Our Story
One toy drive became a movement.
Explore our journey
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It started with one act of kindness.
During the holiday season in 2020, local barbers came together to raise over $7,000 for children in La Misión.
This was beyond just a toy drive.
Instead, we were beginning relationships that would shape the next decade.
December 2020
Investing in Students
Daniela was our first scholarship student, pursuing her dream of attending nursing school.
January 2021
6 scholarships awarded.
December 2021
As more students joined the scholarship program, Barbers for Baja began asking a bigger question:
How else can we serve these communities?
2022
Healthcare Begins
Matt met Bill Rush and the late DDS Larry Taber, who had spent more than two decades providing free medical and dental care throughout Baja California. Their mentorship helped shape Barbers for Baja’s approach to community healthcare and laid the foundation for the organization’s first medical and dental clinics. Bill continues to play an integral role in Barbers for Baja today, helping lead and strengthen every clinic we host.2022
Barbers for Baja Foundation is established as a 501(c)(3)
2023
The First Clinics
First dental clinic, La Misión
March 2023
First dental clinic, San Juanico
September 2023
Steady rotation of over 40 scholarship students at a time.
Many graduates are working at our clinics.
January 2025
Medical and dental clinic in Constitución
April 2024
Medical, dental, and eye clinic, offering pap smears, haircuts, and more services in San Juanico
September 2024
New medical and dental clinic in Erendira.
May 2025
More Than Clinics.
A scholarship student graduates. Her daughter has cystic fibrosis. That relationship inspires an entirely new healthcare initiative.Barbers for Baja begins delivering life-saving CF machines.
June 2025
Building something permanent.
November 2025
Matt visits Liga International.
He sees permanent community clinics and realizes that we can build something permanent.
The Barbers for Baja community comes together and raises $70,000 in six weeks to buy the former IMSS building in San Juanico.
Hear about the impact from the community:
The Next Chapter
Our Vision for 2030
By 2030, we envision a network of permanently staffed community clinics throughout Baja California, where local healthcare professionals provide free care year-round and scholarship graduates become the next generation of community leaders.
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100+ scholarship students
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2–3 permanent clinics
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Local Mexican healthcare teams
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Year-round care
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Growing one community at a time
Join our story.
Help write the next chapter by supporting our work.
Barbers For Baja Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 88-3440271). All donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law, and no goods or services are provided in return. Receipts for tax-purposes can be provided upon request.
