Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Becas Vallarta is Changing Lives Through Education, and you can help the children of Vallarta go to school while 'having a ball,' at this year's Becas Ball. The Annual Becas Ball is Becas Vallarta, A.C.'s largest fund raiser of the year with the funds used to give scholarships to Puerto Vallarta students with great ability but limited economic resources.

Guelaguetza, the theme of this year's Ball, is the most representative festival of the State of Oaxaca. In the Zapotec language "Guelaguetza" means to cooperate. It is attitude, an inborn quality, a feeling the Zapoteca people have in loving their neighbor... a feeling of fraternity, of sharing nature and life.

The evening will be held on Friday, March 4th at the Westin Regina and will begin at six pm with cocktails provided by the Four Seasons Hotel Punta Mita. The dinner, under the direction of award-winning guest chef, Gerardo Sandoval, will be Oaxacan-themed. The evening's entertainment will feature Oaxaca-style Folkloric dances by Xiutla ballet and live music for dancing by Odisea.

Many of this year's Becados will be attending and will be introduced. Also attending will be some of the former Becados.

In addition to the exciting entertainment, there will be a silent auction featuring art work, jewelry, a cooking class by local gourmet chef Mavi Graf, hotel stays, green fees at Vista Vallarta and Litibu golf courses, and dinners at these and other fine local restaurants: Café des Artistes, Kaiser Maximilian, Trio, Vitea, Sonora Grill, River Café and Benitos.

Tickets are $1,700 pesos per person. For further information and to purchase your tickets, please contact Suzanne Erikson at (322) 221-5599, Terry Prill at 221-5465, or Mariel and Carlos Fregoso at 221-0789.