As Hilda Pacheco-Taylor tells it, she was one of the lucky ones. While she lived in a Baja orphanage until the age of 16, her basic needs were met, she had her own bed to sleep in, and she was able to stay in school. Today's Baja orphans are often not so fortunate.

Speaking to a responsive after-hours crowd gathered at the candle-lit Beach Grass Café in Solana Beach, Hilda -- who started the Corazon de Vida Foundation to keep Baja's orphanages a haven for kids -- shared a slice of her personal journey while seasoned volunteers swapped stories with newcomers about their interactions with the children of Baja against a pleasant backdrop of hors d’oeuvres and drinks.

WHO CAME: Corazon de Vida Board member George Perez was there to connect with San Diego County area supporters. Event co-chairs Liz Lemesevski and Shannon Weisinger brought together a broad swath of guests including Carol Macias, Adele Akana, Lori Parks, Eric Goldschmidt and his wife Di, to name a few. Rachel Chapman, Tyler Merrill, Jennifer Butler, Cathryn Rathsam and Robbie Childs enjoyed ocean breezes on the café’s patio with Janine Pack, Tracy DeMonaco, and Suzi Tucker. Nurse practioner and CDV volunteer Rosa Bautista was on hand to explain how Corazon de Vida accomplishes its mission.

THE CAUSE: Mexico does not have a welfare or foster care system. Without funds for housing, food or social programs for orphaned, homeless and abandoned children, Mexico is not able to provide a future for its most vulnerable citizens. Corazon de Vida coordinates corporate, community and volunteer support to provide funds, materials, volunteer help and a caring hand to the children of Baja. Funds raised pay for food, utilities and the other basic needs of life. Many children in Baja orphanages do not get a regular nutritious meal. CDV seeks to change that for the 50 orphanages throughout Baja. Currently they feed, clothe, shelter, and educate more than 750 children each day.

THE CREATIVE: Warm harmonies by a cappella quartet the Velvetones resonated with the enthusiastic crowd on the patio of the Beach Grass Café. Gorgeous photographs of youngsters and CDV volunteers on various trips to Baja were projected onto a wall above the bar manned by friendly volunteers. Long tables lined the café’s interior wall adorned with crisp white linins and laden with Mexican themed appetizers.

THE GOOD HEARTED: Corporate contributors to Corazon de Vida include Supplier Excellence Alliance, Reed Elsevier, StreetSurfing, Apogee Electronics, Holovision, Navarro Engineering, American Advisors Group and Kong Company LLC. The group’s Corps of Angels is made up of individuals and families who assist the group with ongoing donations and hands on support services.

GET INVOLVED: Join Corazon de Vida on one of their monthly bus trips to an orphanage in Baja. Upcoming trips areAugust 21 to La Hacienda andSeptember 18 to Casa Hogar Sion, both in Tijuana. For more information, registration and photos of the orphanages visit the Corazon de Vida website.

(For more event photos, go to: CAUSE.)