KYLE — Since losing their son in 2012, the Zamora family has made it their mission to give back to the children their son’s heart once broke for.
Akins High School graduate Freddy Zamora Jr. was full of life and heavily involved in his school community through sports and peer support. In January 2012, he received a life-changing diagnosis: Squamous Cell Carcinoma. It was only days later that Freddy Jr.’s condition rapidly declined. After several tests at Dell Children’s Hospital, it was revealed that he had Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma. According to Freddy Zamora Sr., stage 4 cancer lined his organs and there was nothing to do, though, his son had the “strength of a lion.”
When their son passed in August 2012, the Zamora family’s life skidded to a halt.
“As the years went by, we thought about starting this in honor of him. He loved the holidays. He loved Thanksgiving; he loved Christmas and just to see his eyes light up whenever they were little — him and his brothers getting their gifts — he just made us want to give back,” said Zamora Sr.
With this in mind, the Freddy Zamora Jr. Foundation began in 2015, focusing on annual fundraising events for scholarships and an annual toy drive.
When initially deciding where to donate, the family chose Dell Children’s Hospital for the fact that their son was treated there and they also have a program for toy donations. Additionally, when the family took trips there for Freddy Jr., Zamora Sr. noted that his son felt heavily for the children he saw: “He was 17 and when we were walking the halls, you could hear the little kids screaming and crying and they were little, like three to eight years old. His heart broke for those kids. He was like, ‘They should be out there having fun, not in here fighting for their lives or going through sickness,’” said Zamora Sr.
The foundation has since expanded and added the Center for Child Protection to its donation list, as well.
This year’s toy drive will be held at 7 p.m. on Dec. 6 at The Railhouse, located at 107 E. Center St. in Kyle, with music beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Several long-time family members and friends will be providing entertainment throughout the night, explained Zamora Sr., such as Tejano singer B. Santa Ana, Tejano band Cinco Doce, local rapper OBM Bleeda and more, as well as comedian Juan Villareal will be in attendance.
To aid in the holiday cheer, there will also be several vendors available for attendees to shop for clothing, knickknacks and other goods. In addition to this, there will be raffles to win Kendra Scott jewelry, gift certificates to local restaurants, such as Bejing Bistro, and more.
The entry fee is $5 or an unwrapped gift, as it can be difficult for the children to unwrap; the proceeds will be used for a scholarship or to purchase more gifts, if needed.
For the scholarship, which has ranged from $300 to $600, Zamora Sr. noted that there is no letter or essay required, it is simply awarded to a student that has been going through hardship. Various students from high school Central Texas, including Hays, Lehman and Akins, have been recipients of the grant.
After the event, the Zamora family will distribute the gifts to children at the hospital: “This year, we’ll actually have a room and the kids will actually come in.
We’ll be able to meet the kids and they’ll actually be able to pick out a toy with their sibling,” said the co-founder.
Thinking of his son, he added, “We know he’s smiling down on us right now.”
The foundation has also aided local families in the past with Christmas gifts for their children.
“This event is open to everyone. If you want somewhere to give, you want to spread a little bit of holiday cheer, definitely come out and show some support. We’ve been living here now nine years. My wife works for Hays CISD; she’s a bus driver. We’re here to stay … Come on out and have some fun with us,” concluded Zamora Sr.
To donate, or for more information, on the Freddy Zamora Jr. Foundation and the event, visit fzjfoundation.weebly.com or www.facebook.com/ freddyzamorajrfoundation.
