Supported Causes
There are several supported causes that we at Las Gaviotas Rentals donate to in Northern Baja. Whether it be through direct financial donations or by allowing free stays at our rentals to those that donate their time and money to worthy causes.
We also donate gently used towels and linens from our homes to homeless shelters.
Please consider helping per the suggestions below.
Clothing and Food Donations
If you bring down clothing and nonperishable food, we will distribute the items to the various orphanages in the area. Please call Mark if you would like more details (+1-619-736-5535).
Rancho De Los Ninos
Camino Olivares S/N, El Porvenir, B.C., Mexico +52 646 155 2166
One of the supported causes we are currently asking for help with is donations to build a new nursery at Ranco De Los Ninos. Here is a link to the GoFund Me site.
Rancho de Los Niños was established in 1968, when Jerry Walkenson, a Christian leader from San Diego, built churches and orphanages in Baja California. From the beginning, the orphanage was staffed by local members of the community.
Through the years, they have benefited from both American and Mexican connections. Their combined efforts have provided amenities such as underground electricity and plumbing, workable farmland, and, of course, facilities for the children. These connections have allowed the orphanage to continue to function and provide happy childhoods for hundreds of children throughout the years.
Today, Rancho de Los Niños is part of a larger orphanage community in Baja California, working together with the National System for Integral Family Development (DIF) to provide safe facilities for children in unsuitable conditions.
Corazon De Vida
Another organization that is dear to our hearts is Corazon De Vida (CorazonDeVida.org). This organization is based in Irvine, California, and coordinates visits to orphanages and the construction of new homes for the needy of Baja. In 1987, while attending California State University of Fullerton, my wife and I, along with several other students from our campus Catholic Club, visited an orphanage in Baja. The trip was organized by Corazon De Vida. We brought truckloads of clothing and food to an orphanage and played with the children for a large part of the day.
Please visit their website and consider donating or attending one of their orphanage visits.
Tijuana Youth Group at Las Gaviotas
Tijuana Youth Group at Las Gaviotas
Several times per year, Las Gaviotas Rentals sponsors Retreats for Youth Groups and the Sisters from the Order founded by Mother Teresa.
On March 20-21, 2026, a Youth Group from Tijuana visited Las Gaviotas. Las Gaviotas Rentals supported the retreat by donating homes for the youth group, their Chaperones, and four Catholic Nuns.
On Friday, March 20, the young adults arrived at 6:00 pm - 15 members (one 13-year-old, the majority were 15-16-year-olds, one 18-year-old, and one 19-year-old). The boys and male chaperones stayed at Point Break Villa, while the girls and female chaperones stayed across the street at Circa Del Mar. The four Nuns stayed at Casa Sirena.
On the evening of Friday, March 20, we showed the young adults, Chaperones, and Nuns a Grunion Run on the sand beach at Las Gaviotas (the timing worked out just right).
On Saturday, March 21, at 9:00 a.m., the group attended Mass at San Ysidro Labrador Catholic Church, Primo Tapia, with Father Felipe.
We then hosted a beach BBQ and fun day at Las Gaviotas. The young adults played beach volleyball, swam in the ocean, and tried surfing.
Day Retreat at Las Gaviotas
Day Retreat
May 1, 2026 - A day retreat for members of the Tijuana Youth Group and elderly members who are bound to wheelchairs. Las Gaviotas Rentals and the Catholic Sisters worked together to provide a day of relaxation, including lunch, exploring the tide pools, enjoying the pool, and relaxing at the Club House. Food was prepared at one of the homes owned by the owners of Las Gaviotas Rentals.
3-Night 4-Day Tijuana Youth Group Retreat at Las Gaviotas
August 10-13, 2026 - A religious three-night / four-day retreat for a Tijuana Youth Group. The young adults, chaperones, and Sisters stayed at multiple homes (Circa Del Mar(opens in new tab), Point Break Villa(opens in new tab), Endless Summer Villa(opens in new tab), Casa Sirena(opens in new tab), and The Bungalow(opens in new tab), donated by homes listed on Las Gaviotas Rentals.
The Youth Group is led by the order of Catholic sisters established by Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
Following the retreat, Las Gaviotas Rentals received the following email:
Hello Antoinette and Mark!
Peace of Jesus!We are so grateful for your many sacrifices to allow us the use of your beautiful houses, and your work to coordinate with John and Tom and the staff so that these kids could have a really meaningful retreat.With so many people praying and helping, it was wonderful. Hopefully, Sr. Karina will forward me some photos of your living room (144) which became a chapel - 2 Masses, several hours of adoration and lots of talks on Theology of the body. The downstairs bedroom was occupied by the girls at night, but the front part was our confessional. The girls worked very happily together to put things back in order and your cleaning staff righted our wrongs (honestly, we relocated everything but the beds and it was hard to remember where the pictures and chairs all went!)House number 18 was the cafeteria - so the youth were walking up and down the street all day long to get to three meals and two snacks. At first they were a little subdued, but as the graces of the retreat started sinking in, they became more and more animated, singing and laughing as they traveled back and forth. Several residents and guests commented on the joy they felt watching them. Bob did indeed bring ice and sodas and three big containers of ice cream, of which nothing remained leftover! Kitty and Tom enjoyed their guests - Abbey and three (of her six) kids. She cooked for the youth and gave some of the talks while the kids helped out or went to the pool and the playground and made themselves very much at home.Nearly all the youth went to confession and signed a promise of virginity until marriage which they carried away very purposefully. Let us pray for them to be able to keep this beautiful resolution and raise wonderful families, or be faithful to a religious vocation.The kids spent several hours on Monday at the beach and most of Thursday at the pool. We showed them the tide pool which they really enjoyed.I hope nothing is amiss in any of the houses. The guard on his round did stop by the house of the boys (145) on the last night because a couple of them were talking and laughing loudly around midnight. The guards said that it was just a warning since no one had called in to complain. The boys apologized. I am sorry and I hope there will be no complaint.Thank you again!, Sr. Basilia Marie, MC