Tito Rodriguez, better known throughout Southern California as The Hood Santa, is a Long Beach philanthropist, community leader, and the founder of the Local Hearts Foundation. For more than a decade, he has dedicated his life to serving underserved families across Los Angeles and Long Beach, organizing large-scale drives that provide food, clothing, school supplies, toys, hygiene products, and emergency assistance. What began with delivering gifts from the trunk of his car has grown into a volunteer-powered nonprofit that mobilizes hundreds of volunteers and partners to meet the everyday needs of thousands of local residents.
Beyond the iconic Santa suit that earned him his nickname, Rodriguez is known for showing up wherever help is needed—whether it's distributing thousands of backpacks before the school year, feeding families during the holidays, supporting street vendors, assisting children battling cancer, or responding to community crises throughout the year. His work is rooted in dignity, compassion, and the belief that strong neighborhoods are built when people take care of one another. Through the Local Hearts Foundation, The Hood Santa has become one of Southern California's most recognizable grassroots humanitarian figures, inspiring volunteers, businesses, and community partners to turn generosity into lasting action.
