Our Founding Story
An Idea with Purpose
Create Purpose began in November 2014, intended to initiate a pilot program to offer a valuable education program for orphans and vulnerable children living in group homes, orphanages, and centers. Our founder, Nicholas Sandoval, had been visiting these group homes and orphanages, donating time and money for nearly a decade.
Over the years, he noticed that something was missing. The impact of the visits was minimal and sporadic. A more significant necessity was not being attended to, which would give these children a better chance of thriving. The kids needed more sustainable programs that support their need for practical education to help them advance in the real world.
With that idea in mind, Nicholas teamed up with local do-gooders, academics, and organizations to create an educational and nurturing program with a worldly perspective that serves children and the community.
Our Tribe
A binational community ready to Create
Create Purpose is a team of professionals and volunteer experts in the United States and Mexico with expertise in a myriad of fields. Staff focuses our operations South of the border, where there is a harsh epidemic of Children’s Centers or “Orphanages,” which are minimally regulated. Our binational Board works to build the appropriate collaborations and opportunities for the organization to do its work. We are grateful to our community and friends who help us Create Purpose.
Board of Directors – Create Purpose Worldwide
Rachel Christensen – Board Chair
With experience working in the San Diego/Tijuana mega-region, Rachael brings her expertise in Social Entrepreneurship to Create Purpose. Her experience bringing sustainable solutions to at-risk communities that give them a hand up rather than a hand out aligns perfectly with our vision to give children the tools in life to thrive.
Robert Nava – Secretary
Andrew Mills – Board Member
Tresa Gowland – Treasurer
Amar Harrag – Board Member
Tom Wong – Board Member
Monica Montano – Board Member
Denice Garcia – Board Member
Melissa Floca – Board Member
Board of Directors – Create Purpose México
Nicholas Sandoval – CEO
Nicholas is a former business consultant who had a desire to provide abandoned children holistic, future-focused learning and development opportunities while in the orphanage. This approach is child-centered with the long-term goal of empowering abandoned children to pursue their purpose after the orphanage. As a founding team member, he established the urgency for creating a “for purpose” organization that is now known as Create Purpose. Nicholas relocated to Tijuana, Mexico, and is steadily and diligently building up a team of professionals and a partner network. He works resourcefully to harmonize all the gifts of professionals, partners, volunteers and donors to deliver the promise of transformative education and create a blueprint for sustainable, positive impact for abandoned children.
Core Team
Edith Carolina Soria Salguera – Nutrition
From Tijuana, México, at 18, Edith started visiting different orphanages around the city. In 2016, she co-founded Create Purpose Mexico and has been recognized with “Best Social Service Experience” by the Universidad Iberoamericana, “Valuable Citizen” Award by Kybernus and in 2019 was an AstraZeneca Young Health Programme Scholar and became a One Young World Ambassador.
Ana Cristina Bórquez Garcés – Education
Ana Cristina designs curriculums and teaches teachers how to implement Project Based Learning Programs. Her approach embraces the concept of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math). Ana Cristina actively develops curriculum for Create Purpose that will be shared with schools and afterschool programs.
Education Partners
Resource Partners
Program Partners
Spanish