The Kristine E. Meza Memorial Foundation

Kristine E. Meza, a Laredo native, lost her life to an act of domestic violence on February 11, 2011 in San Antonio, Texas. In Meza's memory, her family established The Kristine E. Meza Memorial Foundation. This non-profit organization was initiated to inform the community about domestic violence, to raise money to assist local women's shelters, and award scholarships to students in need.

Kristine E. Meza was a nursing student at San Antonio College (SAC). Selma Gonzalez, cousin of the deceased, shared with The Bridge some of the details on the life and murder of her cousin. Meza was shot outside her San Antonio home. Gonzalez recounted the events of her cousin's death by declaring, "he ambushed her with his car, so he blocked his car behind hers so she would not get out and he shot her first and then he shot himself."  The foundation was created  with help of various family members. Members of the foundation include; Agustin Meza III father and Laura Acevedo mother of the deceased, Selma Gonzalez, Veronica Gonzalez, as well as Meza family members.  The family oriented foundation's main purpose is to save one or more lives and prevent something like what occurred to Kristine E. Meza to happen to someone else. As Gonzalez explained, this foundation was created to reach out to the public and explain about the pain that  is inflicted on the family of the victims of domestic violence. In addition, this organization raises money for scholarships and hosts events, were they spread awareness about domestic violence.

Their first official event as a foundation was the Chip-in for an R.N Golf tournament, which took place in September of 2011. On March 24, 2011, they started a "Garden of Hope" in memory of Kristine E. Meza. The garden is located at the Education Center for Casa de Misericordia. Members of the Rotary Club, Martin High School Students, and members of the Meza family attended this event. Flower donations were accepted from the public to symbolize community involvement. As Gonzalez stated, "not only will our work will be put into it, but a little piece of you will be into it, and that will give the message that the community is involved as well."  The organization funded The Kristine E. Meza Memorial Foundation Medical Scholarship for $1,000. The funds are currently awarded to students from the local high schools, Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) and Laredo Community College (LCC).  The public can get involved in this organization by getting in contact with one of the family members and giving monetary donations, which are directed to the scholarship.

Currently this foundation is mainly composed of family members of the deceased and has not been directly open to the public.In the future the family would like to open the foundation to the public as Gonzalez stated, "I would like to bring other people in, maybe have fresh ideas... maybe asking other families of domestic violence to come together to try to put awareness out there."

The organization is planning to host a second Chip- in R.N Gollf event and further work on the Garden of Hope. To get more information about this domestic violence foundation you may contact Selma Gonzalez at selmag10@dusty.tamiu.edu or they can visit their official Facebook page The Kristine E. Memorial Foundation.  

(Neguif Angeles may be contacted at neguif.angeles@dusty.tamiu.edu)