The Greenangels name originated in the Baja. Dave took the Angeles Verdes name, the trucks that patrol the 1000 miles of highway that stretches from Tijuana to Cabo San Lucas, helping motorists in distress, and translated it to English because it seemed like a perfect fit for what we work towards. And so, it has been since 1998 when we first introduced the Greenangels website. We wanted to create a website that would focus on people and organizations doing good but needing support. A site that could bring more exposure to them.
So that's what we did way back in 1998. We realized this was a big challenge and so started supporting one or two projects at a time.
And that's how it began. We met the 
Aramburo family, Elsa and her six children and the bilingual school she created called Instituto International Libertad when we were down in Los Cabos. The school needed supplies and Greenangels provided them.....computers, desks, books, paper, writing materials and even a schoolbus which we loaded up with all the supplies and drove down to the Baja.
We kept in touch over the years to see how things were progressing and were delighted to know that the school taught and graduated hundreds f children.
And then the world changed in 2020.
And talk about change. Right after we returned home from a trip to Baja COVID made its presence felt and the world was in lockdown. Things changed dramatically, kids were told to stay home, schools closed, businesses closed, we all pretty much closed down. The effect was disastrous for many.
Instituto International Libertad was one of the victims and never opened again.
What would happen to this once vibrant school and building in downtown San Jose del Cabo?
There's a belief that when one door closes, a window opens. That has always been Elsa Aramburo's belief. She is a true believer, always open to new possibilities. She's led her life that way.
Elsa's eldest son, Moises, thought it would be
a great idea to turn the school building into a shopping mall, remodeling one classroom at a time into shops. And that's exactly what he did.
Today, with a loan from Greenangels and friends, there's a pottery studio, a first class restaurant, a furniture store, a bathing suit shop, a bakery and a cafe. Currently in the works are another restaurant and a church.
Every venture needs funding. We believed, as did Elsa, that a commercial venture for the school could lead to a sustainable source of funds for her social purposes. That's the reason the Greenangels group helped. A portion of the revenue generated goes towards a vital need that Elsa will provide to the community. Elsa calls it tithing because she insists that 10% of revenues goes towards good works.
Elsa bought an old house which she will 
dedicate to nurturing the very young and the elderly in her community. She's calling it Casa Shalom for she hopes it will bring peace to those you live and visit there. She's remodeling the house and also planting veggies and mango trees. Chickens are laying eggs and beehives are beginning to produce honey.
The Greenangels motto, at the very beginning, was ‘making a difference while making a dollar. We understand that a vision needs money to execute and that most purposeful projects rarely start out well funded. Most non-profits, for example, spend much time looking for funding, writing grants, soliciting and marketing so as to keep the project alive and doing good. Greenangels has looked to support projects that can sustain themselves and this re-purposed school to commercial marketplace fits the bill.
COVID closed the door on the school but opened a window on a purpose that may well become a centrepiece for the San Jose del Cabo community. With Elsa's determination, it will.
UPDATE: Good things don't always come about instantly. But they are worth waiting for as is the case with the slow but steady progress towards fulfilling the purpose behind Casa Shalom.
Step by step, Elsa Aramburo is working towards her mission of getting Casa Shalom ready for occupancy. A lack of resources can slow things down but never stops the momentum.
Lunches have been served to those in need. Community gatherings have taken place to celebrate togetherness.
And throughout, the vision becomes a plan and the plan becomes reality.
Elsa herself, already a force in her neighborhood has, with the help of Greenangels, almost completed her Leadership Diploma with the University of Peace Executive Education branch and will take this further knowledge and turn it into action. She not only plans to help those in need of shelter, but intends to make Casa Shalom into a sustainable entity. She will work with women in the community, especially those who have not had the advantages that we may take for granted and who seek opportunities to support their families, such as the PinMoney Moms. She will help them work together, learn how to start small businesses and sell local artisan products.
With reference to The University of Peace 
based in Costa Rica, Greenangels has developed a long time relationship with Mohit Mukerjee who heads up the university's Centre for Executive Education. It offers lifechanging courses and we have encouraged and sent many students in that direction.
Greenangels Woodchoppers
Not all the projects Greenangels is involved with are down South. Right here in British Columbia, on a small island in the Salish Sea a wonderful community service was born.
“GreenAngels Wood Choppers", is a team of retired men which began 15 years ago on Pender Island, BC, chopping wood for charitable causes. They're a stalwart, loyal bunch getting together a couple of times a week for the enjoyment and satisfaction of helping out the community. With an average age of well over seventy, they have out-chopped many a younger man, and do it all by hand.
As a physical and social activity, Dave began the wood chopping service for islanders who needed to build up their winter fuel supply. Philanthropist, environmentalist and businessman that he is, Dave realized the potential in this simple service—people would be willing to donate funds for firewood or donate downed trees from their property, and the resulting money could be used to support any number of important causes. With the indispensable support of his wife, and together with others of like mind, the GreenAngels Wood Choppers were born.
As the popularity of the group has grown 
and become a vital part of the community, it has attracted not only retired men, but also a group of stalwart women. Wood chopping has become a mainstay, helping those in need and providing healthy outdoor exercise as well!
The choppers' first great cause was to help fund Jane McIntosh’s journey on Mercy Ships. Since then, over many years, with the help of dedicated, generous and untiring friends, the choppers have chopped and delivered cords of wood to the tune of thousands and thousands of dollars to support many worthwhile programs on BC’s Southern Gulf Islands and abroad.
In a small corner of the world, peace and goodwill are happening. One cord of wood at a time.
Past and Future Initiatives
It's interesting how the Greenangels motto 'making a difference while making a dollar originated.
A number of years ago, we did some work with Royal Roads University, supporting them in establishing their Entrepreneurial Centre. At one of the meetings the professor heading this project asked what Greenangels stood for. Without hesitation we replied "making a difference while making a dollar. He liked it so much he felt it would be a perfect motto for the Centre as well.
After almost 30 years, Greenangels continues to look for ways to support purposeful projects. As we grow older much of this is now in an advisory capacity. We continue to work with young and enthusiastic people in the Baja and in our hometown. We're looking at ways to bring communities together whether it's creating new leaders through courses at the University of Peace, continuing our support for the Aramburos to help the poorer communities in Baja, helping to create cottage type industries (see PinMoneyMoms), supporting food security through local farming etc.
We wish to stay involved because we live in a world that needs help and we need to take care of the beauty that still exists and all the fine people that exist in it.
We also wish to thank the many good friends and family north and south, who have supported us through the years. They have been the cornerstone of Greenangels.
About Greenangels founders
Dave Howe and Ina Timmer have known each other since elementary school, having grown up the little town of Saanichton, BC.
Dave graduated from the University of BC and moved to the USA to pursue his career in investment banking, studying finance at Bryn Mar University and becoming highly experienced in raising capital as well as managing successful resort projects in Baja California, Las Vegas and British Columbia. The results of his ability to put teams together along with a unique way of marketing has led to well known projects such as Cascadas de Baja, Boca Raton and The Royal Private Residences.
Over the years Dave has worked through Greenangels to support and create projects that reflect our motto "making a difference while making a dollar" such as those highlighted above. The combination of capital and philanthropy leading to social enterprises is important to the future of business and the world's many issues.
Ina stayed in her hometown of Saanichton. Becoming a mother was an important priority but becoming an entrepreneur was also on her agenda.
She believed in being home for her kids while they were growing up and so began a 'cottage industry'. Read about PinMoneyMoms. The skills she had acquired working after school and summer at a nearby pottery were put to good use as she started her business "Gesena", creating souvenir brooch pins from clay. Her first client was Butchart Gardens followed by many stores and even the gift shops on the BC Ferries. A wholesaler spotted her creations and distributed them across Canada.
Ten years later she sold the business to another mother with young children who could stay home with her 'cottage industry' and contribute to the family income.
When Dave and Ina eventually reunited 33 years ago, they wanted to work towards doing business that would also do good. That is how Greenangels came into existence with the motto "making a difference while making a dollar"
For more stories about what we've been up to browse our site.