Today we’d like to introduce you to Raul Rodriguez.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My story really begins with a strong belief that when you give young people an opportunity, you change the entire trajectory of their lives. Growing up in Sweetwater, I saw firsthand how many kids didn’t have access to academic support, extracurricular programs, or even a safe place to spend their afternoons. I also knew that education can be the great equalizer, the thing that opens doors to a brighter future.
In 2009, right in the middle of the Great Recession, I saw an opportunity to help, even if I had to start small. That year, I founded the Li’l Abner Foundation. What started as a modest effort to offer after-school tutoring and enrichment programs quickly grew into something much bigger. Over the past 16 years, we’ve grown into a full community hub that now serves more than 500 students across Sweetwater and Palmetto Bay each year. We now have two centers, a wider range of programs, and more scholarships than ever, supporting children attending Belen Jesuit Preparatory School and adults earning degrees at FIU. Our goal is to expand access to education so every child in our community has the chance to follow their dreams, discover what’s possible, and build the future they want for themselves.
Watching our programs grow has been one of the blessings of my life. Our tutoring program now serves students year-round. Our Taekwondo, dance, archery, and wrestling programs have become pillars for local families. The free SAT prep course has helped countless high school students raise their scores and unlock college opportunities they dreamed about. Even Belen Jesuit officially recognized and adopted our archery program as its newest club, something we’re very proud of.
Some of the moments that stay with me the most come from our outreach events. Every year, our Disney on Wheels program takes at least 50 medically fragile children to Disney World for the very first time. We rent buses and use my fleet of ambulances to follow along in case any child needs medical support. We bring their parents, along with hundreds of volunteers, all working together to make this magical experience possible for children with severe medical conditions. Seeing the joy and wonder on their faces is a powerful reminder of why we do this work. In past years, we also hosted an annual Thanksgiving Bash, where we served more than 16,000 meals and gave out over 5,000 toys to Sweetwater families.
Today, the Li’l Abner Foundation team has built something much bigger. Together created a movement rooted in opportunity and hope for children and adults in our community.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but I’ve learned that anything worth building rarely is. When we started the Li’l Abner Foundation in 2009, we were in the middle of a major recession. Families were hurting, and resources were limited, so raising funds to launch and grow our programs was a real challenge. But we believed our community needed us, and that kept us moving.
As the foundation grew, so did the challenges. We quickly outgrew our first space, and finding the right location for a bigger center took time, persistence, and a lot of faith. Expanding our programs also meant building the right team – not only for our Sweetwater location, but eventually for our second community center in Palmetto Bay – and making sure we had the capacity to serve thousands of residents each year.
One of the biggest logistical challenges has always been our Disney on Wheels program. Taking medically fragile children to Disney World is a beautiful experience, but it requires enormous coordination – buses, ambulances, medical staff, volunteers, and careful planning. It’s not easy, but seeing the joy on those children’s faces makes every obstacle worth it.
Through all the ups and downs, the community has been our constant source of strength. Parents, volunteers, donors, and the kids themselves remind us every day why this work matters. The tough moments have shaped us, made us stronger, and helped the foundation grow into what it is today.
As you know, we’re big fans of CREI Holdings and National Health Transport . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
CREI Holdings is a real estate development company with a very clear mission: to create high-quality, affordable, and workforce housing for those who keep Miami-Dade County running. Our work is rooted in Sweetwater, where we’re focused on building safe, sustainable, modern housing for local families and seniors.
Our multifamily developments serve teachers, police officers, first responders, service workers, students, and families who are the backbone of our community. What sets us apart is that we don’t approach development as just building structures. We approach it as building opportunity. Every project we take on is designed to strengthen the community around it.
What I’m most proud of brand-wise is that CREI Holdings is known for delivering projects that balance quality, affordability, and long-term value. Our goal is to create homes we would be proud to live in ourselves. And our Sweetwater developments speak to that standard. We offer modern units with thoughtful design, energy-efficient appliances, community-centered amenities, and a focus on long-term sustainability.
We’re also deeply committed to reinvesting in the places where we build. That’s why my work with the Li’l Abner Foundation aligns so naturally with CREI Holdings. The housing we build and the programs we support both aim to improve the lives of local families. It’s about creating stability, opportunity, and pride in the community.
National Health Transport (NHT) is also a major pillar of my work, and – just like CREI Holdings – it is deeply connected to the mission of the Li’l Abner Foundation. NHT is a medical transportation company built on a simple but powerful belief: every patient deserves compassion, safety, dignity, and dependable care at every step of their medical journey.
My journey began for one purpose only and it was to transport my father in his medically fragile state. He was my hero and still is to this day. In homage to him I decided to start the company. He was my first Transport, and shortly after he passed away, I decided to keep the company in his memory to continue to give great service to people who really need it.
For more than 15 years, NHT has provided high-quality, professional ambulance and medical transport services throughout Florida. Our team includes state-certified EMTs, paramedics, dispatchers, and support staff who are trained not only to deliver exceptional medical care, but to do so with empathy and patience. We serve some of the region’s largest hospitals, clinics, nursing facilities, and rehabilitation centers – transporting patients who are often among the most vulnerable: individuals with chronic illnesses, limited mobility, severe medical conditions, and significant health challenges.
What sets NHT apart is our culture of care. We don’t see ourselves as simply moving patients from point A to point B. We treat each transport as an opportunity to make someone feel safe, respected, and supported at a moment when they are completely relying on us. Families often tell us that our crews feel like an extension of their care team, and that is the standard we aim for with every call and every shift.
This is also why NHT is such an important part of the Li’l Abner Foundation. Our work with medically fragile children – especially during our Disney on Wheels program – is only possible because we have a fleet of ambulances and highly trained personnel ready to accompany every bus, every child, and every parent on the trip. When we take children battling severe medical conditions to Disney for the first time, NHT makes it possible for families to experience joy without fear. Having our paramedics, medical equipment, and vehicles by their side gives parents peace of mind and allows kids to feel like every other child for a day.
Beyond Disney on Wheels, NHT supports many of the Foundation’s year-round programs. Whether it’s offering medical guidance, providing transportation for special cases, or stepping up during emergencies in the community, NHT brings another layer of safety and support that strengthens the Foundation’s impact.
