New North Baja California History and Development Fund Works to Restore
and Preserve Region's Cultural Heritage

On October 25, 1697 Father Salvatierra founded Nuestra Señora de Loreto Concho, the first permanent mission in the Californias on a sheltered plain opposite Isla Carmen. Over a span of 140 years, between 1683 and 1823, Franciscan, Dominican, and Jesuit priests constructed a total of 33 missions in Baja California and Baja California Sur. Another 21 missions were constructed in what is now the State of California.

In Mexico , efforts have been made in recent years to preserve and restore its missions rich cultural history. Though some of this work is being undertaken by Mexico's National Institute for Anthropology and History (INAH) as part of its agreement with the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation to establish a Binational Heritage Corridor called El Camino Real-Misionero. Still, limited budgetary resources have left many of the missions in Baja California in a ruin or a state of disrepair.

But there is hope now that the work to preserve the missions in Baja California will be accelerated. Thanks to the vision and commitment of Zella Rushing de Ibañez, a U.S. entrepreneur living in Tecate, B. C. the North Baja California History Preservation and Development Fund has been established at ICF to support the work of El Camino Real Misionero de las Californias, a Mexican non profit organization working to restore and preserve missions in Baja California Norte with their first priority being Mission Guadalupe. If you are interested in learning more about how you can contribute to this donor advised fund, contact Richard Kiy at (619) 235-2300 or rkiy@icfdn.org.

For additional information on the International Community Foundation please call Fay Crevoshay, Director of Communications at 619.235.2300 or send an email at fay@icfdn.org.