Arnold Schwarzenegger puts on his angel wings and helps distribute THOUSANDS of Christmas gifts to children in need at LA youth center

Arnold Schwarzenegger helped spread a little Christmas cheer this time of year at one of the biggest toy giveaways in Los Angeles.

Thousands of toys were distributed at the Hollenbeck Youth Center as part of the 42nd annual Miracle On First Street event in the Boyle Heights neighborhood.

The Terminator actor is among those who make it a priority during the Christmas and Hanukkah seasons to donate time and gifts to children in need at the youth center.

In a video posted to his TikTok and Instagram pages, the former California governor explained how he was inspired to give back this holiday season after people from Gold’s Gym kindly invited him to their holiday celebration when he launched a new was an immigrant living in the US.

“When I came to this country, my friends from Gold’s Gym had a great Christmas for me and invited me to their house. It was fantastic. “They gave me Christmas presents and they had a beautiful Christmas tree, and I felt so included here in America, even though I was a foreigner and just came to this country,” he recalled the fond memory.

The Terminator star explained in a new video how he was inspired to give back this holiday season after experiencing a similar situation when he was a new immigrant to the US

Schwarzenegger wants others to feel included, just as he was when he first came to the US

“I will never forget that kind of kindness, kindness and inclusivity and so I wanted to do the same when I had the money,” he added.

“So this is why I’ve been going to the youth center and giving gifts and donating the gifts for the last thirty years,” the Kindergarten Cop star shared.

“It makes me feel good to be able to share that kindness and inspire other people to do the same.”

While among all the excitement and joy of giving and receiving, Schwarzenegger could be seen chatting with legendary boxing champion Sugar Ray Leonard, who was also in attendance at the charity event.

The actor and politician had a big, beaming smile on his face as he walked around the room to help hand out gifts.

The Hollenbeck Youth Center and Inner-City Games Los Angeles want to help “create opportunities for inner-city youth to participate in athletic, educational, cultural and community enrichment programs by building confidence and self-esteem in today’s youth for a better future ‘, according to the website of a non-profit organization.

The festive event also included plenty of entertainment, snowmen, music and fun activities – not to mention appearances from Minnie Mouse and other classic Disney and superhero characters.

Last Christmas, nearly 10,000 toys were distributed during the annual Miracle On 1st Street event. Boyle Heights beat.

The former governor of California has donated his time and gifts to the children of the Hollenbeck Youth Center for more than three decades

Legendary boxing champion Sugar Ray Leonard, 67, was also on hand to hand out gifts

Attendees were greeted by the likes of Minnie Mouse and other recognizable characters

The legendary Hollywood action hero personally handed out thousands of gifts

The Terminator star handed out things like toys, bicycles and sports equipment

“I love being able to give back and seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces when they get their presents,” Schwarzenegger wrote on Instagram

The former bodybuilding icon brought all kinds of gifts to the youth center

The Austrian native eventually immigrated to the US in October 1968, when he was 21 and spoke very little English

This was the 42nd annual Miracle On 1st Street toy giveaway in Los Angeles

Schwarzenegger also makes a point of handing out turkeys and greeting children and youth center residents during the Thanksgiving holiday.

Priscilla Hernandez, the center’s administrative director, told Boyle Heights Beat that families are still reeling from the economic aftereffects of the pandemic and it is more important than ever to give away Thanksgiving supplies to those in need.

“I love being able to give back and seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces when they get their presents,” Schwarzenegger revealed in the caption of his video post.

Schwarzenegger, who had dreamed of moving to the US since the age of 10 and saw bodybuilding as his opportunity, realized his dream by moving to the US from his native Austria in October 1968 at the age of 21, when he still had very little English. spoke.