We are an organization committed to creating life-changing opportunities for vulnerable children and youth in Los Cabos, helping them lead healthier, more productive, and fulfilling lives. We do this through the Los Cabos Community Youth Center, which brings together essential services from multiple nonprofit organizations under one roof.
To maximize the impact of our efforts, we work closely with local organizations, ensuring that resources are directed where they are needed most.
But we know there is more to be done. We believe in the power of collective action—coming together to create lasting change and empower the next generation.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of donors from Mexico, the United States, and Canada, we are building a safe, supportive space where children can learn, grow, and dream without limits.
Mission: We empower the youth of Los Cabos with health, education, and skills training to build healthy, productive, and fulfilling lives.
Vision: A future where every young person in Los Cabos is healthy, educated, and empowered with the skills and opportunities to achieve financial and emotional stability.
Integrity: We act with honesty, responsibility, and authenticity, honoring our commitments and maintaining consistency between our words and actions.
Gratitude: We value and appreciate the contributions of everyone who supports our mission, from community members to volunteers and donors, recognizing their role in helping youth thrive.
Excellence: We pursue the highest standards in every aspect of our work, dedicating ourselves fully to creating meaningful impact for the youth of Los Cabos.
Empathy: We seek to understand the lives, challenges, and perspectives of the youth we serve, guiding our programs and actions with compassion and care.
Transparency: We are open and honest in all our communications, decisions, and operations, ensuring accountability to our partners, donors, and the communities we serve.
The Inspire Mexico Foundation is governed by a board of directors who oversee the operations and strategy of the foundation.
John Pentz
John Pentz is a longtime developer and entrepreneur in Los Cabos, where he has played a key role in creating iconic commercial projects in the area. As a resident of San José del Cabo, John and his wife, Melinda, are deeply invested in the community. Together, they founded the Inspire Mexico Foundation and have been active supporters of numerous local social organizations. John serves as the president of the Illumíname A.C., the sister Mexican organization to the Inspire Mexico Foundation. John also lends his expertise as an advisory board member to several Mexican nonprofits, continuing his commitment to strengthening the region.
Jay Lieberman
Jay Lieberman brings decades of experience in real estate development, from residential projects to major complexes. As President of the Derfner Foundation, Jay combines his business acumen with a dedication to philanthropy. He is longtime benefactor of the AHRC New York City Foundation, which advocates for children and families with developmental disabilities. Jay has also served on the Surgery Advisory Board at Mt. Sinai Hospital and actively supports organizations such as the Hebrew Home for the Aged in Riverdale, New York.
Michael Baldwin
Michael Baldwin is a seasoned professional with more than 30 years of success in real estate, construction management, and executive leadership. For the past decade, he has focused on marketing and luxury real estate in San José del Cabo earning recognition as a top agent. Known for his creativity, integrity, and ability to build strong client relationships, Michael has become a trusted leader in the region’s real estate market. His professional accomplishments are matched by his dedication to community impact through the Inspire Mexico Foundation.
Charles Marsh
Charles Marsh brings over three decades of leadership experience in the telecommunications industry. He currently serves as Chief Revenue Officer and Senior Vice President of Congruex Engineering, following senior executive roles at Adtran, Xura, and Alcatel-Lucent USA. Throughout his career, Charles has led global sales teams, built strategic partnerships, and driven significant business growth. Now, he channels his professional expertise and passion for service into supporting the Inspire Mexico Foundation and its mission to create opportunities for youth in Los Cabos.
Emily O’Halloran
Emily O’Halloran is a retired executive with a 30-year career at Accenture, bringing extensive leadership and organizational experience to her community work. Living part-time in San José del Cabo with her partner, she has developed deep ties to the local community and actively supports youth education through Inspire Mexico and the Boys & Girls Club of Los Cabos, coordinating volunteer-led English classes. Emily’s dedication to service extends beyond Los Cabos, having contributed to organizations such as Dallas CASA, Back on My Feet, Swim Across America, and ENGin. Her passion for empowering young people and strengthening communities drives her ongoing commitment to making a meaningful impact.
Our Mexican Civil Association (Asociación Civil)
Fundación Ilumíname is the registered nonprofit entity in Mexico that oversees the operations of our physical Youth Center and employs our local staff. It is governed by its own board of directors, with John Pentz serving as President.
Inspire Mexico Foundation and Fundación Ilumíname are sister organizations with a common mission and vision to serve the youth of Los Cabos.
Eurídice Hernández
Eurídice brings five years of experience in nonprofit leadership. She served for more than four years as the Corporate Social Responsibility Coordinator at the Los Cabos Children’s Foundation, where she led strategic partnerships, donor engagement, and corporate volunteer initiatives.
In 2024, she assumed the role of Executive Director at Ilumíname A.C., with a vision to strengthen its presence as a trusted organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for children across Baja California Sur.
Since taking on this role, she has actively collaborated with local organizations, developed impactful programs and fundraising initiatives, and overseen efforts in corporate social responsibility, public relations, administration, and organizational growth.
Originally from Mexico City, Eurídice has proudly called Los Cabos home for over eight years.
The original vision for this project, created by John Pentz, was to provide local children in need with a safe after-school space where they could learn, grow, and enjoy a better quality of life. The location was carefully chosen at the heart of the community, where there is a high concentration of low-income families, and within a 2-kilometer radius of 17 local schools—making it easily accessible to the children who need it most. This ensured the project would have the greatest possible impact.
The vision was always long-term: to build in phases, gradually adding facilities and programs. Thanks to the support of the community and the generosity of donors from Mexico, the United States, and Canada, that dream has become a reality. Today, the center is a safe haven where children can thrive.
The transformation began in 2017. What was once a two-hectare municipal trash site has been completely renewed. We removed 312 truckloads of waste, replaced the soil with 200 truckloads of clean earth, and installed a vapor barrier. Construction on the first building began in 2018, and by 2019, the vision took a major step forward with the completion of a 16,000-square-foot facility.
In 2020, during the unexpected challenge of the pandemic, we partnered with Alianza Comunitaria BCS to respond to urgent community needs. Our facility became a storage and distribution center for meals, allowing us to support thousands of families during that critical time.
This marked the first major step of the Community Youth Center in action—bringing our mission to life and proving that, together, we can create lasting change.
By 2021, the Youth Center officially opened its doors to the community, launching activities alongside the first resident organizations.
Thanks to the continued generosity of donors from Mexico, the United States, and Canada, we are building more than a center—we are creating a safe, supportive space where children can learn, grow, and dream without limits.
