About us

Who we are

Valerie Villegas was inspired to found The Robert Villegas Foundation in honor of her late husband, Robert Villegas, during the SARS-CoV-2 global pandemic. Mr. Villegas succumbed to COVID-19 in 2021. The COVID-19 crisis has devastated the world and Mrs. Villegas has developed a vision to meet the needs of families and children. Robert Villegas was a master martial arts practitioner who inspired many people in their community. He was the original professor who brought the Jiu Jitsu and Taekwondo disciplines to the Corpus Christi/South Texas area. During his lifetime, Robert coached and mentored many at-risk youth in these martial arts disciplines to the core values of this foundation. 

Valerie Villegas is a native of Portland, Texas, which is near Corpus Christi. Valerie has been a registered nurse for the past 20 years, with expertise in pediatrics and hospice. Robert and Valerie have a blended family consisting nine children. The Villegas family members participated in ALL of the sports and spent a great deal of time traveling and competing in tournaments. Camping, sports, and outdoor activities have always been important to the Villegas family. Participating in these activities fuels Valerie’s desire to offer these opportunities to families who do not have access. 

Our approach

Our Mission
The Robert Villegas Foundation will meet the needs of the children and families impacted by SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.This support will manifest in the form of: 1) martial arts camps, competitions, and sponsorship to develop discipline and character in the young; 2) homework support, scholarships, and school supply drives; and 3) ongoing family support through workshops on finance, coping strategies, and psychotherapy.
Whether it is a reassuring conversation, financial help, education, professional training, or simply the assurance that they are not alone, we will make sure that everyone gets support that meets them where they’re at as quickly as possible.
Our Vision
The leaders of The Robert Villegas Foundation envision a world where surviving spouses, parents, children, and friends utilize the resources of our activity center to cope with disasters both man-made and natural.
Our entire team wants to see a world where every youngster struggling in any way feels able to reach out and has people who’ll help them with education, jobs, and more. We want to spread out in every region so we’ll be reachable to all.
Our Core Values
Compassion 100%
Comfort 100%
Compete and Conquer Challenges 100%
Develop Friendships through Physical Competitions 100%
Respect 100%

The Focus on Physical Activity:

Physical activity releases endorphins and causes natural immune system response to trauma. In the future, The Robert Villegas Foundation will host dance classes, spelling bees, and other academic competitions.