08/17/2026
My heart is still so full from yesterday’s car wash! On behalf of myself and the Cultural Pageant Division of the Puerto Rican Parade of Fairfield County, I want to sincerely thank our community and everyone who showed up to support our children and the vision—whether you came out to lend a hand, brought your car, made a donation, or simply helped spread the word. Every bit of support mattered. 🇵🇷❤️
First and foremost, I have to thank Joey Colon from Briarwood Automotive. I came to him with an idea, and he immediately took the reins and ran with it. His generosity, hard work, and commitment played such a huge role in making this event a success.
A special thank-you also goes to O’Reilly Auto Parts, WOW Car Wash, Vinny’s Pizzeria, Pantanal Restaurant & Mi Barrio Manzanilla Food Truck for contributing and supporting our cause. I’m also incredibly grateful to all of my friends and family who came out and worked alongside us. I could not have done this without you!
The Puerto Rican Parade of Fairfield County is one large organization made up of many moving parts, and the Cultural Pageant is just one piece of something much bigger—but this piece is my baby. I take so much pride in working with each individual child throughout the year, helping them grow into confident young leaders while giving them opportunities to make a difference in their community with their tiny selves. 🥹
Side note—despite a few behind-the-scenes attempts to throw obstacles in our way, we stood focused, pushed through, and still had an amazing turnout. That kind of energy only reminded us how strong our community really is.
Yesterday was a true reflection of what can happen when a community comes together for its children. Thank you all for believing in them, believing in this vision, and helping us continue to create something positive and meaningful. ¡Boricua hasta en la luna! 🇵🇷
xoxo,
Camilia Seda-Lopez
Pageant Coordinator 🫶🏼
