Martha Martinez is the child health outreach coordinator for the Children's Defense Fund of Houston, a national child advocacy organization whose mission is to Leave No Child Behind. She is the coordinator for the insure-a-kid Texas Grants for School Outreach Initiative and works directly with the Houston Independent School District to streamline the CHIP and Medicaid process for families. She has been an active member of Navidad En El Barrio since 2002.

She has had the opportunity to work in Houston's local city government as a community liaison and with the federal government as a 2000 Census Oversight Committee Member and has also had the opportunity to do local grassroots work within a long standing local community center, The Ripley House.

As an immigrant, Martha understands the importance that community based organizations play in the development of children and their parents; therefore volunteer work in such organizations has been a priority in her life. She is currently volunteering as a court appointed advocate for Child Advocates, Inc., a youth advisor for the St. Philip of Jesus Youth Group and serves as the Immigrant and Refugee Co-Chair for the Gulf Coast CHIP Coalition.

It has truly been an honor for Martha to have the opportunity to volunteer for such organizations and particularly with Navidad En El Barrio because she is able to instantly see the happiness that this program brings to children's lives. She also realizes that what we as adults see as very small tokens may mean the world in the eyes of a child.