FernStock

The Fernley Community Foundation marked its sixth year of the FernStock Dinner and Awards Celebration last Saturday night with a sold out dinner at the Fernley Community Response and Resource Center, followed by a free community concert. 

Originally started as a fundraiser for a community center project that was at that time still in its infancy, FernStock 2026 was held for the first time in the CRRC building that opened last year.

The event is hosted annually by the Fernley Community Foundation, and was intended as a tribute to the Woodstock Music Festival held August 15-18, 1969 in upstate New York.

The first FernStock event was held in 2019 as a concert at the Reno-Fernley Raceway, but the hot temperatures in a venue with no shade convinced Fernley Community Foundation Chairman Cody Wagner that while the idea might work, a nighttime even would be more successful.

After a year off because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the second FernStock and the first with an Awards Dinner was held at the Fernley Senior Center in 2021, but the concert again was held in a dirt lot behind the Senior Center.

Although the CRRC wasn’t open last year, the dinner was held at the Senior Center with the free concert on the turf at the CRRC.

“This year was the first time we were able to host the both at the Community Resource & Response Center, which proved to be an excellent venue,” Wagner said.

Oscar Aguilar, the Area Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows Serving Fernley and his Boys & Girls Club staff organized the hosting of the event and catered the dinner, with the help of Shining K Meats. 

“Although our capacity was slightly reduced compared to our previous venue in the Senior Center, we were easily able to sell out the dinner with 150 attendees and raised about $20,000,” Wagner said.

He said the concert was made possible by Headline Concert Sponsors Polaris and IBEW Local 401, as well as the Fernley Convention & Tourism Authority. 

“For the first time, we brought in a 15-too LED screen for the back of our stage to assist with advertising, which gave the whole event a tremendous boost.
 Wagner said. “Although official attendance numbers are difficult to estimate, it seemed to be the best-attended event we have ever hosted.”

Awards for the individual and business donors of the year and the Lifetime Achievement Award were presented at the dinner.

Wendy Fagundes, pictured right, was named the Lifetime Achievement Award winner.

“Wendy Fagundes has been a rock for our whole community for many years,” Wagner said. “Combining her personal financial contributions with everything she's been able to facilitate through her employer, Washington Federal Bank, she has made well over a $10,000 impact for just our Foundation.”

Fagundes also volunteers at almost every other volunteer-driven event around Fernley and is heavily involved with the Chamber of Commerce. She has served as Vice Chair of the Fernley Comunity Foundation for the past two years.

Wagner said HG Construction, the Business Donor of the Year, has also been a long-time financial supporter for the Foundation, sponsoring previous gold tournaments and FernStock events.

“They were instrumental in serving as the General Contractor on our Polaris Plaza project, helping us through a very difficult process donating many hours of guidance and expertise,” Wagner said.

Harry and Sherryl Wheeler were awarded as Individual Donors of the Year. 

“They recently topped $3,000 through monthly membership contributions and continue to support multiple Fernley efforts around town to add to their extensive history of volunteer work,” Wagner said.

In addition, Edrie LaVoie was recognized for her service on the Foundation’s Board of Directors after deciding to not apply for another year on the Board, instead passing the torch of Board representation to her daughter, Michelle Trousdale. 

“Edrie was our first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award winner and has been a key part of everything our Foundation has accomplished,” Wagner said. “She was also unanimously voted as the first Board Emeritus member of our Foundation's history.”

Pictured left: Harry & Sherryl Wheeler. 

Below: Wagner said HG Construction, the Business Donor of the Year.