Does Leaders2Give operate two children’s homes?
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Social media misinformation strikes again. I’m sure you are all familiar with the “fake news” phenomenon. Unfortunately, Leaders2Give and the work we do have not been excluded.
Recently, there was a post made regarding the New Creation Kids home and how the children recently went without water for a week (the first we heard of it.)
One comment stated that, “the person or organization that was supposed to be making sure this doesn’t happen, has let it happen once again. Is there no accountability?”
Another comment was, “It is unbelievable that someone or some organization that is supposed to look after water, FAILED. How can they leave the kids without water for a week?”
These comments were made by people who know Leaders2Give funds the water delivery to New Creation Kids so they did all but name us explicitly.
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Back to the original question…
Leaders2Give operates one home only and that is the John Gullo Home for Children. Actually, the home isn’t operational yet, but it will be ready to start accepting children this year. We’ve already begun the hiring process for the resident staff members!
New Creation Kids is one of our original partners (of which we currently have 6) and has always been near and dear to our hearts. We DO NOT run operations for this home and we are not responsible in any way for its operations.
New Creation Kids is an independently registered and operated Mexican nonprofit organization (Asociación Civil.) The people who run the facility are Roberto and Alma Osuna.
Leaders2Give is but one of many organizations who help to support and/or improve their operations. We do this by raising awareness and by providing funding to cover daily necessities such as food, electricity, fuel, water, and education. Basically, we are unable to influence their operations beyond ensuring that the bills get paid which happens directly to providers or through reimbursement after receipts are procured (such as with food and educational costs.)
Occasionally, Leaders2Give also takes on urgent capital improvement projects for the betterment of the children’s living conditions such as in 2021 when we had two 10,000 liter pilas (cisterns) installed on their property in an attempt to improve the water situation.
We have a budget allocated for New Creation Kids which includes 2 deliveries of water per month (40,000 liters/month). If the water runs out, it is up to Roberto and Alma to order more water. If it doesn’t come, that is out of our control.
Whenever the home is in need of something that extends beyond the allocated budget, Roberto gets in touch with us to explain the situation. The board quickly convenes and makes a decision on a budget extension allowance or not. This has happened many times and we have never withheld funding for something the children really needed. We would have certainly never done this regarding a request for extra water.
All this funding comes from the many people who, like all of us at Leaders2Give, want to help provide a healthier, safer, and better life for the children who find themselves there because their parents are unable or unfit to take care of them.
The accusations we shared above were unfounded, hurtful, and potentially damaging. If you have any questions or concerns about any aspect of Leaders2Give and the work we do please reach out directly at info@leaders2give.org. We want you to feel confident that our organization is representing you well in your desire to make a difference.
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PARTNER UPDATES
Líderes Para Dar / John Gullo Home for Children
Leaders2Give would like to express our sincere thanks and heartfelt gratitude to everyone who came to the John Gullo Home for Children in February to help paint and to make the facility and warm and welcoming sanctuary for children who would otherwise suffer from abandonment as a result of a family medical crisis.
This was our second painting party. A crowd of approximately 25 compassionate individuals painted much of the facility and enjoyed a delicious taco lunch prepared by Belen Meza Sandez. Belen’s daughter is a survivor of childhood leukemia - one of the leading causes of death in all of Mexico. It was Belen and her daughter’s experience while undergoing treatment that inspired this project.
Special thanks to our volunteer coordinator extraordinaire Shelley Renee Aibner for pulling this together and to our builder Alejandro Araiza for going above and beyond his duties once again!
New Creation Kids (NCK) Children’s Home
Up to 30 children are under legal guardianship of this home for vulnerable children at any given time. Their parents are unable or unfit to take care of them for a myriad of reasons (e.g. drug or alcohol addiction, violence, homelessness.)
Please see above article for this month’s update.
The East Cape Health Center
Embedded within the tight-knit fabric of Los Barriles and its neighboring communities, the East Cape Health Center quietly champions the cause of those in need, offering a helping hand to families requiring assistance. Recently, the Center encountered Gael, a 10-year-old boy who was born with defective feet, causing him tremendous pain when walking and, ultimately, confining him to a wheelchair.
Gael's family, grappling with financial constraints, found a ray of hope in the expertise of Dr. Luis Cardenas, the Health Center’s orthopedic specialist. After a thorough examination and diagnostic x-rays, Dr. Cardenas crafted a surgical plan to alleviate Gael's suffering, sparking a flicker of optimism in the young boy's heart.
The surgical procedure would take place once a total of 400,000 pesos was raised ($200,000 pesos for each foot).
In a bid to rally financial support, the Health Center turned to social media, sharing Gael's story with the community. Moved by the Health Center’s efforts, Gael himself joined the cause, sharing his journey in his own posts with heartfelt sincerity.
These posts eventually caught the eye of Cabo San Lucas’ Mayor, Oscar Leggs, who contacted the family to offer financial assistance. Mayor Leggs was so impressed by Gael’s knowledge of the planned procedure, anatomy, and his anticipated recovery, Mayor Leggs offered to have the surgery performed by Dr. Cardenas at no cost to the family.
With the weight of worry lifted, Gael underwent his procedure under Dr. Cardenas's skilled hands. Inspired by the care he received, Gael dreams of one day paying it forward by becoming a pediatric surgeon.
Gael's story is not just a tale of resilience, but a reminder of the power of community and compassion to transform lives.
Feeding The Hungry
Feeding the Hungry’s philosophy can be stated as the following: Poor people don’t need sympathy; they need compassion. If you were holding up a heavy weight, and your arms were burning and trembling, which would you be more grateful for someone who came along and said, “Oh dear! So sorry
you’re holding that weight,” or someone who came along and helped take some of the burden off?
This organization believes strongly that poor people need others to realize they are human, just like everybody else, with the same hopes and desires. And they need people to lend support to the programs that help them.
They need quiet understanding, and a willingness to share the resources that come so much more easily to people living above the poverty line.
In Los Barriles and the surrounding areas, one of the charities that helps the poorest of the poor is the Los Barriles Feeding the Hungry Program.
If you have compassion that you would like to act on, please consider supporting this mission. Enjoy the satisfaction of knowing you are making a lasting difference to a Los Barriles family, Contact Ben and Harriet Purkey purkeybh@gmail.com or Gordon and Joy Blackie gordonandjoy@gmail.com
SNAP - Spay, Neuter, and Prevention
We're excited to share some fantastic updates from SNAP Los Barriles as they wrap up Spay and Neuter Awareness Month!
February has been a busy and impactful month. Throughout February, SNAP Los Barriles hosted two community clinics dedicated to promoting responsible pet ownership and addressing the issue of pet overpopulation.
We're thrilled to report that a total of 210 animals were fixed during the month!
Recently, SNAP Los Barriles had a generous donation to boost their impact on educating children, youth, and adults about responsible pet ownership. Christina Waddell has been an active volunteer for Cortez Rescue and has fostered numerous dogs during her time in Los Barriles. Through her volunteer work with Cortez, Christina has witnessed firsthand the importance of education and the critical need for free spay and neuter services for our beloved pets. Recently, Christina shared that she has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, and her time with us is limited. Despite facing this challenging diagnosis, Christina reached out to SNAP with a heartfelt desire to make a lasting impact. In an incredibly generous gesture, she has donated $5,000 and is challenging all of us to match her contribution to truly make a difference for our communities. Let's rally together to honor Christina's wish and make a meaningful difference for the community by reducing unwanted animals and educating our youth to make lasting changes for the lives of animals in need.
In response to the ongoing need for education and outreach in our community, SNAP Los Barriles is working on developing a new position to coordinate community education. This position will be instrumental in expanding their efforts to educate the public about the importance of spaying and neutering, responsible pet ownership practices, and animal welfare.
The Community Education Director will work closely with local schools, community organizations, and residents to develop engaging educational programs and initiatives. By empowering their community with knowledge and resources, SNAP aims to create a more compassionate and informed society that prioritizes the well-being of animals and thereby enriches families.
Crescent Moon Project - Art for Children
Art classes are happening every day through the Crescent Moon Project (CMP) under the guidance of Yasmin Meraz, the new teacher. Yasmin was born in San Juanico, Chihuahua and raised in Los Barriles. Many of the children already know Yasmin as she has taught math and other subjects for the past several years.
Similar to the Founder of CMP, Priscilla Duran, Yasmin is excited to be able to provide opportunities for children to expand their artistic abilities - experiences she did not have growing up.
Yasmin is amazed at how creative children can be, even with the simplest of activities and materials. She often feels she learns more from them than they do from her. In the little free time she has after teaching math and art (and running a nail salon!), she enjoys reading, painting, drawing, traveling, and walking on the beach, especially during sunrise and/or sunset.
Yasmin is personable, intelligent, and a team player. She is helping CMP build on its earlier success by offering classes 5 days a week to students ages 5 through high school. It’s been inspiring watching her communicate and work with children and their parents. Yasmin is a fantastic addition to the Crescent Moon Project, previously an all-volunteer team! Now, here’s a fun way you can help ensure there is funding for her in the future!
MARCH 23RD — SAVE THE DATE FOR CRESCENT MOON’S BIGGEST FUNDRAISER OF THE SEASON!
Need new art and/or just want to support the children of Los Barriles? Local artists are donating time and expertise to work with students to create collaborative art pieces. These pieces will be available through auction in addition to donated work from the artists. Come enjoy food, music, art, and one another! Tickets include dinner and a drink and will be available soon at Homes and Land of Baja. Watch our Facebook page for more information!
To Donate to Leaders2Give and any of our Partners, visit our Donate page.