Photos: EGP Oceanside hosts Fall Fest benefit for Ava Salonia

The community gathered in support of Ava Salonia and her family at the restaurant EGP Oceanside’s annual Family Fall Fest on Oct. 9.

Each year, the fun day of festivities benefits a local family facing challenges. Salonia was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow, in September 2022. EGP supported Ava during her battle and after she passed on Aug. 17, they wanted to continue to support the family. The Salonia family have been, patrons of EGP and friends of the O’Hagan family who own the business. When they found out Ava was sick and even after she passed, they wanted to do everything they could to support the Salonia family.

“We figured, no matter what happened we still wanted to do this for the family and help with medical bills,” said Brianna O’Hagan, General Manager at EGP.

EGP teamed with the Facebook group, Ava’s Army, which has more than 500 friends and loved ones of the Salonia family, to help organize the event. The group helped gain the support of local businesses to contribute raffle baskets and supplied T-shirts. Oceanside fire commissioner Michael Graham and his family contributed face painting supplies and balloon animals. Congressman Anthony D’Esposito sponsored the contribution of all the pumpkins for the festival. All proceeds from the festival went to the Salonia family.

“It’s very reinsuring to see how many people supported the family,” O’Hagan said. “We tried to do it for Ava. She truly was really amazing and a good hearted kid. She always had a smile on her face even when she was sick and that’s what we wanted to make the day.”