News

1. Dr. Hector P. Garcia's 100th birthday celebration will be January 17, 2014. A week's long celebration is being planned in Corpus Christi, TX. Stay tuned for special announcements for this big event.

Chairman Todd Hunter with Cecilia Garcia Akers and Jim Akers at the Texas Press Association luncheon in Corpus Christi, Tx hosted by the Caller Times and the Chamber of Commerce.

James Akers at the Education is our Freedom Banquet, honoring Dr. Hector, Dr. Cleo, and Dr. Xico Garcia, July 10, 2013, Corpus Christi, TX.

Education is Our Freedom Banquet with supporters of the Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Foundation Moses and Elva Estrada. 

James and Cecilia Garcia Akers with Commissioner Joe Gonzales at the Education is our Freedom Banquet, July 10, 2013 in Corpus Christi, TX. Over 60 GED students received certificates for a scholarship to various colleges and universities in South Texas. Many thanks to Commissioner Joe Gonzales for honoring Dr. Hector, Dr. Cleo, and Dr. Xico Garcia through educational achievement.

  Dr. Roland Arriola from Texas Valley Communities Foundation with Jim and Cecilia Garcia Akers, July 11,2013.

Students at Mathis High School put together this dedication to Dr. Garcia

Foundation President, Cecilia Akers with Mathis High School students who produced the video.

 Jim & Cecilia Akers at the IWA Presidents Circle May 17, 2013

Congratulations to the Noyola Family and Dr. Sonia Adriana Noyola for being honored at the Dr. Hector P. Garcia Founders Chapter Educational Scholarship Banquet on May 9, 2013, with Cecilia Garcia Akers, President of the Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Foundation.

Foundation President, Cecilia Akers at the May 8, 2013 re-dedication of J.A. Garcia Elementary School.

At Texas State Capitol with Chairman Todd Hunter and the Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Foundation regarding library wing expansion at Texas A&M Corpus Christi.

Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Foundation participated with the World Affairs Council on March 12, 2013 at Del Mar College. The Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Foundation was proud to be a participant. 

Moonlight Masquerade Gala hosted by Incarnate Word Academy.One of the generous sponsors of the Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Foundation.

Foundation Board President Cecilia Garcia Akers’ Statement Regarding Foundation Inaugural Event:

The Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Foundation wishes to thank all of our supporters for a successful Inaugural Event, held at Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi, TX January 15, 2013.

Special thanks to Mayor Nelda Martinez for attending and presenting a proclamation in honor of the celebration of the 99^th birthday of Dr. Hector P. Garcia.  Mayor Martinez asked residents to honor his legacy with kindness to others.  “Dr. Hector P. Garcia’s achievements are historic,” Martinez said.  “He taught us to treat others with dignity.”

Also, special thanks to Steve Arnold, (Caller Times VP of Advertising) board member for being such a good MC, and ending the breakfast on time at 9:00 a.m.  Steve has been a long time supporter of the concept of a foundation named in memory of Dr. Hector.

The foundation is extremely grateful to Darrell Coleman, publisher of the Corpus Christi Caller Times, for the generous contributions afforded the Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Foundation’s Inaugural Event.  The ongoing advertising for the breakfast and his support for the mission of the foundation were paramount to our success. 

Special thanks go to Texas A&M University for hosting our event, Chairman and Texas State University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston for attending and supplying the foundation with their beautiful display of Dr. Garcia.  Jim and I have an endowed scholarship at this university in memory of my father Dr. Hector and mother Wanda. legislator Todd Hunter, and Dr. Flavius Killebrew.  We appreciate the university’s urging for the library wing expansion, so Dr. Hector’s papers will have a permanent home.  Also, thanks to the 

Other programs the foundation will be supporting with scholarships besides Texas A&M, and UTMB Galveston are at Del Mar College, and Incarnate Word Academy.  All of these programs were in attendance at the breakfast and we appreciate their support and loyalty. Representatives from State Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, Representative Abel Herrero and U.S. Representative Blake Farenthold’s office attended. Also in attendance were Corpus Christi Fire Chief Robert Rocha and City Council members Colleen McIntyre, and Rudy Garza, Jr. 

Dr. Roland Arriola, Texas Valley Communities Foundation, of Mercedes, TX provided the foundation with a large contribution to get us started.  Dr. Arriola and I have a common bond that is we both consider Dr. Hector P. Garcia our hero.

New Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Foundation inspires A&M-Corpus Christi library expansion

By Mike Baird Caller Times, January 15, 2013

CORPUS CHRISTI — A more than $30 million vision shined Tuesday when Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi unveiled plans for a library expansion to honor one of Corpus Christi's most notable education advocates, Dr. Hector P. Garcia. Read More.

Daughter uses social media to carry on father's legacy

By Mike Baird Caller Times, January 28, 2013

CORPUS CHRISTI — Dr. Hector P. Garcia's middle daughter is a standout among forces carrying her father's torch into a technology world he never knew. Read more.

OPINION: We need Dr. Garcia's voice for education

By Nick Jimenez Caller Times,  January 20, 2013

CORPUS CHRISTI — Too bad we don't have Dr. Hector P. Garcia now to fight for education. Now more than ever we need someone who can advocate for education and tell in human terms how much it means to the people who need it most. Read More.

A special thanks to our Inaugural Sponsors listed below. 

SPONSORSHIP LIST

CONTRIBUTORS TO OUR FOUNDATION’S INAUGURAL EVENT

1. CORPUS CHRISTI CALLER TIMES
2. TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY-CORPUS CHRISTI
3. DR. ROLAND ARRIOLA, TEXAS VALLEY COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION
4. CITGO-CORPUS CHRISTI
5. UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH GALVESTON
6. STATE REPRESENTIVE TODD HUNTER
7. JIM AND CECILIA GARCIA AKERS
8. TONY AND YOLANDA CANALES
9. BARBARA CANALES AND DOUG ALLISON
10. STATE SENATOR JUAN HINOJOSA
11. DEL MAR COLLEGE-CORPUS CHRISTI
12. INCARNATE WORD ACADEMY-CORPUS CHRISTI
13. JUDGE GUY WILLIAMS
14. FATHER ARMANDO IBANEZ
15. DISTRICT ATTORNEY MARK SKURKA
16. COMMISSIONER J.A. GONZALES AND THE NUECES COUNTY SENIOR CITIZENS
17. STEWART TITLE
18. AMERICAN G.I. FORUM DR. HECTOR P. GARCIA FOUNDERS CHAPTER-CORPUS CHRISTI
19. JOHN KELLEY
20. ELAINE CARTER
21. ALICIA BENAVIDEZ
22. RITA HERNANDEZ
23. TITA AND CAMILLA SIMONE
24. JAMES A. CAPLIN, M.D.
25. DANIEL NOYOLA FAMILY
26. THOMAS KRENECK
27. JULIA CARRION
28. SUSANNA GARCIA
29. LEA-DER CHEN
30. FRANK PEZOLD
31. MARY LEYENDECKER