Corazón, Inc.

Building community by strengthening families, enabling service, promoting self-sufficiency, and inspiring mutually beneficial relationships across borders

comunidad is the philosophy behind Corazon's work. People in need do not receive handouts; rather, they participate in programs of assistance that allow people to help themselves. In the process, they help their neighbors and their community to grow and prosper. Robert Louis Stevenson once observed: "No man is useless while he has a friend."

Thirty years ago, three Orange County residents felt a need to help the poor in several villages surrounding Tijuana. They provided food, clothing, basic supplies and spiritual help. In 1978 they officially formed Corazon as a nonprofit organization.

During the early years Corazon helped by meeting the immediate needs with food, clothing and shelter. Volunteers repaired some of the homes (actually shacks of pallets and cardboard) of the residents. This repairing quickly turned to building complete houses.