The Hard Part Comes After the Ribbon-Cutting
[scroll down for Partner updates]
If you had asked us a year ago, we would have told you the biggest challenge we faced was building the John Gullo Home for Children.
We would’ve talked about permits and plumbing, furniture deliveries and foundation work, legal complexities, and a million small logistics that had to align in order to welcome children through our doors. Oh, and then there was the fundraising!
But we’ve since learned that the hardest part wasn’t building the home. It’s operationalizing it.
Running a home that meets our standards of safety, care, and integrity, while navigating the complex landscape of medical crisis referrals, social services, and trust-building with families, is a challenge unlike any other. It’s emotional. It’s slow. And at times, it can feel like we are pushing a boulder uphill.
But we are not giving up.
In fact, our staff at the home have launched the most coordinated outreach effort to date. Led by Directors Belén Sandez and Sara Lucero, the team has created a strategic plan that spans the entire peninsula, connecting directly with the institutions most likely to encounter the families we’re here to serve.
Between now and the end of November, they will personally visit over 20 hospitals, clinics, and government organizations (including IMSS, DIF, Women Wellness A.C., and Hospital Salvatierra) to introduce the home, distribute our information, and build trusted referral pathways.
We are confident this push will help spread the word, not just to organizations, but eventually to the families who need us most.
Because the truth is, the home is ready. The beds are made, the kitchen is warm, the staff is trained. All we need now is to connect with those who need it most.
And the institutions we have already met with keep telling us the same thing... this kind of support is desperately needed. There is nothing else quite like it in the region, and they are grateful it exists.
Know someone local? Please help us spread the word. Even if they don’t need the home now, they might someday, or they might know someone who does.
We’re proud to be part of a growing community of partners who are making a difference. Keep reading below for updates from our partners.
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PARTNER UPDATES
John Gullo Home for Children
The John Gullo Home for Children provides temporary shelter for children in BCS whose families are experiencing medical crises. Read the latest update below:
You might remember we shared that we were planning to host a special visit from Casa Hogar Los Cabos, a well-established children’s home in BCS. We wanted to bring the John Gullo Home for Children to life, give our staff some hands-on experience, and learn from people who have been doing this work for a long time.
From August 1st to 3rd, it happened. We welcomed 23 children and teens, along with 8 of their staff, for a few days full of beach time, shared meals, laughter, and connection.
They filled our space with energy, kindness, and wisdom. The visit reminded us why we built this home and how ready we are to fill it with the right children when the time comes.
Before they left, the children presented us with two beautiful gifts… a thank-you poster, and a hand-painted tree with each of their handprints as the leaves, a keepsake that now hangs in the home as a daily reminder of why we do this.
We’re grateful to the Casa Hogar team for trusting us, and for sharing their reflections and encouragement. Their words, and their example, gave us an even clearer picture of what’s ahead.
New Creation Kids (NCK) Children’s Home
New Creation Kids is a children’s home in La Paz providing safe, stable shelter for children whose families are facing serious challenges such as addiction and homelessness. Read about our involvement with the home below:
It’s back-to-school season at New Creation Kids, and while Leaders2Give is proud to be one of their longtime supporters, we’re far from the only ones. NCK thrives thanks to a community of organizations, volunteers, and individual donors who believe in the power of safe housing, education, and stability for vulnerable children. It truly takes a village and this one shows up!
As many of you know, NCK has been with us since the very beginning and continues to hold a special place in our journey. Operated by Roberto and Alma Osuna, this independent, registered Mexican nonprofit provides a safe and stable home for up to 30 children at a time. Children whose parents are unable or unfit to care for them due to circumstances such as addiction, violence, or homelessness.
While Leaders2Give does not oversee NCK’s operations, we help fund essential daily needs like food, electricity, education, fuel, and water. Our involvement also includes stepping in for urgent capital improvements like when we installed cisterns to help address water shortages in 2021.
Thanks to your generosity, we currently have enough funding to cover their basic needs for the year. That said, the needs at NCK are ongoing and often unpredictable. If you’d like to help cover the cost of essentials like water deliveries or meals, please consider making a donation. Just $25 can support one child for ten days.
The East Cape Health Center
The East Cape Health Center is a nonprofit clinic in Los Barriles offering full medical and dental services with discounted or free care for families in need. Read their latest update below:
East Cape Health Center welcomes over 98 children in collaboration with DIF Los Barriles
East Cape Health Center, in collaboration with DIF Los Barriles, warmly welcomed over 98 children between the ages of 6 and 12 to its facilities. This activity was part of an educational initiative aimed at introducing young children to the healthcare services available in their community and inspiring interest in future professional vocations.
During the visit, the children toured our medical and dental areas, beginning with a welcome and a brief explanation of our rules. In the laboratory, they observed microorganisms under the microscope. In the X-ray area, they explored digital images of dental panoramas and real bone structures. They also learned about emergency care and the importance of dental hygiene.
It was a day full of learning, curiosity, and smiles, an experience that reinforces our commitment to childhood education and health.
We are proud to continue promoting these meaningful and impactful experiences year after year.
Feeding The Hungry
Feeding the Hungry is a volunteer initiative in Los Barriles that provides monthly food vouchers to local families experiencing food insecurity. Read their latest update below:
Whose Wife Are You?
My first trip down the Baja was a real eyeopener. When we reached Santa Rosalia our ‘to do’ list included taking a look at the church designed by Mr. Eiffel and a visit to the French bakery.
Outside the bakery, barefooted and dressed in rags, was a small, scruffy child about eight years old. He was staring up at the shop sign and mumbling earnestly. My Spanish is not very good but I understood “Dios, ¿Por qué siempre tengo hambre?” God, why am I always hungry?
I responded just like anyone would. Grabbing the lad by his grubby, boney hand I dragged him into the bakery. The little mites eyes opened wide as I asked him to hold a number of bags and began to fill them with fresh rolls, pastries, croissants and cakes. When he could carry no more we walked out of the shop. I gave him a big smile and a wave and turned to go.
That would have been it, but the little boy called out after me and, with a quivering voice and tears his eyes timidly asked : “Senora, ¿eres la esposa de Dios?” Lady, are you God’s wife?
From that moment on I committed to supporting the Feeding the Hungry Charity in Los Barriles.
SNAP - Spay, Neuter, and Prevention
SNAP offers free spay/neuter services for the local community in and around Los Barriles, BCS and promotes youth leadership through animal welfare education. Read their latest update below:
August was another busy month for SNAP, with an incredible 181 dogs and cats spayed and neutered. Each surgery represents countless litters prevented and healthier lives for pets and their families across the East Cape.
One highlight of the month was a community clinic hosted in Santiago, where the team braved the summer heat to care for 65 animals in a single day. In addition to sterilizations, SNAP also provided much-needed flea and tick medication, giving these pets a fresh start toward a healthier life.
Transportation often creates barriers for families wanting to bring their pets to a clinic. To help overcome this challenge, SNAP has partnered with Cortez Rescue and we are able to use the “Vanaminal.” This dedicated transport service now makes it easier for animals from La Ribera, Santiago, and Campamento to receive the care they deserve.
So far in 2025, SNAP has reached an impressive total of 953 surgeries. That’s hundreds of unwanted litters prevented and a powerful step toward controlling the pet population in our community.
SNAP is grateful for the volunteers, veterinarians, and supporters who make this work possible. As the program continues to grow, there are a few items that would make a big difference: collars and leashes of all sizes.
Donations of collars and leashes can be dropped off at the Ronival Real Estate Office on Costa Brava—or, if you’d prefer, you can simply make a donation and SNAP will do the work for you.
Together, with the community’s continued support, SNAP is making lasting change—one animal at a time.
Crescent Moon Project - Art for Children
Crescent Moon Project offers free arts-based classes that spark creativity and help children grow into compassionate, community-focused leaders. Read their latest update below:
Spotlight on Artists!
This month we introduced children to two amazing Mexican artists. The first, Carmen Mondragón, better known as Nahui Olin, was a painter and poet in early 1900’s Mexico. Her self-chosen name, which means “the fourth movement of the sun” in Nahuatl, symbolized energy and transformation. Nahui Olin’s art was colorful, playful, and full of imagination. She painted the people and places she loved and wrote poetry about feelings, love, and the universe.
At a time when women were expected to stay quiet, she expressed herself boldly making her an inspiring role model for children today.
Our students studied her self-portraits and then created their own. They experimented with bright colors and bold forms, some reinterpreting her work and others making original portraits and landscapes with paint and collage.
Next, the children explored the art of José María Velasco, famous for his breathtaking landscapes of the Valley of Mexico. Velasco painted mountains, volcanoes, lakes, and villages with incredible detail, blending scientific observation with artistic beauty. His work encourages children to slow down, notice details in nature, and appreciate the beauty in their own surroundings.
By learning from artists like Nahui Olin and José María Velasco, children see that art is more than technique—it’s about courage, creativity, and connecting deeply with the world around them.
SAVE the DATE for one of the most fun events of the year
Margaritas & Ornaments: December 3 and 10!
Wonderland for Kids Sponsorship Program
Wonderland for Kids is a bilingual Montessori and childcare center in Los Barriles offering a Sponsorship Program to help low income families access affordable childcare. Read their latest update below:
Opening Doors with Our Sponsorship Program
At Wonderland for Kids, we believe every child deserves access to high-quality early education and care. That’s why, alongside the launch of our new Bilingual Montessori Program this October, we are working to expand our Sponsorship Program to support even more children in our community.
Through this initiative, we’ve been able to welcome children of single working mothers and families facing financial challenges. These opportunities not only give little ones the best start in life, but also ease the burden for parents who are working tirelessly to provide for their families.
Our Sponsorship Program also strengthens the community for the long term by allowing us to fund Montessori Guide training for our current teachers. By investing in local educators, we ensure the stability and growth of the project while creating opportunities that remain rooted in our community.
If there is a child close to your heart—perhaps the son or daughter of your house cleaner, gardener, or a family you know—you can sponsor that specific child to attend Wonderland’s new Montessori program. Together, we can open doors, spark curiosity, and create brighter futures—one child at a time.
To learn about the different ways to donate to Leaders2Give and any of our Partners, visit our Donate page.