Former Patient Hosts Toy Drive & Zumbathon to Mark 20 Years of Giving to Hospitalized Kids

It’s the Christmas season, a special time of year meant to be merry and bright. But spending the holidays in a hospital room makes it hard to be festive, especially for children for whom the magic of Christmas rests in the ability to celebrate the traditions of the season.

To help ensure hospitalized children have the opportunity to celebrate the holidays, South Texas Health System Children’s has partnered with the Angel Quintanilla Foundation for the last 20 years to host a holiday toy drive every December.

Benefitting pediatric patients across the Rio Grande Valley, including those in the care of STHS Children’s, the initiative has grown in recent years to include a special Zumbathon aimed at helping participants feel the burn as they give back to the community.

This year’s Angel Quintanilla’s Toy Drive & Zumbathon stems from a desire to pay it forward.

Angel, a former patient at STHS Children’s, was born with cerebral palsy and spent several years in and out of the hospital throughout his childhood for treatment related to the congenital disorder.

“I would get sick a lot during the holidays and always had a fear of not being able to spend the holidays with my family,” says Angel, who during one of his first hospital stays had an unforgettable experience that changed his outlook.

“A group of college students came into my room and handed me a couple of toys,” recalls Angel, who is now 27, of that fateful visit when he was 7. “That changed my entire mood. The experience showed me that changing your perspective can make a significant difference. And it inspired me to pay it forward and launch my annual toy drive.”

In the early years of his toy drives, Angel sold handmade bracelets to raise money for the gifts he would donate. But for the last eight years, after meeting local Zumba instructor Veronica B. Ruiz, he has collaborated closely with her to host an annual Zumbathon, which has helped him collect more toy donations than he ever imagined possible.

In recent years, Angel and Veronica have hosted the Zumbathon at STHS Children’s, which has allowed facility staff to get involved in the noble cause.

“There’s no doubt that Angel has become part of the STHS Children’s family, and we’re forever indebted to him for the kindness he’s bestowed on the littlest kids in our care over the years,” says Tom Castañeda, System Director of Marketing & Public Relations, South Texas Health System. “In the last 19 years, he’s donated tens of thousands of toys to our facility alone as part of his annual toy drive. Each year, Angel has helped our Child Life Department dole out toys to our pediatric patients long after the holiday season is over!”

This year’s Zumbathon and toy drive will take place in the main parking lot of STHS Children’s on Saturday, December 14 from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. The event will feature Veronica and a handful of other local Zumba instructors leading classes for attendees.

Participation in the Zumbathon is free, but attendees are asked to bring at least one new, unwrapped and non-violent toy for the donation drive. All the collected items will be delivered to hospitals across the region, including STHS Children’s, in the days leading up to Christmas.

For complete details, visit the STHS Children’s Facebook events page. If you’re unable to attend the event but would still like to donate, please contact Angel Quintanilla via his public Facebook page at facebook.com/angelqofficial.

About South Texas Health System
South Texas Health System is a multi-facility healthcare system serving patients throughout the Rio Grande Valley. The system includes four acute care facility campuses with specialties in pediatrics, heart and vascular services, maternity and women’s health and trauma services. Inpatient and outpatient treatment for behavioral health needs and addictive disorders is also provided through the system’s South Texas Health System Behavioral facility. South Texas Health System is affiliated with the South Texas Clinical Partners ACO, Prominence Health Plan and Cornerstone Regional Hospital. The system operates an advanced Level I Trauma Center at South Texas Health System McAllen, the first and only freestanding children’s facility and pediatric ER at South Texas Health System Children’s, the region’s only freestanding heart hospital and specialized cardiac ER at South Texas Health System Heart and seven freestanding emergency rooms located in and around Weslaco, Mission, Edinburg, McAllen, Pharr and Alamo. For more information about the system and its comprehensive services, please visit www.southtexashealthsystem.com.