Houston company's CEO gives employees $20,000 to pay it forward

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- He wears a suit, but it isn't red. He gives out gifts, but he doesn't have a sack.

As Frank Tsuru walks through a Heights-area Walmart, he enjoys playing Santa to unsuspecting shoppers, and he does it for one reason.

"We've been very fortunate, our company has," he says.

Tsuru is the president and CEO of Houston-based M3 Midstream Energy.

"For the past 5-6 years, my wife Stephanie and I have been doing things to honor our employees," Tsuru explains.

Every Christmas, they give a big donation to a good cause. But this year, Tsuru wanted his employees to be able to give the gift of giving firsthand. So he gave his employees $20,000 to give away in gift cards and layaway payments.

M3 employee Deleana Giles says, "We are unbelievably blessed as a company, as people and to be able to give back to the community and be part of spreading some Christmas joy and blessing others is an absolutely unique experience."

Employee Voula Trejos adds, "It's truly amazing to get the one-on-one interaction with the people and get to hug them and cry with them and hopefully make their Christmas this year."

There's no way of knowing who needs it, or who needs it most. No matter what, Tsuru tells them, "This is not a gift from me. It's a gift from God and he's answering your prayer."