Bring a Thing!

Firefighters and lifeguards here in Puerto Vallarta seemingly do miracles with nothing. The dedication of these first-responders to emergency services is unmatched. These are heroes who walk among us never looking for glory or praise. Although they don’t seek recognition for their thoughtful and caring ways, it’s our time to reciprocate and say thanks through BRING A THING.

In addition to buying a ticket or two to our Spaghetti Dinner on Sunday, October 10th, please consider bringing something from this Wish List. And, if you or someone you know has ties to Fire Departments or Lifeguards in the US or Canada, email us and we will let you know how they can get involved.

* Ace wraps
* Antibiotic ointment
* Band-Aids
* Bed sheets
* Blender
* Cleaning supplies
* Cookware
* Crutches
* Deodorants
* Diapers (pediatric andadult)
* DVD player and DVD’s
* Eating utensils
* Gauze sterile dressings
* Gloves (sterile and non-sterile)
* Over-the-counter medicines for pain relief, cold & flu
* Non-perishable foods
* Personal hygiene supplies
* Powdered infant formula (non-expired)
* Socks
* Thermometers
* Toaster
* Toilet paper
* Tongue depressors
* Toothbrushes and toothpaste
* Towels (all sizes)
* Vitamins

by Polly G. Vicars

Outback Steakhouse is celebrating ten years in Puerto Vallarta by helping three important non-profit organizations: Becas Vallarta A.C. (The America-Mexico Foundation, Inc.), the Maximo Cornejo Quiroz Orphanage (Casa Hogar) and Pasitos de Luz. In June and July successful dinners were held for Pasitos de Luz and Casa Hogar. Now on Thursday, September 2, 2010, the last of the three separate dinners will be held for Becas Vallarta.

Tickets, at $250 pesos each, are now available for the dinner which begins at 8:00 p.m. at the famous restaurant. Diners will have a choice of soup or salad, an entree of Outback’s famous beef or fresh fish and unlimited refrescos. There will be a raffle and silent auction and all proceeds will go directly to Becas Vallarta to support their scholarship program.

This fund raising event could not come at a better time, as Becas Vallarta awarded scholarships to over 300 Vallarta students this past week-end at Los Mangos Biblioteca. On Saturday, August 14, Buri Gray and her cadre of helpers met with almost 100 university scholarship students to address any issues they might have and to award each of them $3500 pesos for the first semester’s expenses. At the same time, Ana Caty Fenyvessi and her helpers met with more than 100 senior high students to award them $2,750 pesos for their first semester. hen on Sunday, August 15, President Mariel de Fregoso, Pat Bendix, Linda Azcarate and their helpers met with over 100 junior high students to give vouchers for school uniforms, gym clothes, school and tennis shoes. Additionally each student was given school supplies for the year: paper, pens, pencils, dictionaries, calculators, etc.

Not only is the sponsoring restaurant, Outback underwriting the entire event that begins at 8:00 pm at their unique Restaurante at Blvd. Francisco Medina Ascencio 4690, but more than 20 other businesses have donated gifts and gift certificates for our raffle and silent auction.

Just look at the list of donors who, month after month, year after year, give so generously to fund raising events for Becas Vallarta. You will have an opportunity to buy raffle tickets at the dinner to win one of these fabulous prizes, bid on the silent auction and have a chance for a door prize just by being there. I hope you will decide, as I do, where to shop, eat and recreate on the basis of this incredible support of Becas Vallarta.

On the raffle you may win a month’s membership at the Acqua Spa worth $800 pesos or one of two private classes of Pilates with Maestro Marcelo Mico with a value of $450 pesos each. You might be sailing across rivers and mountains at Los Veranos Canopy Tour that has donated for your pleasure a canopy tour for 4 people with a value of $316 USD.

If you love to eat in good restaurants, you are in for a treat as the raffle will include meals at Andales, Coco’s Kitchen, La Palapa Restaurant, No Way Jose, and the River Café.

Galeria June Rosen Lopez has donated lovely silver earrings with a value of $800 pesos, Cassandra Shaw Jewelry donated a unique pure silk men’s tie with a value of $500 pesos, as well as a coupon good for $200 pesos off on anything in the store. A becas supporter donated 3 exquisite pieces of jewelry with a value of $500 pesos each: an amber and onyx necklace, a long onyx necklace and a dainty pearl necklace with matching earrings.

Vallarta Botanical Gardens donated an exotic plant to grace your home. And there are three getaways which will be featured on the Silent Auction: 2 night mini-vacation for 2 at Casa Isabel high above Puerto Vallarta with a value of $1000 pesos, 2 nights for 2 at the fabulous Hacienda Jalisco in San Sebastian with breakfast with a value of $1100 pesos and 2 nights at Casa Obelisco in San Pancho Bed and Breakfast for 2 people with a value $5,850 pesos.

And just for coming there will be door prizes donated by El Coyul.

This community recognizes the rewards reaped from these bright young people who receive this help to reach their educational goals, thus events such as the one coming up on September 2 at the Outback. To get your tickets please call me at 223-1371 or write me at phvicars@gmail.com. You may also call Mariel de Fregoso at 221-0789, Buri Gray at 221-5285, Pat Bendix at 221-5730, Linda Azcarate at 044-322-155-2123, Ana Caty Frenyvessu at 209-0134 or any other member of Becas. Tickets are limited, so please get your early! See you there?