a little bit about us
2011 - 2019
Daniel Ouzounian was on the board of directors with Spark of Hope Foundation for 8 years where he was heavily involved with the foundation and its growth. He was a part of planning and leading dozens of service trips over the years where he gained a deep passion for the people of Mexico and their welfare. In 2019 Daniel decided to spread his wings and together with his wife founded Building Hearts where they could broaden the reach for good and build upon what he had learned. Daniel will always have deep gratitude and appreciation for Spark of Hope.
2019
Daniel and his wife Andrea founded Building Hearts Foundation and lead their first trip with a group of young single adults. They built a home for a single mother and her two daughters. The trip was a huge success and a great kick-off for the new foundation!
2020
Building Hearts Foundation raised funds and conducted a food mission helping dozens of families desperately in need of food and other basic essentials for survival. They were met with incredible gratitude, appreciation and love.
2021
Family Service Trip where we built a home for the Martinez family. The home was completed in 3 days including a fence around the perimeter and rudimentary furniture for the kitchen, bathroom, and bedrooms.
2021
Corporate Trip with Lumio Solar. We built a home for the Piceno Family. We finished the majority of the house on day one due to heavy rain forecasted for day two. We were able to work inside during the rain storm and finish up on the middle of day three. We started a septic tank and were able to embellish the interior with additional furniture and goods.
2022
Family Service Trip where we built a home for the Esquivel family. The home was completed in 3 days including a tire retaining wall and rudimentary furniture for the kitchen, bathroom, and bedrooms.
2022
Young Single Adult Service Trip. We built a home for the Beltran family. The home was completed in 4 days. We builtfurniture for the kitchen, bathroom, and bedrooms.
2023
Family Service Trip. We built a home for the Guillen Estrella family. The home was completed in 4 days including furniture for the kitchen, bathroom, and bedrooms.
2024
Family Service Trip. We built a home for Carmen and her twin daughters. We were a group of 34 people and this home was built in 4 days, to include furnishings, a stocked kitchen and new beds for the family.
2024
Family Service Trip. We built a small hair salon for a previous home recipient, Monserrat, a family member right across the way from Carmen. This will provide a better financial earning opportunity for the entire extended family to better care for their needs. It was ambitious to take on two structures in 4 days, but this group of 34 were up to the task and we were able to not only finish, but embellish even more.
2024
Family Service Trip. We built a home for Christian, Jessica and Roque Ramirez. These 31 amazing people, together with the Ramirez family built this home in 4 days. We were able to bulid furniture as well, stock the kitchen, and even build a chicken coop.
2025 upcoming service trips
June 2025 Familia Peguero-RIvera
A group of 8 families (35 people) will be builiding a 3 bedroom home for the Peguero family!
August 2025 Familia Perez-Rivera
A group of young men ages 15-18 together with their fathers will be building a 3 bedroom home for the Perez-Rivera family!
Board of directors
Daniel Ouzounian - Board president & Founder
Daniel Ouzounian - Board president & Founder
Daniel Ouzounian - Board president & Founder
Daniel Ouzounian together with his wife Andrea founded Building Hearts Foundation in 2019. Daniel has been involved with humanitarian efforts in Mexico since 2011 leading countless service trips for youth, families, and corporate groups. The people of Mexico have become family to Daniel, and he is passionate about serving them and leading others to feel the joy of doing the same. Daniel always says, “it’s not about building homes, it’s about building people”. He has watched many homes go up, but more importantly seen many more hearts and souls healed by the power of charity and love. Daniel attended Utah State University earning a Bachelor’s in Marketing and Master’s degree in Instructional Technology. He has four beautiful children and his amazing wife Andrea by his side!
Andrea Ouzounian - Board member & Founder
Daniel Ouzounian - Board president & Founder
Daniel Ouzounian - Board president & Founder
Andrea Ouzounian co-founded Building Hearts Foundation. She has been a tremendous strength and confidant to her husband in both planning and running service tips over the years. Andrea has a Bachelor's degree from Utah State University in Family and Human Development. Andrea has a passion for helping the good people of Mexico to create hope and a better future for them by helping to organize trips for volunteers to contribute both time, resources and labor. Her efforts have proven invaluable in helping to organize and start Building Hearts Foundation. Andrea has witnessed the endless ripple effect after each project and looks forward to more opportunities to help those in need find hope for a better future.
Mirna Mora - Board Advisor
Daniel Ouzounian - Board president & Founder
Mirna Mora - Board Advisor
Mirna Mora is a native to Mexico and is known as the "Shepherd" of Tijuana. For over 20 years Mirna has worked hard to improve her community and the lives of everyone around her. She has been instrumental in helping Building Hearts Foundation identify those who are in need of service and is very passionate about bringing people together in service. She plans all of our fiestas, visits to orphanages and maintains relationships with materials providers for our projects. Mirna is an attorney and ensures that our projects are legitimate, organized and safe. She has a wonderful and supportive husband and together they have 2 boys. Mirna has love for all people and has blessed the lives of so many in both Mexico and each participant we have brought from the United States. We love and appreciate Mirna so much for everything she does for us!
Brian Zaitz - Board member
Jeremy roberts - Board Member
Mirna Mora - Board Advisor
Brian Zaitz graduated from the University of Utah in 1998 earning his Master's degree in Architecture and is currently a principal architect with the firm JZW Architects. He is very passionate about giving back has been key in creating and designing drawings for all of our projects. He loves the people of Mexico and has participated in many of our service trips, both himself and together with his family. Brians service is greatly appreciated by Building Hearts Foundation and we look forward to many more home designs / plans to come in the future!
Jeremy roberts - Board Member
Jeremy roberts - Board Member
Jeremy roberts - Board Member
Jeremy Roberts has led a successful career in home construction starting in 1993. He attended schooling to obtain his contractor’s license in the state of Utah. Jeremy has been involved with Building Hearts Foundation from the beginning and has a passion for giving back and serving those in despair. He has been to Mexico several times helping with construction projects and can frequently be found helping others locally with needs they have. With his experience as a builder, and passion for service, Jeremy brings a lot to the table as a member of the board of directors for Building Hearts Foundation.
Sonya Jarrett- Board member
Jeremy roberts - Board Member
Jeremy roberts - Board Member
Sonya Jarrett graduated from Utah State University in 2001 earning a Bachelor's degree in Marketing. She has experience with bringing people and projects together and has created a professional network of people and companies over the years. Sonya has fund raising experience and has been very successful in her ability to bring the right players players together. She is passionate about giving back and serving others that have lost hope for a brighter future. Sonya, together with her husband, have involved with Building Hearts Foundation projects from the beginning and look forward to many more years of service tp come!