LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Gary Fonesca received multiple nominations, including one from a parent of a student.

"My son has had Mr. Fonseca as an art teacher for five years now. Mr. Fonseca has been a blessing to Hollywood Academy of Arts and Science," explains the parent. "Mr. Fonseca has a gift for inspiring students to shine their light. He leads by example. Mr. Fonseca dresses very professionally and has even won "Best Dressed" at the school. He holds the doors for everyone and is always willing to help. Mr. Fonseca goes above and beyond for others. He is always at arrival bright and early with a smile (I know because I'm there bright and early too). Even during the pandemic, he was the only one to open our car doors and greet us."

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up,"- Pablo Picasso.

Picasso's quote appears on Mr. Fonseca's email signature. Every year, Mr. Fonseca hosts an art exhibition where he makes every student feel like an artist and special in their own way. He even allows the students to put together their own artistic performances for the exhibition. 

Mr. Fonseca's motivation, passion, and dedication are contagious. In December of every school year, Mr. Fonseca has his students make cards for the patients at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital. These cards are filled with kind words and motivation, which are both qualities that he incorporates into his lessons throughout the school year. He delivers the cards personally over the holidays. 

"One day, my son said to me: 'Be better than you were yesterday.' When I asked him where he heard it, he said Mr. Fonseca. We need more teachers like Mr. Fonseca, whose positive words resonate with students. As an example of being better, Mr. Fonseca started running the Lifetime Marathon in Miami a few years ago. He brings in his medal year after year to share it with the students and to show them that everything is possible," said the parent.