SAN ANGELO, Texas — When wrist wraps and boxing gloves concealed his giving hands, ring announcers called Osvaldo Martinez “the Psycho Monster.”
Years after his last fight, his friend Norma Lee calls him a modern-day Santa Claus.
Saturday, Martinez will host “In the Spirit of Christmas: Light up a Child’s Life” for the 20th year. He started the event after a Christmas morning during his childhood when he found no gifts underneath his family’s tree.
“I told my uncle that one day I was gonna have a program that was gonna give back to the community,” he said. “That way, we ensured no other child went through the exact same experience.”
Martinez goes the extra mile to provide specific gifts for the children who take part in his program each year. In past years, he has taken the roughly three-hour drive to San Antonio from San Angelo to purchase gifts that were not available in his hometown.
He works exceptionally hard each year to put the event together. In addition to his full-time job as a sales representative at Mitchell Buick GMC, Martinez spends hours securing sponsors, entertainment and the venue each year.
In 2023, the celebration will move from Southside Recreation Center to Foster Communications Coliseum, the largest indoor venue in San Angelo. Registration for the event is from 4:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. After registration closes, the event is scheduled to run from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
“I recommend you try to get here as early as possible (and) try to get a seat,” Martinez said.