The annual collaboration with the Travis County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) Brown Santa program helps to serve families in need each holiday season.
AUSTIN, TX — The Austin Tejano Music Coalition (ATMC) will hold its 14th annual Toy Drive and dance that benefits the Travis County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) annual Brown Santa program to help families. The toy drive and dance features Mike Gonzalez and The Iconiczz and Austin based opening act Los Marceles, where attendees provide toys and monetary donations. Tejano Nation recently reported that the band has released new music this week and we look forward to their performance at the event. Sophia Soto will perform when the bands are in transition.
The event will be held at the H&H Ballroom, 4404 Brandt Rd. in Austin. 3-7pm, with doors opening at 2pm. The entry fee is $15 admission (cash) per person and an unwrapped toy. Brownsanta.org/events
Sophia Soto is 13 years old and attends the Ann Richard’s School for Young Women Leaders. She is in the percussion section at her school. She is a multi – instrumentalist (she plays drums, violin, piano, and dabbles in a few other instruments, including the guitar. She attended the Girls Rock Austin (Rock & Roll Summer Camp) the past two summers. She started singing seriously within the last year and has performed at several open mics in Austin. She enjoys jazz music which she performs at the events. Most recently, last month she performed at the annual Dia de los Muertos Festival hosted by the City of Austin’s Mexican American Cultural Center (Gary Hobbs – Headliner) and the Asherton Homecoming Exs Reunion at the City Park. She performed at the 44th Annual Georgetown TX Christmas Stroll, Saturday, December 6th with many attendees over 3 days.
In 2024, Louis Moncivais, TCSO Senior Deputy Chairman, Board of Directors confirmed to ATMC that their efforts yielded a total of 2000 toys. ATMC’s Christina Gonzales stated this toy drive amount surpassed all the previous years of hosting the toy drive. Moncivais stated last year that he and the board of directors are very grateful to ATMC for continuing this annual drive. The goal is to gather donations to meet the goal to fill the community’s needs. The program serves families that have children 14 years old and younger, with gifts for the children as well as food for the family. Brownsanta.org
ATMC is an organization dedicated to promoting, educating and sharing Tejano culture and music. The Toy Drive is one of the organization’s signature annual events. The well-known event receives support from both individuals and business owners. KOKE Tejano 1600 in Austin has been an integral part of the annual ATMC and Brown Santa Toy Drive since the beginning. The terrestrial station in Austin has broadcast Tejano music for the past several decades and informs the community of events. This is a remarkable collaboration to help our fellow citizens in Travis County. Joe Morales and Bobby Velasquez generously provide emcee duties on stage, and these are voices that the radio listeners have come to know and follow.
This year, the sound will be provided by Second Gate Productions (Sergio Soto), who is noted to be busy in the communities providing sound for many events throughout the year.
Source: ATMC, Tejano Nation, KOKE, Brown Santa
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