{"id":27501,"date":"2019-02-14T00:51:05","date_gmt":"2019-02-14T08:51:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/northstarmoving.com\/blog\/?p=27501"},"modified":"2024-02-21T16:17:12","modified_gmt":"2024-02-22T00:17:12","slug":"people-who-move-us-hilda-pacheco-taylor-founder-of-corazon-de-vida","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.northstarmoving.com\/blog\/2019\/people-who-move-us-hilda-pacheco-taylor-founder-of-corazon-de-vida\/","title":{"rendered":"People Who Move Us: Hilda Pacheco-Taylor \u2013 Founder of Coraz\u00f3n de Vida"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hilda Pacheco-Taylor is the founder of<\/span> Coraz\u00f3n de Vida<\/b><\/a> (\u201cHeart of Life<\/span>\u201d). For over 20 years, the 501(c)3 nonprofit has helped the orphaned and abandoned children of Baja, Mexico with life-altering support. The organization financially assists orphanages and offers quality-of-life improvement services. It also invests in the children\u2019s futures by funding their higher education needs and transitional programs.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Story Behind Coraz\u00f3n de Vida<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Hilda with her mother & sister.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hilda Pacheco-Taylor was born and raised in Baja, Mexico. At only eight years old, Hilda had to take care of her two younger brothers and sister after her father deserted the family and her mother had to take a low-paying job as a tortilla maker. With not much money coming in, they were often not sure where meals were going to come from. Sometimes, they did not know if they were going to eat at all.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, no government-run foster care or welfare system exists in Mexico. Children in need receive full-time care only in private orphanages, funded entirely by individual and\/or corporate donations.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Hilda’s brothers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hilda struggled with caring for her siblings. However everything changed the day one of Hilda\u2019s brothers almost drowned in the family\u2019s water reservoir. A neighbor pulled him out, but Hilda’s mother then realized that she could no longer leave her children alone. She made the hard decision to place them in a local private orphanage called<\/span> Puerta de F\u00e9 <\/b><\/a>\u00a0(Door of Faith).<\/span><\/p>\n

It was a great sacrifice for Hilda\u2019s mother to give up her children. However, Puerta de F\u00e9\u00a0 so greatly improved the lives of Hilda and her siblings; U.S. organizations well-sponsored the orphanage. They had daily access to three warm meals. After years of having to share a bed, they now each had their own. There were also about 100 other children to interact with. Most fortunate though: Hilda was no longer responsible for the welfare of her siblings. She now had the opportunity to be a child again. She could also concentrate on getting an education.<\/span><\/p>\n

Their circumstances were better, however Hilda still yearned for the day she and her siblings would reunite with their mother. When Hilda left the orphanage at 16, she joined her mother in the United States. Her main goal was to bring her family together again. She accomplished this within two years.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hilda On A Mission\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

15 years after she left, Hilda returned to Puerta de F\u00e9 for a visit that once again changed her life. She was shocked to discover the run-down state of the facilities. Also, the staff had not been paid in months. Worst was when she saw that the 35 children still in residence were being fed rice and potato chips for their meal \u2013 because that was all there was to serve. Puerta de F\u00e9 had unfortunately lost most of its financial support.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hilda felt determined to help her former home. The Director of Puerta de F\u00e9 suggested she start a sponsorship program for the children. With that in mind, she returned to the U.S., set to figure out a solution.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Coraz\u00f3nEven though she had never done so, Hilda realized that she was going to have to start by talking about her own personal history with Puerta de F\u00e9\u00a0 in order to obtain sponsors. She had never wanted anyone to feel sorry for her. Hilda had worked hard to make her way and succeed in the U.S. business world.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hilda gathered her courage and met with the owners of the company where she worked. To her delight, they generously agreed to sponsor every child at Puerta de F\u00e9 orphanage. They also decided to help to Hilda establish the organization that became Coraz\u00f3n de Vida.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Coraz\u00f3n
Donations for Coraz\u00f3n de Vida.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

According to Hilda, Coraz\u00f3n de Vida was born from the gratitude she felt for all the help that she and her siblings received. She felt especially thankful for the support from the many people who did not know them personally, however ensured their well-being. Hilda explains that this inspired her <\/span>mission to \u201cbreak the vicious cycle of poverty from perpetuating child abandonment.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Achievements Abound<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Thus Coraz\u00f3n De Vida began by supporting Puerta de F\u00e9 in 1994, and expanded to three orphanages by 2001. Now going on its 25<\/span>th<\/span> year, Hilda is very proud that Coraz\u00f3n De Vida has achieved the following significant milestones:<\/span><\/p>\n