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September 10, 2015
Section B
Volume 19, Issue 37
Fallbrook community donates to FAS in memory of Haylee King
Shane Gibson photo Haylee King’s parents, Mike and Valerie King, hold a picture of their daughter outside of El Jardin Mexican Restaurant in Fallbrook on August 26. The family celebrated her 21st birthday at the restaurant where a portion of money from all dinners served that evening were donated to the Fallbrook Animal Sanctuary in her honor. Andrea Verdin Special to The Village News Fallbrook honored the 21st birthday of a young woman in a way that would have made her smile – they donated money to a much-needed charity and supported local businesses. When Fallbrook native Haylee Diane King died in an automobile accident on June 14, the Fallbrook community surrounded her family with endless support. Fallbrook residents and businesses rallied through social media to raise funds to help cover the costs for Haylee’s funeral and burial. “A lot of [Fallbrook residents] knew Haylee as someone who was the first to forgive, the most loving,” said mother Valerie King. “She was my baby, and was born in Fallbrook Hospital. The day after she passed, the community reached out to us. [Because of donations,] we didn’t have to pay for any of her services.” Several businesses, including Fallbrook Motors, contributed enough funds to completely cover Haylee’s funeral in June. However, because of the impact that Haylee had on the community, people who had seen her on a regular basis wanted to commemorate her 21st birthday – August 26 – by giving to a charity that would have been close to Haylee’s heart. El Jardin hosted a special dinner that allowed for a portion of proceeds to be given to the Fallbrook Animal Sanctuary (FAS), as Haylee loved animals. “Jon Large from El Jardin came to us with the idea,” explained King. “I love this community. Anywhere else, this fundraiser wouldn’t have happened. It’s unbelievable. There is so much good going on.” King has been a Fallbrook resident over 25 years, and her husband, Mike, was born on Camp Pendleton. King has been a part of the community as a driver with Fallbrook Taxi, and Mike has served as a De Luz volunteer firefighter. Haylee also worked for a local business; she began working at Dominick’s Deli while in high school. “Haylee worked at Dominick’s for over five years, and was
working there while going to college to become an ultrasound technician,” explained King. “We have had so much love and support. People I don’t even know come up and ask if they can give me hugs.” Large, who had known Haylee through her time at Dominick’s, decided that a way to commemorate Haylee’s birthday would be to have a small fundraiser at El Jardin, but once other community businesses heard his plans, several others joined in. “Over 20 businesses participated,” he said. “We are giving a personal donation from El Jardin, and for every five people that came into the restaurant, we donated a dollar to FAS.” Fallbrook Taxicab Co. helped raise funds for Haylee’s funeral services, and proprietor Robert Robertson wanted to do his part by supporting the El Jardin dinner. “Nobody in our age group is prepared to bury a child, and we just figured we might as well give a hand. My part was doing what was needed, and we saw that donations were given to the right accounts,” said Robertson, who employs Valerie King. “I watched [Haylee] grow up in my cab; she was a cute and wonderful kid.” Other Fallbrook businesses that were a part of the fundraiser included Trupiano’s, 127 West, Sunshine Kids, The Social Flower, Country Club Barbershop Fallbrook, Kahoots Pet Store, Country Craftin’, Simply Treasured, Sage Yoga Studios, Ranch of the Rhinestone Gypsies, Foli Chiropractic, Integrity Tax Professionals, Dominick’s Deli, Scentsy, Herbalife, Lady Luck Consulting, and the Patchwork Pony. “Any time that I put something like this together, I’m just blown away by the community,” said Large. “It brings a tear to my eye to know that this amazing place rallies around itself.” At Dominick’s Deli, one individual donated a $500 check to FAS in Haylee’s name. “All during our lunch hour, we gave 50 cents for every sandwich purchased, and we had a jar for people who simply wanted to donate,” said Dominick Grossi,
the owner of Dominick’s on Main Ave. and South Mission Road. “We raised nearly $760, but it was the Fallbrook community that made us look good. Only $120 is coming from the restaurant, and the remaining amount was donation.” Many of the local businesses felt that it was important to contribute for such a noble cause, especially since they knew Haylee and her family so well. “Haylee worked for me, and I loved her like my daughter,” said
Grossi. “She was a big part of the deli, and was an amazing young lady. It is a tragedy she is gone.” Though Fallbrook businesses coordinated the fundraiser, Grossi believes that it was Fallbrook’s generous residents that made it possible. “In a town as small as Fallbrook, we have a lot of small businesses, and we can’t support every charity because we would go out of business,” said Grossi. “People from town stepped in and took that burden off of the
small businesses. The town came together, and up until [September 2], people were still donating to the sanctuary.” King is grateful for all of the love and support that has rallied around her family in her daughter’s name. “I want people to know that this is what community is all about,” she said. “This is why we should support local businesses.” To comment on this story online, visit www.thevillagenews.com.
Haylee King was 20 years old when she lost her life in a tragic car accident on June 14, 2015, Courtesy photo when a Jeep she was riding in blew a tire and lost control on Interstate 40 near Needles, Calif.