Facing Rumors about Leaders2Give with Facts
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We need to address something that’s been circulating in our community.
For a couple years now, false rumors have been spread about Leaders2Give. We’ve heard versions of the same misinformation repeated too many times.
Some rumors are being repeated by individuals we’ve worked with in the past. Others, we’re not sure where they started. Either way, it’s important to set the record straight clearly and respectfully:
Leaders2Give took money that was donated to build the children’s home in El Cardonal and gave it to New Creation Kids for water, without telling donors.
Leaders2Give has never redirected donations intended for one purpose to another without donor approval.
We are governed by a 7-member board. Every donation is recorded, assigned, and reviewed. We track donor intent rigorously. Every partner we support, including the John Gullo Home for Children, follows a documented process for requesting and receiving funds, which are approved only after board review.
We adhere to strict financial controls and honor donor intent 100% of the time.
The reason there are no children at the home is because Leaders2Give ran out of money.
The home is fully funded for the next 12 months.. As we explain in our webinar (below), the slower-than-expected usage of the home is due to factors like limited public awareness, cautious referral processes, and cultural considerations—not financial limitations (or even need).
Leaders2Give sold naming rights to more than one person.
The naming rights for the John Gullo Home for Children were gifted to a single individual in recognition of their extraordinary support. They were never sold, and have never been offered to anyone else.
The dormitories inside the home also bear names. These are separate acknowledgments given to donors who made major contributions, but do not represent ownership or duplicate the naming rights of the home itself.
Leaders2Give stole or sold the East Cape Guild’s donor list when they were one of our Partners.
When donors contribute to Leaders2Give, they are added to our email list. That’s standard practice, not data misuse.
What do we do with that list? Once a month, we send an email announcing the new edition of our Feel Good News (which you are reading) to that email list. In it, we promote the work of all our partner organizations which you will find below.
Here’s something else that is true...
When the East Cape Guild needed $10,000 to reach a fundraising goal, Leaders2Give gave them $5,000 from our discretionary funds. Funds that came from donors who did not designate a specific cause, but rather asked us to use the money where most needed based on urgency and demand. At the time, we were struggling to fund The El Cardonal Children’s Home Project (Now the John Gullo Home for Children) and hadn’t yet secured enough capital to begin construction. Still, we chose to support the Guild.
A board member then personally donated the remaining $5,000 to help them meet their goal. That’s the kind of collaboration we stand for. Maybe that’s the story our community should be sharing.
A Guild Board member served a Board term at Leaders2Give during this period. This individual has first hand experience on our governance model and as a former attorney, even helped us strengthen it.
Not all, however, some of the people spreading these rumors know better. These tactics need to stop. If you hear something questionable about our work, we invite you to come straight to us. We’re happy to share the truth. We’ve always got receipts.
In fact, transparency is one of our core values which is why we held a webinar recently.
To learn more about what we do and how we operate, watch our recent webinar:
In it, we share a bit about Leaders2Give and the work we do with our partners, then dive into the full story of the John Gullo Home for Children… why it was created, what we’ve learned this past year, and the steps we’re taking moving forward.
Check out the timestamps below to go directly to specific parts of the Webinar
0:00 — Intro to Leaders2Give and our partner work.
3:30 — The story behind the John Gullo Home for Children (why it was built.)
8:23 — The research that went into the mission of the home.
18:24 — Why isn’t the home full yet?
30:00 — Want to understand the real need for this home? Don’t miss the conversation Maria who describes her lived experience and shares why families like hers need a place like this and what Leaders2Give can do to communicate more compassionately.
And please talk directly to us if you hear a rumor about Leaders2Give. We welcome honest conversations and are always here to answer your questions.
Our Board works tirelessly as volunteers, some of us with full time jobs and a busy family life. The spread of this misinformation is not only exhausting and demoralising for us, it also turns away donors without whom our work, which serves the entire community would simply cease to exist.
We don’t see ourselves as being in competition with any other nonprofit or community group. We’re part of a broader ecosystem of people trying to give back and make a difference. Baja California Sur is full of organizations doing great work, and we’re proud to be one of them. There’s more than enough need, and room, for all of us to contribute.
Let’s keep lifting each other up. This is what leadership looks like. This is what service looks like.
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:
⬅️ ⬅️ ⬅️ WATCH THE VIDEO
You may have heard that the John Gullo Home for Children isn’t full yet. So… Why why not?
In this honest, community-focused webinar, we answer that question.
We cover:
Why the home was created
What we’ve learned since opening
Why referrals take time
What’s being done to build trust and awareness
How you can help spread the word
An attendee who experienced extreme poverty as a child, shared a powerful story about how a home like this could have helped her family. She reminded us that language, trust, and emotional sensitivity matter deeply. A powerful reminder of what it means to grow up in crisis and why a place like this matters.
This is not a fundraiser. It’s not a PR spin. It’s a real update from the people behind the project, including a Director of the home, about what’s working, what’s hard, and where we go from here.
If you care about community-led solutions, supporting families during medical emergencies, or just want to understand the story behind this one-of-a-kind home in Baja California Sur... this is for you.
Yes, it’s the same video we already shared above, but we really want you to watch it :)
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:
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:
This November, we participated in an event that brings together all nonprofit organizations in our community. For us, it was a meaningful opportunity to connect with more people, share our mission, and show how donations make it possible for us to provide timely care, appropriate treatments, and professional follow-up to those who need it most.
During the event, we presented a timeline mural that told our story through photographs, from the community-driven beginnings to the health center we are today. Each image represented a step in building a place committed to improving the well-being of our patients.
This visual journey allowed visitors to clearly see how a simple idea born from the desire to help can become a real service that changes lives.
The event also reminded us of something essential: every contribution matters. Behind every consultation, test, and treatment, there is generosity from people who believe in our work. Thanks to donors, volunteers, and partners, we can offer more, reach more families, and sustain programs that directly impact the health of our community.
When a community comes together to care for others, it transforms stories.
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:
It’s that time of year again!
Mornings see folk disappearing into the bush to prepare the trails for the Feeding the Hungry Community ATV Fun Ride.
Broken bones, limps, and gout are not acceptable limitations for the folk that prepare the trails for the charity ride.
We are all well over 70 years old, are used to aches and pains and adapting to physical disabilities. We frequently need to rest but crack jokes and tell stories to disguise this fact. We spend more time leaning on shovels than actually shifting dirt or clipping bushes! However, we have the satisfaction that our efforts are helping to raise money to feed those in our community who are in much worse situations than we are.
Do you enjoy being out in the backcountry? Do you enjoy the camaraderie of a small group of like-minded folk? Can you wield a pair of loppers? Can you lean on a pickaxe or a shovel? (or, even better, use one!) Would you like to contribute some physical effort to feeding those less fortunate in our community?
If so, we would love to have your help. Please contact Gordon Blackie gordonandjoy@gmail.com
For more details about the Feeding the Hungry Charity ATV Ride, which is a major fundraiser for Feeding the Hungry, see https://www.AtvFunLosBarriles.com
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:
Impact by the Numbers
As we wrap up the first 11 months of the year, it’s inspiring to look at what this community has accomplished together. SNAP has continued to grow, evolve, and make a real difference for families and their pets across the East Cape.
Here’s where we stand today:
10 community clinics.
530 animals spayed or neutered in neighborhoods throughout our region.
1,000 surgeries completed at the Buenos Aires Veterinary Clinic.
And we’re not done yet. With one month to go and an expected 120 animals scheduled in December, we’re projecting 1,650 animals impacted through SNAP’s programs this year.
These numbers aren’t just statistics — every single one represents a healthier animal, a safer community, and a family with one less worry. This program runs on the generosity of people who care deeply, and we are profoundly grateful for every volunteer, donor, vet, technician, and advocate who makes this work possible.
About Our Community Clinics
We’re often asked, “When is the next clinic?” This year, SNAP held more community clinics than ever before, reaching 530 animals right where they live. These clinics are a powerful tool for accessibility — bringing spay and neuter services to families who might otherwise struggle to reach us.
But it’s also important to share this reminder: Even when you don’t see a clinic happening, SNAP is working every single day. Our Buenos Aires Veterinary Clinic runs year-round, providing steady, reliable appointments that make up the backbone of our program. In fact, appointment-based surgeries are what keep our numbers strong when clinic schedules shift. That’s how, even through the pandemic, we continued helping 1,000 animals a year, and in some years — combining clinics and appointments — we’ve exceeded 1,700 animals.
From our early days in 2013, hosting one or two small clinics a year, to the robust, multifaceted program we are today, SNAP has grown because this community believes in prevention and cares about its animals.
As we head into the final month of the year, our gratitude runs deep. None of this happens without you — your donations, your compassion, and your commitment to helping us make lasting change.
Together, we’re shaping a healthier future for the East Cape’s animals.
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:
🌙Creating a Mural: Art, Community, and Vision at Restaurante Mexicano San Miguel de Allende
This month, our Crescent Moon Project kids experienced the magic of mural-making with Cabo-based artist Carla Yannayón, thanks to the generous support of Robert and Naomi Muñoz, owners of Restaurante Mexicano San Miguel de Allende on the bypass road, and donor Adam Chamberlin. Go enjoy a delicious meal while taking in the artwork our local children have created!
Instead of measuring perfect squares, Carla taught our students to use a doodle grid made from pieces of blue tape (doodles). These “doodles” formed a playful map across the wall. By overlaying the same marks onto a reference image on her tablet, Carla helped the children accurately scale and transfer their design—an approach that’s simple, creative, and perfect for young artists. Our oldest students laid the foundation for the mural and began painting on the first day, learning the drawing techniques and technology application. Over the next several days younger students painted to complete the work of this extraordinary mural.
We are so fortunate to have an artist of Carla’s caliber working with our children! Carla’s paintings are part of private collections across Mexico, the U.S., Canada, Spain, and Colombia. She has been featured on televised news, at the 2024 International Book Fair, and on numerous podcasts. Through her art, she celebrates the richness of Latin American culture, especially the beauty and traditions of Mexico, and shares her belief that nature, art, and human emotion are deeply connected.
Under Carla’s guidance and the support of the Crescent Moon Project teacher (Yasmin Meraz) and volunteers, the children filled the wall with doodles that anchor their mural design, giving them the confidence to think, plan, and paint like professional artists. As the mural grew, so did their understanding that art is more than paint—it’s connection. Carla brought a visión latina, una conexión sin fronteras, reminding our young creators that imagination and culture can open paths and unite communities.
Brushstroke by brushstroke, these artists built something bigger than a mural—and the result is as beautiful as the experience itself.
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:
Wonderland for Kids is excited to share an uplifting update with our community. We are actively raising funds to welcome our next sponsored child into our Montessori and daycare program. Over the past year, our sponsorship fund has helped three single, low-income mothers secure safe, reliable childcare during crucial moments.
Today, our funds are depleted, and we are reaching out for support.
Our goal is to raise six months of tuition to provide care for a child whose mother is struggling to afford it. By easing the burden of childcare costs, we give hardworking mothers the opportunity to thrive while ensuring their children receive a nurturing, enriching environment. For just $500 a month—about $23 a day—we can provide a child with a bilingual education, a healthy meal and snack, and nine hours of quality care 5 days per week.
With your help, we can continue changing lives—one child, one family, and one future at a time. Thank you for believing in our mission and our community.
To learn about the different ways to donate to Leaders2Give and any of our Partners, visit our Donate page.