In 2003, Joe and Esther Valenzuela stepped into an orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico—and their hearts broke open. What they saw was more than neglect; it was the ache of forgotten children. They returned to San Diego with a quiet but unwavering conviction: we must do something.

By 2006, they had sold their business and founded Casa Estrella—a Christ-centered home in Rosarito for girls who had been separated from their families. They didn’t hire staff to run it. They moved in. They cooked meals, led prayers, celebrated birthdays, and built trust one moment at a time. Their philosophy was simple but revolutionary: “We are not an orphanage. We are a home. We are a family.”

The mission didn’t stop at shelter. In 2012, they opened Colegio Estrella de la Mañana—a private, faith-based school designed to nurture minds, inspire hearts, and prepare students from preschool through high school to live with purpose.

Today, the legacy continues through the Casa Estrella Foundation—offering university scholarships, academic tutoring, spiritual formation, and lifelong mentorship. This isn’t just a place. It’s a promise: every child deserves to be seen, loved, and launched into a future filled with hope.