When Nick Fagnano lost his life in a freak lightning strike on Venice Beach last summer, many people in the Greater Wilshire community grieved along with his parents Jay and Mary Fagnano, who were active members in church, sports and community building in the neighborhood. Since then, Jay and Mary have turned their grief into several positive projects, to assist others and honor the 20-year old son they loved so much.
The couple established the Thrive in Joy Nick Fagnano Foundation , an organization to “encourage and reward character through education and recreation,” Mary Fagnano told the Larchmont Buzz. The foundation has multiple-pronged projects including the USC Price School of Public Policy Nick Fagnano Memorial Scholarship to support a transfer student at USC where Nick was enrolled, and the Vision Trust Dominican Republic Project which is renovating a K-12 school and orphanage in Santa Domingo. The Fagnanos personally helped renovate and upgrade a classroom in November 2014, and are returning in April 2015 to the Dominican Republic to build a sports field at the Remar Orphanage there. Volunteers are welcome to join their efforts.
The Thrive in Joy Nick Fagnano Foundation will also provide a scholarship for a senior at Notre Dame High School who plays baseball for all four years.
CBS2 Los Angeles aired a story last weekend, highlighting a special alumni game at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks where Nick went to school and played on the baseball team. “There was no time when he was happier than when he wore the Notre Dame baseball uniform, so after this happened Notre Dame immediately embraced us,” Nick’s dad said in the interview with CBS2’s Adrianna Weingold . 46th District Assemblyman Sam Nazarian presented the Fagnanos with a memorial resolution, plaque and Nick’s jersey in a well-attended alumni game at Notre Dame High School.
The Thrive in Joy Nick Fagnano Foundation website is expected to come online soon. In the meantime those wishing to make a donation and keep Nick’s memory alive, while helping other young sluggers both on and off the field, might consider clicking on one of the links below, or mailing their tax-free donations to:
The Thrive in Joy Nick Fagnano Foundation 849 S. Broadway #810 Los Angeles, CA 90014Nick Fagnano Memorial Scholarship
Trust Dominican Republic Project
Larchmont Buzz: Celebrating the Life of Nick Fagnano