From Campus to Boardroom
[scroll down for Partner updates]
Have you ever met someone who seems like they were born to lead but leads with warmth, not ego?
That’s how we feel about Brea Brodoski.
If her name sounds familiar, it’s because Brea was the founder of Leaders2Give at UCLA, a student-led chapter that has become an integral part of our mission.
While still an undergraduate, she rallied a group of peers to start fundraising, raising awareness, and supporting the John Gullo Home for Children. Under her leadership, the chapter funded new security lighting for the home and created thoughtful welcome kits for incoming children.
Now that she’s graduated and preparing for a future in medicine, Brea has taken the next step in her journey with Leaders2Give by joining our Board of Directors.
Her connection to Baja California Sur runs deep. Brea has been visiting El Cardonal since childhood and even lived there for a time. But her ties to this work go even deeper.
Brea visiting the John Gullo Home for Children during construction.
Brea’s grandmother, a long-time resident of El Cardonal, was the one who donated the land where the John Gullo Home for Children now stands. Together with other members of the local Mexican community, she approached us with a clear and heartfelt request: to create a home specifically for children whose families are in medical crisis.
That request was the beginning of a conversation… one that led to months of listening, learning, and engaging with local stakeholders to better understand the need. What we heard then has since been echoed in our own research and outreach: there is a real and ongoing need for this type of home in Baja California Sur.
Since stepping down as President of Leaders2Give at UCLA, Brea has mentored the new student leadership team, recruiting the next cohort of changemakers and helping to ensure the work continues.
Here’s what she had to say about joining the Board:
So when Brea recently reached out to ask if we’d consider her for the Board, it wasn’t just a yes… it felt like something coming full circle.
“This mission has been close to my heart since childhood… My passion for medicine has only strengthened my belief in the importance of keeping children and families safe and supported during times of crisis… I look forward to learning from the incredible members of the board and bringing a unique perspective as we continue to fundraise and grow.”
We are thrilled to welcome Brea to the team, and we know that her voice, vision, and lived experience will help shape our future in the best way.
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:
In September, our Facility Director had the honor to participate as a guest judge in the Parade of the Pink Fortress, an event organized by Diseñadas Para Crecer A.C., under the direction of the C. Monica Escobar.
We deeply appreciate the invitation and opportunity to be part of this meaningful activity, which celebrates the strength and courage of women facing medical trials.
This meeting not only allowed us to accompany extraordinary women, but also strengthen the support network we build day by day for those mothers who, in the midst of their treatment, need a safe and loving place where their children can be.
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:
In September we held our annual first aid training, a key activity that reaffirms our commitment to staying prepared and up to date to respond to any emergency.
Employees from our different areas joined this training with the goal of being prepared to provide assistance both inside and outside our facilities.
It was a four and a half hour class where we covered essential topics such as the proper use of fire extinguishers for different categories of fires, followed by CPR protocols for both clinical and civilian cases. We also reviewed basic emergency care procedures, risk identification, and preventive measures to act safely.
It was a moment of reflection that allowed us to reinforce the importance of our responsibility as representatives of medical services in our community, reminding us that every action can make a difference in someone’s life. Very soon, our participants will receive a certificate that validates their new knowledge, and we are confident that through these actions, we strengthen our mission and our commitment to the health of those around us.
This initiative reflects not only our dedication to professional excellence but also our genuine concern for the safety and well-being of those we serve.
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:
What happens when you give the Feeding the Hungry Charity US $100?
A Feeding the Hungry volunteer takes your donation and purchases food vouchers.
Your donation of US $100 will purchase at least six weeks worth of food vouchers.
These are given to the neediest folk in our community.
The recipients of these vouchers not only get food, they are also reminded that there is someone in the community that cares about them and believes in them.
Your giving inspires, encourages and provides comfort to those who need it the most.
Not a single cent of your donation goes to administration. Everything goes directly to feeding people in need.
It is possible that your donation of US $100 to the Feeding the Hungry Charity may well be the most effective use ever of your charitable giving.
Every year the Feeding the Hungry Charity distributes over one thousand food vouchers, changing the lives of the poorest of the poor in our community.
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:
When the Yukon Vet Meets Baja
What happens when Dr. Michelle Oakley, star of Yukon Vet on Nat Geo, comes to Baja? She rolls up her sleeves and jumps right in with SNAP Los Barriles.
In the video above “Vet Life in Baja — Spay, Neuter, Repeat!”, Dr. Oakley joins our team for a community clinic in El Campamento. The setting is simple—tables under tents, volunteers buzzing, pets waiting patiently in line—but the impact is huge. With our local vets, she observes surgeries, treats neglected wounds, and shares her expertise in ways that leave a lasting mark.
What stands out most is her connection with people. She takes time to sit with pet owners, answering questions and dispelling fears about spay and neuter. Her calm, compassionate style mirrors what SNAP has always believed: education is as vital as surgery.
The video also shows the challenges our community faces—families traveling long distances, limited resources, and animals that have never seen a vet before. Yet it highlights something even stronger: resilience. With teamwork, creativity, and compassion, we find ways forward.
For SNAP, Dr. Oakley’s visit was more than special—it was validation. Our work in Baja matters. It matters to the pets spared from unwanted litters, to the families given peace of mind, and to the next generation learning compassion for animals.
Dr. Oakley’s message is clear: change doesn’t come from one person, it comes from communities and allies working together. That’s exactly what SNAP is about.
Watch the full video here: Vet Life in Baja — Spay, Neuter, Repeat!
And if you’re inspired, help us keep the clinics going. With your support—whether it’s a donation, volunteering, or spreading the word—we can continue to write stories of compassion and change in the East Cape.
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:
Exploring Diego Rivera and the Muralist Tradition
Our young artists have been exploring the vibrant world of Mexican muralism through the work of Diego Rivera, one of Mexico’s most influential painters. Rivera brought art to public spaces with murals and frescoes that told stories of community, history, and everyday life. Students studied A Sunday Afternoon’s Dream in the Alameda Central and drew themselves into a replica of the mural. They also explored the fresco technique—painting on fresh plaster so colors become part of the wall—by simulating it with cardboard and gouache.
They learned how Rivera’s life and art were intertwined with those of his wife, Frida Kahlo. His “portraits in couples,” especially with Frida, inspired students to paint one another in pairs, capturing each other’s personalities.
Near the end of this unit, the students will experiment with mural-style group projects and create watercolors in the style of Rivera’s landscapes. Each child will then select a piece for a small Art Studio exhibition, presenting their work and sharing what they had learned about Rivera’s techniques. This year’s artist studies have truly opened new possibilities for so much new learning!
In addition to the regular projects, student artists are painting pieces for the 2026 Calendars. Calendar donors, have you signed up yet? For just $300, you can sponsor one month of Art Studio rent. As a thank you, you will receive a painting featuring local sea life. We have 6 months still to fill. Please help us provide free art classes to our Los Barriles kids!
Can You Help with Supplies? We realize many of you are traveling down soon. Might you be willing to bring some art supplies with you? Please visit Our Amazon Wish List.
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 Opens New Montessori Program to Support Our Community
This month, Wonderland for Kids is excited to launch its first Montessori program, providing a much-needed educational choice for families in our community amid increasing overcrowding in local schools. Montessori education emphasizes independence, child-led learning, and developing confidence—skills that prepare children for a successful future.
To ensure the program’s long-term success, Wonderland has invested in in-house training for its teachers, laying a strong foundation of Montessori principles. Additionally, we are proud to offer sponsorships to make this quality early education accessible to more families. These sponsorships particularly benefit children from single-parent households, easing the financial burden on hardworking single mothers.
Currently, we are seeking community support to continue sponsoring one of our daycare children as she transitions into the Montessori program. Her mother, a dedicated single parent working at a local restaurant, is doing her best to provide for her family. Your support—just $400 per month—can help her daughter benefit from this enriching Montessori experience.
With your help, Wonderland for Kids can continue nurturing children, empowering families, and building a brighter future for all.
To learn about the different ways to donate to Leaders2Give and any of our Partners, visit our Donate page.