By Louis Zylka
The 830 Times
Local cancer warrior Emma Smith was recently recognized by Mayor Al Arreola and members
of the Del Rio City Council as an ambassador of goodwill for Del Rio.
Emma was introduced as a new member of the Queens of a Cause organization at the March
25 city council meeting. Emma and her mother, Cristy Smith, were invited to the council meeting
for the recognition and for Emma to receive a crown and a sash.
Cristy spoke with The 830 Times after the meeting and said it was a welcome surprise to be
invited and for Emma to be presented at the meeting as an ambassador for her hometown.
Emma was born and raised in Del Rio and attends Ceniza Hills Elementary, studying in third-
through-fourth grade classes. Cristy said her daughter had brain surgery in 2000 to remove a
tumor, but mentioned it had returned over a year ago. Emma qualified to be a patient at St. Jude
Hospital, and she is still undergoing treatment.
Cristy said she, Emma’s father, Hubert Smith; her siblings and the rest of her family are very
proud of Emma for her courage and endurance.
During the March 25 meeting, Esme Meza, the city’s community services director, introduced
Emma to the council. She said Queens for a Cause was presenting Emma as a crowned
honorary queen to carry out the mission of good will and community engagement among past,
present and future pageant sisters.
“The mission (of Queens for a Cause) is to promote community and friendship and raise
awareness for several philanthropies and environmental causes while embracing her queen
within and spreading kindness,” Meza said.
Emma was then given a crown and a sash which read “an ambassador of goodwill for Del Rio,
Texas.” Emma then posed for a picture with Arreola and members of Queens for a Cause.
Arreola thanked Smith for her dedication and work towards being an ambassador for Del Rio.
Emma spoke with The 830 Times after posing for the picture and said joining the Queens for a
Cause made her feel “happy and glad.”
