The Best of Fair Oaks 2024: A Night to Celebrate Our Community’s Finest
What makes Fair Oaks such a special place? It’s the people, the businesses, and the sense of community that brings us all together; and the Best of Fair Oaks is where we celebrate it all in style!
Celebrating the Best of Fair Oaks 2024
On January 16th, over 250 guests gathered at the beautiful North Ridge Country Club to celebrate something truly special—the people, businesses, and organizations that make Fair Oaks shine. Hosted by the Fair Oaks Chamber of Commerce (FOCC), the ninth annual Best of Fair Oaks gala was more than just an awards ceremony; it was a night filled with fun, connection, and a whole lot of local pride.
The energy in the room was electric as the winners of the Best of Fair Oaks 2024 were announced. And the community? They showed up in a big way. Over a five-week voting period in November and December, nearly 17,000 votes poured in—yes, you read that right! That’s a record-breaking number for this event. In total, 425 nominees across 86 categories competed for the top spots.
Fair Oaks Chamber CEO Kimberley Pitillo and Voterfly CEO Ryan Griffith did an outstanding job orchestrating the event. Their dedication, along with the hard work of their teams, made the evening a night to remember.
A Night of Community and Recognition
The Best of Fair Oaks has become a cherished event, and I’m thankful to have been part of its growth over the years. Being nominated is a true honor, and it has created incredible opportunities for so many businesses. More than that, it has brought our community together in a meaningful way. Congratulations to all the nominees and winners!
I’ve also truly enjoyed the positive feedback from my friends and family. Knowing they support me, take the time to vote, and feel invested in my success means so much. It’s a wonderful feeling to have that kind of encouragement!
A First for Livestreaming!
This year, I Love Fair Oaks was thrilled to be an event sponsor and introduce livestreaming to the awards ceremony for the very first time! As part of our mission to bring the community closer, we made it possible for those who couldn’t attend in person to root for their favorites in real time. Many viewers have since shared how much they appreciated being able to rewatch the event and feel like they were part of the celebration.
? Catch the Replay: You can find the livestream embedded in this article or watch it on our Facebook page and YouTube channel.
The Power of Youth in Fair Oaks
One of the most inspiring aspects of the evening was the involvement of Fair Oaks Youth Outreach. Each year, this incredible group of young leaders steps up to help organize the event, taking on responsibilities like presenting awards to first-place winners. Their participation is a shining example of how community programs can empower the next generation and foster a spirit of leadership.
A standout example is Noah Wright, a familiar face in our community and an active member of the Chamber of Commerce Youth Organization. Noah shared that his involvement with the Chamber has been transformative, helping him gain confidence, develop leadership skills, and connect with successful community leaders. Stories like his highlight how these programs create lasting, positive impacts, ensuring that the future of Fair Oaks remains bright.
And the Winner Is… I Love Fair Oaks! Honored to Receive the Best Design & Marketing Award!
I’m over the moon to share that I Love Fair Oaks won first place for Best Design & Marketing! As the founder, this recognition means the world to me. It’s a tremendous honor to be celebrated for something I’m so passionate about—helping local businesses shine and bringing our amazing community together.
A Big Thank You
I also want to take a moment to acknowledge the hard work of the Fair Oaks Chamber of Commerce, VoterFly, and the American River Messenger, who work tirelessly to bring this event to life year after year. Their dedication, along with the support of sponsors, makes the Best of Fair Oaks a truly unforgettable experience. I Love Fair Oaks was honored to be one of the sponsors this year.
I want to especially give a huge shoutout to my son, Mike Ward of MW Property Media, who has joined me in the I Love Fair Oaks project and has been instrumental in bringing video to our platform. He manned the livestream booth all evening, ensuring that those who couldn’t attend in person still got to experience the magic of the event in real time. I would not have been able to do that without him. His hard work, technical expertise, and commitment to excellence made a huge impact, and I am incredibly grateful for his support.
Mike has truly stepped into a position of leadership within I Love Fair Oaks, helping us expand our reach and elevate the way we showcase our incredible community. His dedication and creativity are invaluable, and I can’t wait to see how we continue to grow together!
We had a Table of Winners!
Every single person at my table took home an award, making the night even more special. It was an incredible experience to celebrate alongside such talented and dedicated members of the Fair Oaks business community. The energy, excitement, and camaraderie at our table truly embodied the spirit of the Best of Fair Oaks—supporting one another, cheering each other on, and sharing in the joy of recognition.
A huge shoutout to Mike Maddox, who did a fantastic job as the auctioneer, keeping the energy high and making sure those desserts made it to the tables in style. And speaking of desserts—just look at that lemon olive oil cake. Absolutely scrumptious!
It’s moments like these that make Fair Oaks, CA such a special place. Here’s to another amazing year of supporting local businesses and celebrating our thriving community!
Explore More!
To see this year’s winners and categories, visit bestoffairoaks.com.
Thank you to Michelle Massaro Photography for the beautiful photos.
I can’t wait to see what next year brings! Until then, let’s keep supporting our amazing local businesses and celebrating the best of Fair Oaks—every single day.
