At the end of 1987, hoping to do something to help the most needy, a group of friends embarked on a mission to help several children who were at that moment homeless. At that moment we were helping a girls home called “childhood oasis”, and with at that time had no room to house the boys who were in need of a home.

   We were a group of friends that belonged to the family recreation club called “The pines” That is how our Children's Home got its name.

  During the first three years our children's home was housed on a small farm near Santa Maria Tequepexpan, which was loaned by one of the founders. We were able to renovate the house so that eventually we accomodated more than 50 children.

   Later it was necessary to return the home to its owners, so the Children's Home moved to a small, antiquated, rented house at 461 Independence Street in downtown Tlaquepaque. The Children's Home remained at that address 8 years, until mid 1998.

     In an effort to obtain its own property and home, the Board of Directors of Los Pinos bought 1500 meters2 of land in Ciudad Granja, part of the city of Zapopan, which is a suburb of Guadalajara. The purchase of this land was made possible thanks to a generous donation from the Quiera Foundation, with the recommendation of the Social Development Secretariat, thanks to the assistance of Jorge Salvatella Rosales.

   Even though this lot was relatively small, an architect, Raul Ruelas L.; and the engineer, Alfonso Martinez Yrizar, drew up a plan that now allows 60 children to be cared for, and which can be augmented to accomodate twice that number. The building is owned by the Civil Asociacion and can be used for no other purpose. This guarantees our institution an adequate place for providing a home and education for many generations of children.

   The corner stone was laid May 25th, 1996. The first step of the construction was finished two years later thanks to the donations from many generous people and two key foundations: Assistance and Service, A.C., and the Foundation for the Support of the Child, A.C., known by its Spanish acronym, FAFI.

   In September 1998, the children move into their new –and actual home, located on Fresnos Street in the Ciudad Granja sector of Zapopan

  During these last 19 years, Los Pinos Children's Home has been able to assist and help in the formation of over 800 children. In many cases the Home has participated in resolving the underlying conflicts causing family desintegration, and the youngsters were reunited with their nuclear families. the children learn technical skills which allow them to gradually get integrated to the laboral world at the time they continue with their studies. Many of them have started their own business with a relative and become totally independent. (Know some of these cases)

  In 2001, we constructed the last part of the Children’s Home. The house was finished with bedrooms in a third level, some additional rooms, a bigger dinning room and an especial area for family formation. This especial area was build to help families to solve disintegration problems. This last part of construction was hardly supported by Corporativa Fundaciones A.C. and Fundacion FIDEAS, A.C., and many friends that contributed with construction materials

  In June 2003, we created “The young people house” in order to follow with the formation of the adolescents. They required different kind of education according to the stage of life they are living. In August, 2005 “The young people house” was placed on a building donated by the IJAS, located in Ciudad Granja Colony. (See location map). In June 2006, we got a land of 1,122 m2 in order to build the permanent young people house. (See construction project of the young people house). It will be a more adecuate place to educate adolescents, with the advantaje that it will be property of the Albergue Infantil.

  In the last years, we have been working to become a more professional organization. Special effort has been made by the Educators’ team, psychologists, and many other professionals that form part of theChildren’s Home. It must be specially recognized all the Directors that have had the responsability to head de children's house. And even more important is the great job achieved by the Fund Raising Team and its Director since 1997: Magdalena Bustamante Ascencio. working together, the educator's team and the Fund Raising Team, made possible to achieve a higher impact in benefit of the community.

NATIONAL AWARD   “REASON TO BE”          (Premio Nacional "Razón de Ser")    In 2006, The Merced Foundation (Fundacion Merced A.C.) selected our Institution among other 103 arround the country, for its good administrative processes, educational level, and community services. This award is given every year to the most organized and most qualified Institution that best accomplishes the reason for what its founders decided to create it.

  This award is a guaranty to our benefactors, because it confirms them that their donations are producing significant beneffits to the children; in the present and future. This is also a commitment to keep the high quality standars that the children and our generous donnors dreserve.

   The Board of Directors of the Albergue Infantil los Pinos give a special recognition to each and everyone that work directly with the children. The time these people and the volunteers donate is crucial to create an educative and terapeutical environment that helps to the good development of the children. The environment must be plenty of solid values in order to give the children the opportunity to recover their self esteem, their dignity, and their personal security.

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