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10 Years
Transforming Lives
Jorge Eduardo Castillo Foundation - DBA Hands to Help Foundation
When a story inspires, a foundation is born.
After supporting several foundations, I understood that my commitment to children's education and health had to go beyond a one-off donation. I felt deep down that I could do more, that I had to do more. Today, seeing how this mission has grown fills me with gratitude. Every child who smiles, every family who finds support, reminds us why we started. Hands to Help is not just a foundation; it's a promise of love, responsibility, and hope. As long as God gives me strength, I will continue to raise my hand for every child in need.
Jorge E. Castillo,
Founder of Hands to Help
2016
A great start...
The year that marked our history
The story of our foundation begins with the life of Carlitos, a little warrior whose situation deeply touched our hearts and became the initial driving force behind our work. His story taught us the true meaning of solidarity and awakened in us the desire to support those who suffer most.
Inspired by that first act of love, another reality reached us that deeply moved us: the tragedy of the Manabí earthquake, an event that scarred our beloved Ecuador and left thousands of families utterly vulnerable. Faced with immense pain, destroyed homes, and the anguish of so many children in dire need—many of them battling illness and without a safe place to live—we understood that we had to take an even greater step.
It was then, in the midst of the emergency, that we solidified our commitment. We carefully selected the most affected families, those who had not only lost their homes but also required urgent support to protect the lives, health, and well-being of their children. That initial impulse of solidarity, born with Carlitos and strengthened after the tragedy, planted the seed of what is now our mission: to serve with love, dignity, and hope those who need us most.
2017
Dreams come true!
Thirteen homes were built on land donated by the Municipality of Jama, and property titles were also given to each family. The houses, fully furnished and equipped with basic services, benefited 38 children and 25 adults in vulnerable situations.
In addition, tents, folding chairs, and utensils were sent, along with a $1,000 donation of medicines arranged by Dr. Patricio Aguayo for a medical center in Portoviejo.
The project cost approximately $65,000 and the homes were delivered in January 2017. In December, the families also received baskets with groceries and toys for the children, bringing a little joy to the holiday season.
2018
Daycare centers of the “Marianite Sisters of Jesus” in Opa Locka, Florida,
On January 9, 2018, members of the Hands to Help Foundation visited the Marianita Sisters of Jesus Daycare Center in Opa Locka, Florida. They brought lunch and gifts for the children and a basket of groceries for the daycare. It was a wonderful time spent with the children and staff.
2019
3 new classrooms for the
EU Abdón Calderón Muñoz
Our foundation, responding to the request of the educational community and always committed to vulnerable children, has taken on the mission of supporting the construction of two classrooms at the Abdón Calderón Muñoz School.
Each classroom measured 4 meters wide by 7 meters deep, allowing for the proper division of the 75 children who received classes in a single space. To carry out this project, it was necessary to gather materials such as cement, sand, rebar, gravel, cables, doors, windows, paint, and other basic construction supplies. Once the structure was complete, our goal was to equip the classrooms with essential furniture: desks, blackboards, and shelves for teaching materials. With this project, we aim to improve educational conditions and optimize the school's operation, directly benefiting the children of the Clemencia community.
2020
SAVING LIVES:
A mission of hope in times of crisis.
In 2020, when the pandemic hit Ecuador hard and turned Guayaquil into the epicenter of an unprecedented health crisis, Hands to Help Foundation felt an urgent call to support the doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals who were facing the emergency with heroic effort. Their courageous work, often carried out without the necessary protective equipment, motivated us to act immediately to protect those who were caring for everyone.
This is how the “Saving Lives” project was born, a humanitarian initiative aimed at sending 100 reusable biosafety kits—including suits, shoe covers, and masks—to the staff of Luis Vernaza Hospital. Moved by the growing number of infections and deaths among healthcare professionals, we organized several fundraising events and asked for the collaboration of friends, families, and foundation partners. Every contribution, large or small, became a ray of hope for those on the front lines.
The goal of raising $5,000 transformed into a collective effort that united our community both within and outside the country. Thanks to everyone's generosity, we were able to send essential protective equipment to those risking their lives to save others. “Saving Lives” became a shining example of solidarity, empathy, and unity in difficult times, a reminder that together we can always do more.
The healthcare professionals at Luis Vernaza Hospital were able to indirectly benefit in their daily work, which impacted the care of approximately 1,500 to 2,000 children per month, considering the volume of pediatric patients received by the hospital and the additional protection provided by the biosafety kits.
2021
Education and Solidarity in Action
In 2021, Hands to Help Foundation continued to strengthen its commitment to education and vulnerable children in Ecuador. One of its most significant achievements was the completion of three classrooms at the Abdón Calderón Muñoz School, a project officially inaugurated on October 2nd with a ceremony attended by students, teachers, and guests from the regional and municipal governments. During this visit, the foundation also made donations to institutions in Guayaquil, including Mercedes de Jesús Molina, a shelter for children with disabilities, and Fundación Esperanza de Vida, which supports children with cancer. In addition, the foundation continued its monthly financial support of $100 to Casa Hogar Belén in Portoviejo and Fundación Carlitos in Quito, ensuring ongoing support for children with special needs and those at risk.
During September and October, strategic trips were made to oversee the projects and deliver aid. On September 29, shelters in Guayaquil were visited, and donations of $200 were delivered to each institution. The following days included visits to Portoviejo and meetings with local partners, culminating in the official handover of classrooms to the Abdón Calderón Muñoz School.
These actions reflect Hands to Help Foundation's commitment to transforming lives through education, solidarity, and direct support for those who need it most.
2022
A year of immediate aid, community reconstruction, and solidarity-based responses to emergencies
The year 2022 was marked by urgent calls for help from various communities in Ecuador. These weren't massive projects or extensive programs; it was a year of rapid responses, of lending a hand precisely when a family faced a crisis, an illness, or an unexpected need.
Hands to Help Foundation acted as a direct bridge between benefactors and the families who needed it most, channeling medical aid, humanitarian support, and essential resources that made a difference in times of pain and vulnerability.
2023
Multiplying smiles
This was a year of profound impact on community schools. We increased the distribution of educational materials, provided comprehensive support to families facing medical emergencies, and made special contributions to two community-based infant feeding programs.
Medical Assistance and Special Cases
The cases couldn't wait, and the response had to be quick.
The main forms of assistance included:
Purchase of medicines for children with chronic illnesses
Contributions for specialized medical examinations that their families could not afford.
Financial support for urgent transfers, allowing the children to reach hospitals in nearby cities.
Contributions for medical procedures, especially in vulnerable areas where there are no specialized centers.
Each of these forms of assistance represented relief for parents who were struggling to keep their children stable and hopeful.
2024
Year of alliances
More volunteers joined in Ecuador to ensure that every donation reached the right hands. We expanded our reach to rural communities we had never been able to serve before.
In addition, we support extremely urgent medical cases.
We are very proud to share the story of Shirley Mejía, a brave girl from Guayaquil, Ecuador, who came to us completely unable to move due to a serious spinal condition. Thanks to the support of our partners and benefactors, we covered her airfare, living expenses, lodging, and meals for her trip to Washington State, where she received life-changing surgery at Shriners Hospital for Children.
The operation was a success, and today Shirly enjoys full mobility and autonomy, a living testament to how solidarity and love can restore hope and change lives forever.
2025
We are strengthening our commitment to education. We are providing school supplies, medical support, transportation, and launching the solidarity breakfast program.
This year marked a turning point in the history of Hands to Help Foundation. This was the year that one of its most significant and sustainable programs was born: the Solidarity Breakfasts for children in extreme vulnerability.
What began as a dream became a weekly mission that nourished not only bodies, but also hope. The breakfast program at the Abdón Calderón School, in collaboration with Yolanda Vargas, began, where children received a nutritious and consistent breakfast, boosting their attendance and school performance.
