Costal Roots Founders: Right to left: Hamid Hamidzadeh, Thomas N. Thirlwall, Armani Melendez Jr (courtesy/Trina Johnson)
By TRINA “INDI” JOHNSON
Special to the PRESS
A young surfer, fresh from winning a local competition, found himself sidelined before he even had a chance to ride the next wave of opportunity—his dream of competing in Hawaii dashed because he couldn’t
afford the trip. For Tommy “Tommy T” Thirlwall, the image of that surfer’s frustration lingered long after the contest ended. That moment, the kind where talent is buried under financial barriers, became the spark for
what would become Coastal Roots—a nonprofit born not out of lofty promises, but of real, hands-on action.
Coastal Roots, a community-driven venture new to the Rio Grande Valley, wasn’t a one-man mission. From the start, Tommy Thirlwall was joined by a tight crew that shared his fire. He grew up immersed in
helping others, modeled by his father, Charles Thirlwall, who was deeply involved in the Boys & Girls Club, youth boxing programs, and even founded an adventure camp for young people. Also onboard was Hamid Hamidzadeh, who brought expertise from forming and organizing several nonprofits across the country. His friend, Armani Melendez Jr., jumped in headfirst, handling everything from community outreach to coordinating volunteers with heart and hustle. Behind them, a growing crew of gritty volunteers kept the whole thing moving—four men with a shared instinct that something had to be done, and they were the ones to do it.
Thirlwall isn’t a man of empty words. Raised around BMX tracks and skateboard parks, he’s seen how easily kids with big dreams can be held back by circumstances they can’t control. Relocating to the Texas coast
quickly had him realize the same challenges faced by the region’s youth in those same alternative sports like surfing and skateboarding.
“We have kids who are natural-born athletes, but the opportunities? They’re few and far between,” Thirlwall said, recalling his drive to do more for these kids. “They need more than just a competition; they need the
resources to keep competing—to keep dreaming.”
Coastal Roots, in its essence, was a rebellion against the status quo—a call to action to change the narrative, not just for the kids, but for the entire community. It’s about providing more than just financial aid. It’s
about connection—something Thirlwall began to think deeply about during his travels. “In Hawaii, for example, you might walk by a luau or a drum circle on any given evening. They make their heritage visible,
accessible and celebratory,” he said. “It made me wonder: Why are we not doing the same here, in one of the most culturally rich border regions in the country?”
But the mission grew in urgency when disaster hit. The floods that ravaged the area on March 27, left families stranded, without the knowledge or means to rebuild. Thirlwall, having witnessed the aftermath
firsthand, couldn’t ignore the call to action. The nonprofit’s focus shifted from just supporting local talent to offering disaster relief for families who had lost everything.
“We’ve always said we’d be the bridge for these kids—the ones who want to skate, surf, and break out of their bubble,” Thirlwall explained. “But when I saw a mother wading through knee-deep water with her baby
in her arms, using plastic bags as makeshift boots, that stopped me cold. I knew we had to do more.”
That more turned into Coastal Roots’ first major fundraising effort: a benefit concert featuring the local band Lost Survivors, whose drummer had been personally affected by the floods. The event—part community block party, part fundraiser—raised money for essential rebuilding materials while also supporting families who had fallen through the cracks of larger relief programs.
“We’re not just talking about helping people. We’re talking about real action—getting people back in their homes, even if it means showing up with a bucket of paint and some sheetrock,” said Thirlwall. “We want
to be the community that says, ‘We’ve got you.’”
For Thirlwall, this wasn’t just about disaster relief or helping kids in competitions; it was about creating a movement that lasts—one that’s rooted in a sense of solidarity and commitment to building something
greater than the sum of its parts. He envisions a Coastal Roots that will continue long after today’s volunteers are gone.
Success, for him, isn’t just about meeting immediate needs. It’s about sustainability. It’s about ensuring that the kids who once had to choose between their dreams and their wallets can always keep reaching for the
next goal.
“We’re building something bigger than ourselves,” Thirlwall said. “Something that’s not going anywhere. And we won’t stop until it’s part of this community for good.”
The fundraiser was live-streamed for those who couldn’t attend in person, wrapping yet another layer of community care by providing a way for everyone to be part of the movement—be it locally or globally,
regardless of their financial situation. Coastal Roots rose as a reminder that, in the face of adversity, there’s always hope. And for those affected by the floods, Coastal Roots offers a clear message: “We see you. We’re
here to help.”