Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico - For the last fourteen years, the now traditional Toys for Tots December fund raisers have been among the most popular events of the season. This year, they'll be celebrating the 15th anniversary of delivering Three King's Day gifts to less advantaged kids throughout the greater Banderas Bay region.

For the past 14 years, Toys for Tots Vallarta and local volunteers have delivered an average of more than 8,000 toys/year, and they hope to surpass that number this year. With that in mind, they are proud to announce their two major fund raisers for the 2014-2015 holiday season.

The Toys for Tots December fund-raisers are always among the most popular events of the season. This year, the Toys for Tots Golf Scramble will be held at the Vista Vallarta Golf Club, Weiskopf course, on Saturday, December 6. The Scramble format with a shotgun start begins at 11 am. Groups can sign up together or individual golfers or small groups can be matched up with others to participate. There will be prizes for hole-in-one, lowest score, and the category with the stiffest competition - worst team! Golfers will also have a chance to win awesome door prizes.

Then on Sunday December 7th, be prepared to kick up your heels at the Gala Dinner Dance in the ballroom of the Marriott CasaMagna Resort and Spa. This "casually formal" dinner starts at 6:30 pm, and includes delicious food, an open bar, a performance by the 'Los Polvitos' children's Mariachi band, a silent auction and more great door prizes.

Cost to participate in the golf tournament is $1300 pesos ($100 USD) per golfer. Dinner tickets are available for $1000 pesos ($80 USD) per person.

Tickets are available at the Marriott concierge desk, at the Vista Vallarta and Marina Vallarta golf pro shops, Carol's Boutique on Basilio Badillo #250 in the Romantic Zone (044-322-137-4902), from just about any member of the Navy League, or by calling Dorothy Piontkowski in the Marina area at (322) 209-0064.

All proceeds from Toys for Tots fund raisers are used to buy thousands of toys at a steep discount from a major toy wholesaler in Guadalajara. Generous local sponsors underwrite all of the program expenses, including the use of the Vista Vallarta course, the Marriott CasaMagna Resort, which provides its facilities and the gourmet dinner, and the many local businesses that make generous cash donations towards the purchase of toys.

The goal this year is to put smiles on the deserving faces of 10,000 needy kids in Puerto Vallarta and outlying communities when the toys are distributed on Wednesday, January 7th. (The day schools resume classes after the Christmas break.)

Educators tell us something as small as a visit by the Three Kings with the gift of a toy can create a sense of inclusion and hope with these kids, and perhaps inspire some of them to stay in school and build a better life just like the more privileged kids. So we're not only handing out toys, but perhaps giving the gifts of pride and hope as well.

We hope everyone can find a way to participate in these heart-warming and fun activities this Christmas season.