This year’s fund is being used to support Californians with disabilities, their caregivers and allies to attend the CDLA Day of Action at the State Capitol in Sacramento on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.

About Teresa and Funding Application Below

Teresa M. S. Favuzzi, aka “Fearless Favu”, was an intrepid leader who made the fight for disability justice, equality and inclusion her life’s focus. It was her personal disability experience that led her to an internship and later a management position at the Independent Living Resource Center of San Francisco.

In 2003, Teresa began her tenure at the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFILC) as the Statewide Community Organizer. Her leadership and organizing skills brought together the California Systems Change Network that works towards creating systems to more efficiently serve and support people with disabilities in maintaining their independence. Teresa was known as a strategic thinker who could execute big ideas. In 2005, with the support of disability rights colleagues, Teresa launched Disability Capitol Action Day, California’s largest advocacy event for disabled people of all ages.

Also in 2005 she became CFILC’s Executive Director and led the organization through some of the toughest social and healthcare service cutbacks experienced by the disability community in California. She was passionate about access to quality healthcare as well as emergency preparedness. She advocated tirelessly to assure the needs of the community were always centered in policy decisions. Teresa devoted her time, resources and considerable talent to improving the quality of life for all people with disabilities.

Teresa was diagnosed with Leukemia in spring 2017. Like everything else in her life, she took the illness on as a challenge and fought every single day. Teresa continued to share personal journey, her friendship, her kindhearted spirit, her heart and thoughtful words of wisdom with everyone around her. Teresa passed on February 4, 2018.

This fund was originally created in 2018 by Fearless Favu’s colleagues and friends to ensure that her memory and dedication to disability advocacy would continue. We are honored to continue this California disability community tradition as disability leaders and organizations come back together in coalition to ensure our voices are heard again at the Capitol.

Funds are made possible through generous donations. They are limited and only cover transportation related expenses. This year we will award up to $5,000.00 in funds to attend the CDLA Day of Action at the State Capitol in Sacramento on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.