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August 21 – National Fentanyl Awareness Day

This past Thursday, August 21st, in the heart of Times Square on the Official National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, I stood alongside Angel Moms and Dads holding the faces of their beautiful children. It was one of the most powerful and emotional moments of my life.

I carried my son Daniel with me every step. His light gives me strength to speak when my voice shakes and to keep going when grief feels unbearable. I know my friends Miguel and Marcy Mendoza also felt their Angel Nathaniel walking beside them, giving them courage to stand tall. Together, our children lifted us.

I am profoundly grateful to the DEA, CBP, and HSI for standing beside us in this fight to save lives. Thank you to Chris Didier and Steve Filson for your unwavering support. A very special thank you to Andrea Thomas, Adrienne Sautter, and The Black Poster Project—your vision and tireless work made this day possible.

To all the Angel families who traveled to New York—you are the heartbeat of this movement. Your strength and determination remind the world that behind every statistic is a beautiful life taken too soon, and a family forever changed.
And to my wife—thank you for being my partner in grief, love, and hope. I could not do this without you.

This movement is about love, remembrance, action, and honoring our children. Together, we will continue to educate, fight, and save lives until no more families have to endure this pain. 💜🕊️

Andrea Thomas speaks:

Jaime’s Speech:

Steve Filson speech:

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Jaime Puerta is a United States Marine Corps veteran and the Founder and CEO of Puerta & Associates, Inc., a California-based interpreting firm.

In April 2020, Jaime's 16-year-old son, Daniel, tragically lost his life after ingesting a counterfeit pill laced with illicit fentanyl that he had unknowingly purchased through Snapchat. This devastating loss compelled Jaime to take action—transforming his grief into a nationwide mission to prevent similar tragedies.

He is the Co-Founder and President of Victims of Illicit Drugs (VOID), a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public about the lethal dangers of counterfeit pills and advocating for stronger policies to stop fentanyl trafficking. Jaime is also the Co-Chair of Project Facing Fentanyl, the organization behind the official National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day observed annually on August 21st.

In addition, Jaime serves as an Advisory Board Member to the Alliance to Counter Crime Online (A.C.C.O.), where he helps advance efforts to hold online platforms accountable for enabling drug trafficking and other criminal activities targeting youth.

Through VOID and his advocacy work, Jaime partners with families, lawmakers, and law enforcement to demand the removal of illicit drug trafficking from social media and other digital platforms. A powerful and effective public speaker, he shares Daniel's story with students, parents, educators, and policymakers to expose the deceptive nature of counterfeit pills and the urgent need for comprehensive education and prevention.

Jaime's tireless efforts aim to pass common-sense legislation, protect future generations, and bring national attention to the fentanyl crisis claiming thousands of lives each year.

Steve Filson was raised in Huntington Beach and has been a resident of San Bernardino since 1976 when he relocated there after his service in the U.S. Air Force. He retired in 2009 after a 31-year career with the San Bernardino County Sheriff and San Bernardino Police Department. Steve is the owner of a private security company and is a staff member of the Public Safety Academy, a public charter school in San Bernardino.

Most importantly, Steve is Jessica’s Dad. Jessica was his 29-year-old daughter killed in Redlands on January 22, 2022, along with her boyfriend, Nicholas, due to fentanyl poisoning. Steve lives in Highland, California, with his wife, Cheri, and their five-year-old granddaughter, Elara. He and other bereaved parents formed V.O.I.D., “Victims of Illicit Drugs,” as a California non-profit corporation and dedicate their efforts to education and awareness of this fentanyl scourge confronting our society.

Rocklin, CA resident Chris Didier lost his 17-year-old son, Zachary Didier, to fentanyl two days after Christmas in 2020. Zach was an Eagle Scout, soccer player, and beloved member of the community who had no history of drug use. Chris Didier has dedicated himself to raising awareness of the dangers of fentanyl, and has no doubt saved the lives of many students like Zach through his efforts. 

During his 22-year military career, Lt. Col. Didier flew the C-21 and F-15E. He currently flies the Boeing 787 for United Airlines.

Mathew Brodman is an accomplished senior executive with over 28 years of expertise in global homeland security leadership, strategic planning, and harnessing emerging technologies to address complex threats. A results-driven leader, Mathew has successfully managed a workforce of over 10,000 law enforcement professionals across more than 50 countries, fostering collaboration between public and private sectors. As an accredited diplomat, he has built strong and lasting relationships within the international law enforcement and intelligence communities, while driving innovative programs and initiatives.

During his tenure as Deputy Assistant Director at Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Mathew played a key leadership role in evaluating and enhancing operational performance to address evolving transnational threats. Notably, he was instrumental in designing and implementing the Department of Homeland Security's initial counter-fentanyl strategy, demonstrating his commitment to tackling the ongoing fentanyl crisis. Beyond his professional responsibilities, Mathew remains actively involved in raising awareness about the challenges posed by fentanyl. He currently serves as an advisory board member with Voices for Awareness and Facing Fentanyl.

Throughout his career, Mathew has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership in building alliances, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and leveraging strategic relationships to address critical security issues. His expertise spans policy implementation, crisis management, risk mitigation, and the integration of advanced technologies to strengthen security operations.