Lone Star journalist collects Christmas presents for underprivileged children

Texan journalist Beto Rodriguez spends most of his time advising local businesses in El Paso, consulting with political campaigns across state lines and chasing news leads at the southwest border.

Of the many organizations Rodriguez has worked with, he has even written about the El Paso community as a Texas based contributor for ADN America. An avid racing fan, he’s also acted as ADN's pace car to keep our readers up to speed with Formula 1 Grand Prix competitions around the world.

But when Rodriguez isn’t consulting and reporting through his firm, Elevated Strategies, he uses his time to have a positive impact on others by touching the lives of impoverished families in his Texan community.

“There’s nothing more fulfilling than knowing you’ve helped a child in need,” Rodriguez told ADN America. When a child smiles, it being happiness into the world. We need more of that.”

Collecting Christmas presents for underprivileged children in need

A married father of two who never ceases to have his hands full at home, Rodriguez was determined to collect Christmas presents for 100 underprivileged children.

To make matters simple, the Lone Star state correspondent started his project last Christmas by letting donors drop off toys at his home so he can gift them to the children of El Paso families.

He’s also accepting contributions via Zelle so he can help impoverished families or help their parents buy little ones the gifts they were hoping for when they wrote Santa Claus.

Last year, he far exceeded that goal by helping 493 families.

This year, he’s expanded his goals and also donated gifts to the El Paso Young Woman’s Christian Association (YWCA) and Center Against Sexual and Family Violence (CASFV).

Using his business and journalism connections, the longtime El Paso consultant has recruited help from other local businesses, political organizations and friends.

Tapping into the local landscape

One of those organizations, Americans for Prosperity, is determined to help Rodriguez make a difference.

“At Americans for Prosperity, we believe in giving back to our community and making a difference in the lives of those around us,” said Burly Cain, the organization’s New Mexico State Director. “Supporting the toy drive is more than a charitable act, it’s a reflection of our commitment to empowering individuals and bringing joy to families during the holiday season.”

Cain said that donating toys has an everlasting, systemic impact not only on the community but in the hearts and minds of the children they’re helping.

“By participating in this toy drive, we are not just donating toys, we are investing in the happiness and well-being of children in our community, reinforcing our belief in hope, opportunity and prosperity for all,” he explained.

Rodriguez also successfully convinced local organizations and political candidates such as Guadalupe Giner, who previously ran for an El Paso County judgeship to get on board.

“My husband and I are donating to Toys-4-Smiles because we like that it reaches out to children in the El Paso/Las Cruces area,” she said. “We consider it important, to use what we have, to improve the lives of others. It is a great way to reinforce our values, and Christian beliefs. Giving to children's causes, in this case, a simple toy, is a privilege and the joy it brings a child is priceless.”

The Christmas spirit

Some said the charitable project connected with their sense of Christmas spirit.

“Christmas should be a magical time in a child's life, which is why I make it my mission to donate toys each year,” said Vanessa Garcia the West Texas Director of Texas Latino Conservatives.

El Paso businessman Arturo Corral, who runs the southern Texas truck outfit, AC Transport, said the toy drive is in line with both his spiritual views and perspective on how to best effectuate local impact.

“Supporting toy drive like Toys-4-Smiles means I support people who want to make a difference,” he said in an electronically transmitted quote to ADN. “It’s as grassroots as it gets and I want to encourage more of it. We all need to be more compassionate to those in need and walk humbly with love and smiles.”

Word about Rodriguez’s cause has quickly become the holiday season talk of the town, inspiring one organization after another to either aid in the effort or at least donate.

“We are excited to participate in the Toys-4-Smiles toy drive,” said Sammy Carejo, president of the Yselta Lions Club, a global organization that has spearheaded humanitarian causes for more than a century.

Some news organizations decided to lend a hand by getting the word on the street—and across the airways.

Last year, Toys-4-Smiles was featured by the local FOX News affiliate, and this year it got a boost from TelevisaUnivision El Paso.

Rodriguez said he is grateful for the support and feels honored so many have entrusted him to help so many children.

“I would like to thank my community for making this possible and invite citizens and other business owners to participate,” he told ADN America. “We aim to form a conglomerate of people who share one goal, and that’s to benefit of our community and help those in need.”

Beto Rodriguez helped provide information for this story. Toys-4-Smiles can be reached directly at 915-356-6642, where anyone can Zelle a small contribution, which will go toward the toy(s) for underprivileged children. Rodriguez can also be reached on Facebook through Elevated Strategies.