3 Southern California ‘hero’ dads honored for their efforts with $15K in surprise gifts on Father’s Day
Father’s Day is a time to celebrate the heroic fathers and father figures in our lives, but three local dads got some enviable gifts from local Honda dealers this past weekend.
Thanks to SoCal Honda Dealers’ 2nd annual Helpful Hero Dad surprise events for Father’s Day, the three dads were honored for having a positive impact on their families and communities.
Dan Hashiba of Garden Grove was honored as part of SoCal Honda Dealers’ Helpful Hero Dad surprise event. (SoCal Honda Dealers) Antonio Fajardo of La Habra was honored as part of SoCal Honda Dealers’ Helpful Hero Dad surprise event. (SoCal Honda Dealers) Jason Cooper of Lakewood was honored as part of SoCal Honda Dealers’ Helpful Hero Dad surprise event. (SoCal Honda Dealers)
Family members had the chance to submit their fathers for consideration for SoCal Honda Dealers’ Random Act of Helpfulness on the dealerships’ Facebook page; the three dads selected were Antonio Fajardo of La Habra, Jason Cooper of Lakewood and Dan Hashiba of Garden Grove.
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More information on the heroics of Fajardo, Cooper and Hashiba can be found below:
Antonio Fajardo, described as “an incredibly selfless single father who takes those in need into his home,” was submitted by his daughter Jeannene. Fajardo came to the U.S. from Mexico at the age of 12 and has worked nonstop since the age of 18; now 56, he currently runs a stone care business. Community members refer to Fajardo’s apartment as a “hotel” due to his nature of offering his residence to those in need of somewhere to sleep or a place to get back on their feet. In addition to having raised two children by himself, Antonio is now the primary caregiver of his late sister’s autistic son. He was surprised at his La Habra home on Saturday with several gifts, including a new grill and accessories, comfortable shoes, a microwave, work tools and help with his rent.
Jason Cooper is a longtime volunteer softball coach who is known in the Lakewood community for purchasing most sports supplies for his teams with his own money; for example, at the beginning of each season, Lakewood’s “father figure” buys each girl a basketball, volleyball or softball so they can practice at home, and oftentimes, Cooper personally helps disadvantaged children find other equipment they may need. Submitted to the Helpful Hero Dad sweepstakes by his daughter Victoria, Cooper was surprised in front of his softball team with a plethora of sports supplies – including several different types of equipment for softball and storage options – in addition to personal gifts, which included athletic clothing, a golf bag and running shoes.
Dan Hashiba was also submitted by his daughter, Cheryl, to the Helpful Hero Dad sweepstakes. A resident of Garden Grove, Hashiba is a U.S. Army veteran, farmer and toymaker who is known for giving away his handmade wooden toys at the Torrance Farmers Market. He struggles with PTSD from his time serving in the military but finds solace in making toys for children and helping to put a smile on their faces. He was surprised at his Garden Grove home – which is the site of his farm and toymaking business – with supplies and tools so that he could keep making children and himself happy: a Japanese Hand Saw, a new work table, woodworking clamps, woodturning chisels and more.
SoCal Honda Dealers are also giving away five pairs of tickets to a private Isabel LaRosa concert at the Helpful Honda Music Lounge on Thursday. More information can be found here.
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