HARLINGEN — The news, as all of us know, can be relentless in reminding us of all the negatives that accompany modern-day life.
A San Benito man decided to do something about it.
“One day just after seeing like too many negative stories, violent things, on TV, I just told myself: ‘What can I do to maybe change this thing and turn things around,’” said David Leija.
“I sat down and put pencil to paper and I came up with this logo, TKO, which stands for Tolerance Kindness Overcomes,” he said, pointing to the bold white graphic on his black shirt. “Basically the mission behind what we’re trying to do is spread awareness, eliminate hate, anti-bullying and stuff like this, helping out the needy.
“We’re trying to blanket everybody,” he added.
Leija, president of the nonprofit TKO, was at Loaves and Fishes where he and TKO Vice-President Tim Tansil of Harlingen were dropping off food to help with the charity’s Thanksgiving.
“We’re donating some turkeys, some pies and biscuits, for their annual Thanksgiving dinner,” Leija said. “This is the second time, I did it last year. Now as we’re continuing to grow we’re able to do it again.
“I’m just trying to make the world better,” he added. “Making today better than yesterday.”
Leija and TKO are nothing if not quick when they see people in need.
“We were up in Rockport within the first 48 hours” after Hurricane Harvey, he said. “I took a few trucks full of supplies to help the people out there. We were there at ground zero.”
Unlike a lot of nonprofits, TKO isn’t an organization which specializes, and that’s the way Leija wants it.
“We help out the Humane Society, it’s not just a human thing, we’re helping out the animals, and I’m an animal lover,” he said. “I donate to them and various other shelters, the Boys and Girls Club.
“And step-by-step, we’re growing,” he said.
Leija said he started with the T-shirt he is wearing as his first concept, selling it for $15 and coming up with a plan to keep selling them and plow 25 percent of the shirt price back into TKO.
“The plan is to turn TKO into a full brand,” he said. “The way we see Nike, Under Armour — that’s my goal.”
