| | |  Vallarta Living | December 2009 
Toys For Tots to Again Spread Thousands of Smiles
 Jerry Lafferty - PVNN
December 21, 2009
| | The toys will be purchased from a distributor at a steep discount, and then separated into 10 routes for distribution on January 11, the first day of school following the holiday recess. | |
The generosity of the Puerto Vallarta community was very much in evidence earlier this month as 100's of organizers and supporters of the Toys for Tots program gathered to raise in excess of $300,000 pesos. Combined with another generous grant of $250,000 pesos from Scotiabank, more than 10,000 needy kids will receive a toy in this, the 11th year of the program.
 The fundraisers this year were well attended, and more exciting than ever. The golf tournament on December 12 was fully underwritten by the Vista Vallarta Golf Club, and included for the 1st time a luncheon and awards ceremony after completion of play.
Golf prizes were awarded in a number of categories, with the winners receiving golf-related goods and equipment donated by the TaylorMade Golf Company of California. To add even more excitement to the day, the local Toyota dealership generously put up a new Toyota sedan as a hole-in-one prize, which unfortunately went unclaimed. Maybe next year someone will get lucky!
The following day, December 13, the Marriott Casa Magna Resort and Spa hosted and fully funded a gala dinner-dance at which more than 200 guests enjoyed a gourmet dinner prepared by Marriott's award-winning chef, and danced the night away to an outstanding band donated by Coldwell Banker La Costa Real Estate.
A notable presence on the dance floor was Sgt. Henry Carbajales from the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City. He was representing the U.S. Marine Corps, which founded the worldwide Toys for Tots program in 1947. A silent auction during the evening generated added excitement. It included a number of valuable art works, jewelry, and other prized items.
Now comes the really fun part, distributing toys to more than 10,000 eagerly awaiting kids. The toys will be purchased from a distributor at a steep discount, and then separated into 10 routes for distribution on January 11, the first day of school following the holiday recess.
The main organizers of Toys for Tots Vallarta, the PV Navy League and Marriott, now have 10 years of experience doing this, and have clearly developed routes to some of the poorest and remote corners of the Bahía from Cabo Corrientes in the South to Nayarit in the North and inland as far as Mascota. More than 150 volunteers, including Mexican Navy personnel, Vallarta Adventures, and others will assist the Navy League and Marriott in handling these 15 routes.
If anyone else would like to go along to assist, all you need do is show up at the Marriott parking lot on January 11 no later than 8 am, where you'll be assigned to a route that best fits your schedule and sense of adventure. You'll visit parts of Vallarta you'd normally never see, and come away with a renewed Christmas spirit after witnessing 100's of smiles on kids who would not otherwise receive gifts from the Three Kings.
What a great way to not only make an underprivileged kid smile, but more importantly help in instilling a sense of inclusion and hope for the future, leading hopefully to more kids staying in school beyond just a few years.
The Vallarta Toys for Tots team wishes to thank their many sponsors and supporters, and hope to see many new faces at toy distribution day on January 11. |
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