On November 22, 2009, professional boxer Francisco "Paco" Rodriguez died from injuries sustained during a title bout in Philadelphia. When the opportunity to donate organs was raised at the hospital, Alex spoke up. "I think Paco would be very disappointed to let his heart stop beating after all of the hard work he went through to keep his body in shape. I think we should give someone else a chance." The family's decision to donate gave five people that chance, and in December 2010, the Rodriguez family met all five of Paco's recipients in a meeting shared on ESPN's "E:60" documentary series. Driven by the belief that Paco would be happy knowing he helped others, Alex is an integral part of Gift of Hope's outreach to the Hispanic community.

Alex's Story

Alex Rodriguez is a donor family member and strong advocate for organ and tissue donation. On November 22, 2009, Alex's brother Francisco "Paco" Rodriguez, a professional boxer, died from injuries sustained during a title bout in Philadelphia. When Gift of Life Pennsylvania approached the Rodriguez family about organ and tissue donation, Alex spoke up in favor of donation, stating, "I think Paco would be very disappointed to let his heart stop beating after all of the hard work he went through to keep his body in shape. I think we should give someone else a chance." The Rodriguez family's decision to give life in this moment of tragedy saved the lives of five people who were waiting for lifesaving transplants.

In December 2010, Alex and the Rodriguez family were given the opportunity to meet the five people who received the gift of life from Paco. This emotional meeting took place at Gift of Hope's headquarters in Itasca, Ill., and was taped by ESPN for a story segment on its E:60 video magazine show. ESPN and its award-winning journalist Jeremy Schaap broadcast Paco's story to a national audience on April 19 during National Donate Life Month.

Alex is an active volunteer for Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network in the Chicago metropolitan area. He focuses his efforts on building organ and tissue donation awareness within the Hispanic community by volunteering at events and speaking to public audiences about organ and tissue donation and the importance of being a registered donor. Alex also serves on the Gift of Hope Hispanic Advisory Board where he consults with staff and volunteers on how to maximize public awareness efforts on organ and tissue donation within the Hispanic community.

Alex is an active force and integral part of Gift of Hope's outreach within the Hispanic community. He is driven by the belief that Paco would be happy knowing that he helped others through organ donation and could "continue giving, continue helping" even after his death. Alex often says that Francisco "multiplied" by giving life to others through donation.