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When my family first moved to Mexico from the United States, it took some time to learn to navigate new systems within a new culture. Healthcare was one of the first systems we sought to understand in our new home.
By Rian Chandler-Dovis
Unlike the U.S., Mexico has a national health system. We were reassured to know that public healthcare (IMSS) existed as a safety net for those in need. While nationals and immigrants alike often choose private care when they can afford it, IMSS provides an essential backstop. We took comfort in the fact that, at least in theory, our neighbors had access to the care they needed.
Public Healthcare and the Gaps Children Face
But as we became more engaged in our community, we began to see a different reality unfold. Despite the existence of public care, thousands of children in our region still lack access to even the most basic medical services. For families in more remote areas of Baja California Sur, such as Todos Santos, Pescadero, and surrounding areas, there is often no pediatrician available for many miles. Seeing a pediatrician for these families can mean hours of travel to IMSS offices (in La Paz or Los Cabos), often resulting in unaffordable costs. And for children with chronic or complex medical needs, many essential services simply aren’t available through IMSS. Public healthcare usually does not cover specialized therapies or mental health support for children with developmental delays or special needs, or treatment for rare and severe conditions. This means that too many children go without the care they need.
How the Padrino Foundation Steps In
This is the gap the Padrino Foundation was created to close. Padrino is a nonprofit healthcare clinic in Todos Santos that provides direct medical care to children and families who might otherwise fall through the cracks. Their mission is simple: to ensure that every child, regardless of income or geography, receives the care they need to survive, grow, and thrive. What began as a small grassroots effort has grown into a model of community-driven impact. Padrino now serves over 400 children each year and provides 85% of pediatric services in Todos Santos. The clinic, which is a stabilizing force for children and families in need, has raised more than half of its USD 1.5 million goal to expand into a new state-of-the-art clinic to serve the growing needs of the community.
Challenges in Building Local Support
Despite filling a critical gap, expanding Padrino’s reach comes with challenges. Unlike in the U.S., where formal philanthropy is embedded in the cultural fabric, the concept of charitable giving in Mexico is more personal. It tends to happen through family, community, or church. At a national level, people often look to the government to meet social needs, and there is a well-earned skepticism toward foundations, many of which have struggled with transparency or public trust. That means organizations like Padrino face a dual challenge: not only meeting the urgent medical needs of local children, but also building a base of support in a culture where foundations are often met with suspicion. Currently, many of Padrino’s most active board members and donors are immigrants from the U.S. or Canada. As Padrino looks to build a world-class clinic for children in need, it needs to expand its support: among Mexican nationals and across the BCS geography, especially in Los Cabos.
An Opportunity for Collaboration Across Cultures
But here’s the opportunity: when the profound generosity and community orientation of Mexican culture meet the immigrant mindset that values donor-funded systemic solutions, new possibilities emerge. Health is foundational. Without it, a child cannot learn, cannot participate fully in life, cannot contribute to their community. Across cultures and borders, that truth holds. And when we focus on gaps this essential, we create space for people of all backgrounds to come together.
A Model Built for Impact
Padrino is built for impact. It is intentionally lean, minimizing administrative costs to maximize resources going directly into care. It has recruited specialists from across Mexico and even international advisors to guide its growth. And its influence is spreading—thanks to partnerships with organizations like the Los Cabos Children’s Foundation, Padrino’s model is being adapted throughout BCS and beyond. We aren’t only talking about impacting hundreds of children in Todos Santos. We’re talking about creating an open-source framework that could be duplicated to serve thousands across Baja California Sur and eventually nationwide.
A Call to Action for All Who Call Baja Home
Those of us who call Baja home, whether we are here temporarily or have been for generations, often ask ourselves: how do we contribute to our community? How do we work toward ensuring all of our neighbors, especially our children, have what they need to thrive? And Padrino paints the picture of the kind of opportunity that answers that question. We fill critical gaps, together — with our time, our funds, and our voice.
A Shared Goal, Close to Home
Unlike the sprawling, opaque nonprofits many North Americans are used to, Padrino’s results here are tangible and close to home. This new clinic is rising in our backyard. And it isn’t just a building, it’s a symbol of what’s possible when a diverse community rallies around a shared goal. Around the world, immigration and innovation are reshaping our neighborhoods. Baja California Sur has the chance to show what that change can look like at its best: rooted in respect, driven by impact, and powered by shared purpose. Foundations like Padrino, ones that prioritize responsibility, integrity, and community involvement, give us the tools to build something lasting, together.
Health as a Right, Not a Privilege
Getting involved in a cause like children’s healthcare is more than philanthropy. It’s a vote for the kind of community we want to live in, one where health is a right, not a privilege, and where every child has the chance to thrive.
If you are interested in learning more about Padrino, please visit the organization’s website: https://www.padrinocf.org/
Chief Product Officer and Managing Partner at Brand Federation
Rian Chandler-Dovis is a Brand Federation partner, an immigrant in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and an accomplished brand builder