MAG Coalition makes first of two visits to Petco Park

Local non-profit continues baseball tradition in honor of Martin Alberto Garza

BRAWLEY, Calif. ( KYMA, KECY-TV ) - On January 6th, 2013, Martin Alberto Garza was murdered by a gang member. Garza is one of many innocent victims of gang violence. The tragedy shook the family and the local community. Shortly after Martin's death, his mother, Yulil Alonso-Garza started the Mothers and Men against Gangs Coalition or MAG Coalition.

"Our purpose, our mission and our vision is to ensure that no family goes through this again," Alonso-Garza said. "We help create a different path for at risk youth and make sure they know the dangers our being involved with gangs or gang activity. My son Martin was not involved in a gang but we still have to realize that they are still going to be crossing paths with our youth and our youth need to be aware."

Alonso-Garza and the MAG Coalition have partnered with the San Diego Padres for the past five years for one of the non-profits biggest fundraisers of the year.

"Liz Zarate from the city of El Centro introduced me to the representative of the Padres," Alonso-Garza said. "We've been working together ever since in securing tickets in order to fundraise for scholarships and other activities that we do with youth such as literacy."

Alonso-Garza says that besides providing a teen literacy club, presentations at universities, in high school classrooms and with teachers, continuing to have conversations is crucial.

"I think it's also important to work with you elected officials," Alonso-Garza said. "Make sure we have more awareness about these dangers with gangs."

The Gang Intelligence Coalition and Casa in Imperial County also work together with the MAG Coalition. Alonoso-Garza says they try to schedule one or two games a year at Petco and always when the Los Angeles Dodgers are in town.

"Baseball was Martin's first love," Alonso-Garza said. "He grew up with baseball and that became his first love and he played all his life. He then moved into basketball and football and football became his last love. That's one of the reason's we do the MLB fundraiser because it's so closely tied to the sports he loved."

MAG Coalition will be at Petco Park this Sunday for the Padres and Dodgers three game series finale. Tickets are still available. If interested email MAGcoalition@gmail.com or message Yulil Alonso-Garza on social media.

MAG Coalition also has a second date set at Petco Park scheduled for September 11th.