Tina Rodriguez, founder of the Beloved Survivors Trauma Recovery Center, has been named an NFL Super Bowl 60 Unsung Hero and will attend the Super Bowl as a guest of the league.<\/p>\n
Rodriguez learned of the honor during a surprise presentation recognizing her work with victims of crime, specifically victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.<\/p>\n
During the announcement, her impact on underserved communities was highlighted before the invitation was revealed.<\/p>\n
“Tina, for all the sacrifices, all the work and the way you’ve changed lives, we wanted to see… I don’t know what you’re doing this weekend, but we wanted to see if you’d come and be our guest at the Super Bowl?” NFL comissioner Roger Goodell said.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, Rodriguez was formally nominated as an NFL Super Bowl 60 Unsung Hero, an honor recognizing individuals whose work often takes place outside the public spotlight.<\/p>\n
“It is a testament that we are making a difference that we strive to make. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you, thank you,” Rodriguez said.<\/p>\n
She said the experience represents more than attending a major sporting event.<\/p>\n
“To be able to just be there and represent the Central Valley, but most importantly, to show up as a survivor myself, it’s very humbling,” Rodriguez said.<\/p>\n
Rodriguez said the road to the Super Bowl began more than a month earlier with an unexpected email.<\/p>\n
“And I deleted it because I thought it was a scam,” she said.<\/p>\n
The email was resent and deleted again before she received a follow-up phone call.<\/p>\n
“I got a phone call and it was a representative from the NFL that assured me this was not a scam,” Rodriguez said.<\/p>\n
Rodriguez said her advocacy is shaped by her own experience, transitioning from victim to survivor to expert.<\/p>\n
In 2020, she founded the Beloved Survivors Trauma Recovery Center, which now operates five locations across the Valley, providing support, intervention and prevention education.<\/p>\n
She said representation as a Latina, an advocate and a Valley native remains central to what the recognition means to her.<\/p>\n
“To be there when Bad Bunny is going to be there – I mean it could not be, I got chills just saying that right now,” Rodriguez said.<\/p>\n
While Super Bowl tickets are often associated with a high price tag, Rodriguez said the opportunity itself is priceless.<\/p>\n
“…to amplify the voices of survivors that have the greatest need and the least support,” she said.<\/p>\n
For news updates, follow Christina Lopez on Facebook<\/a>, X<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n