San Ysidro Health & The Evans School Sixth-Graders

Kids Helping Kids

Nearly 50 years ago, a group of mothers in the underserved neighborhood of San Ysidro did something extraordinary. They fought for, and launched, the nonprofit organization now known as San Ysidro Health. Prior to their efforts, healthcare was nearly impossible to access for their community.

Patricia Salas, a long-time volunteer at San Ysidro Health, shared a video about the nonprofit with a group of sixth-graders at the Evans School in La Jolla. The students were so moved by the video that they decided to help.

10 Things About San Ysidro Health & the Evans School Sixth-Graders

#1 San Ysidro was named in honor of San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers, day laborers and rural communities – the working poor. San Isidro spent his life as a hired hand and always shared what little he had, even his meals, with people in need. These values of compassion and care for others is the foundation for San Ysidro Health.

#2 In 1969, seven mothers in San Ysidro, realized that their community only had one doctor for every 7,000 residents and decided to do something about it.

#3 From the very young to the very old, San Ysidro Health provides over 450,000 patient visits a year for people throughout southern and eastern San Diego County. This care encompasses all facets of health—from physical, to mental to socioeconomic—and all regardless of a person’s ability to pay.

#4 Through bake sales, a carnival day and yearbook sales, twelve students at The Evans School, raised and donated $15,000 to help fund an expansion of San Ysidro Health’s Maternal & Child Health Center.

#5 The Evans School Sixth-Graders have the honor of being the first capital campaign donors to the $4 million project.

#6 The Evans School Sixth-Graders will be recognized through the naming of one of the Center’s exam rooms, memorializing their philanthropic efforts.

#7 When asked why they chose San Ysidro Health, one of the students said, “The difference between us and them is a ZIP code and luck.”

#8 The donation from the Evans School Sixth-Graders will be added to the Challenge Pool at San Ysidro Health’s upcoming fundraiser, to act as a catalyst for gifts from the attendees.

#9 San Ysidro Health’s annual gala is the largest source of philanthropic funding each year and provides critical support for the organization’s transformational programs and services.

#10 Thanks in large part to the Evans School Sixth-Graders, 7,000 children living below the federal poverty level, will soon receive the health care services they need.