa, who many know best as a news anchor on KFBK Radio, has long hosted the event, which is very close to her heart as her family has deep roots in law enforcement.
While Mendonsa always makes any event she hosts a first-class affair, Saturday night she took it up another notch with the presentation of a video she produced that was sponsored by Dignity Health. Titled “Folsom’s Front Line,” the five-minute video was an eye-opener and one that everyone should spend time watching. It focused on local resident Susan Molina, who lost her daughter Mary to fentanyl at the young age of 24. After saying goodnight to her daughter, she found her unresponsive the next morning, which prompted an investigation by Folsom Police that led to the arrest of a man who provided the illegal drugs and now faces murder charges.
The video featured testimonials from members of the Folsom Police Department as well as Mercy Hospital Dignity Folsom and shined a light on their front-line programs to fight the growing fentanyl crisis in the city. In most cases, fentanyl overdose results in death. One of the most alarming statistics in the presentation was the fact that last year, 90% of street drugs obtained by police tested positive for fentanyl.
Watch Mendonsa Media’s production of “Folsom’s Front Line,” as presented at Saturday’s annual gala.
Following the video presentation, Blanco spoke as the Folsom Police Foundation president, stressing the need to continue supporting the Folsom Police Department to enable them to carry on their fight against this growing crisis and other rising crimes in the city.
“Your support and generosity really mean the world to us, and it’s what makes all of this possible,” said Blanco. “Since we started in 2014, we’ve seen the impact our efforts have made, and it’s all thanks to the support of people like you. I’d also like to give a shoutout to the Gala team and the Foundation Board for all their hard work in making this event happen.”
The efforts of that “team” Blanco referenced really stood out later in the evening when the fundraising efforts kicked into action with the live auction hosted by auctioneer extraordinaire Scott Creason and the raffle that offered countless prizes from local businesses and individuals. Another aspect of the evening that truly produced a great amount of funds was the “Fund a Need” portion, where attendees stepped up to agree to donate funds designated for specific needs of the department to fight crime and address issues in the community.
Folsom Police Chief joined Blanco and the others with his remarks and presentation during the night. On Monday, Hillman also followed up with Folsom Times regarding the success and generosity of the night.
“I am grateful to the Folsom Police Foundation for its tremendous support of the Folsom Police Department’s mission to proactively foster positive relationships. Through the Foundation’s funding efforts, the Police Department has adopted programs and activities that would otherwise have been fiscally impossible to start,” said Hillman.
Hillman confirmed that the Foundation has funded a replacement police canine, cowboy hats for officers to wear during rodeo week, equipment for our therapy dog (Liberty), counseling and wellness services for police department staff experiencing work-related trauma, school scholarships, and much more.
“The Foundation Board comprises a fantastic group of community members and business owners who volunteer to promote the police department and support positive community interactions with officers,” Hillman added. ” I’m delighted with the success of their 4th annual gala. Their idea to promote a toolbox of videos and resources to aid our community will greatly benefit all”
In this portion of the evening, some donors offered amounts in the tens of thousands of dollars to make a difference, including Ryan Wert of Brightstar Insurance, who was already the presenting sponsor of the event and took the giving much further. When all was said and done, the funds raised from ticket sales, donations, the auction, raffles, and the “Fund a Need” totaled an impressive amount in excess of $150,000.
“This is just phenomenal this year to see this kind of support,” added Blanco. “Words cannot even express how grateful the foundation is for the support of this entire community.”
Congressman Kevin Kiley was also among the key speakers Saturday evening. Kiley focused his remarks on the evening’s primary topic: crime. He stressed the need to repeal Prop. 47, discussed the issue of organized crime, and emphasized the importance of stronger prosecution to prevent criminals from entering businesses with a calculated effort to keep their stolen goods below the threshold for serious convictions. Kiley commended the Folsom Police Department for their ongoing efforts to combat growing crime in the region.
The presenting sponsor for Saturday’s gala was BrightStar Insurance Services. As BrightStar led the contingent of funders, the next level of sponsors included the Folsom Police Foundation “Chief Sponsors,” which were Adrian Blanco Jewelry, Shannon Family Automotive, Dignity Health, and Belton and Dolores Mouras. Commander-level sponsors included Teichert, Pam and Mike McAtee, Chick-fil-A of Folsom, Reliance Home Loans, Cummings Properties, Rotary Club of Historic Folsom, the Folsom Police Officers Association, CNOA Region II, Folsom Glenn Car Wash, The Shop Design Group, Kids Inc., and Thrive. Lieutenant sponsors included PGL Financial – Dianna Laney, Mastagni Holstedt APC, Jake’s Journey Home, Insperity, Friends of Folsom, the Law Offices of Tiffany Andrews, and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office.
The foundation also offered special recognition to the many businesses that helped make the event a success, including Folsom Wine and Spirits, Sierra Mountain Firearms, Snooks Candy and Chocolate Factory, Willamette Wineworks, Kings Meats, Folsom Historic District, Obsessed with Services, Texas Roadhouse, Crystal Basin Cellars, Lake Natoma Printing, and Off the Vine Catering.
For those unable to attend the event who would still like to learn more about the Folsom Police Foundation or make a contribution, they can do so through the foundation’s website here.
The Folsom Police Foundation was founded in the summer of 2014 to augment current efforts and programs, as well as support new endeavors in the City of Folsom. The foundation is primarily focused on activities that are youth-related, support positive community interactions with police officers, and have the potential to enhance the police department’s level of service.
See more photos of Saturday’s 4th Annual Folsom Police Foundation Gala below by Chris Pritchard.
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