Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - The Second Annual Red Ribbon Gala to benefit SETAC, Puerto Vallarta's LGBT Wellness Center, held on Wednesday, December 5, at Mantamar Beach Club, was a huge success, providing the sold-out crowd with an evening of fabulous food, fun and friendship.

This over-the-top event was produced by Mexico Event Design and LOve Producciones y Eventos, who successfully convened renowned chefs, along with international performers, Gavin Creel, Tony-award winning singer/actor, and Seth Rudetsky, Emmy-nominated comedy writer and afternoon deejay on the SiriusXM Broadway channel, who entertained the crowd with Broadway tunes and Christmas songs.

The performers' participation was made possible by SETAC's close association with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and its executive director, Tom Viola, who has been a stalwart SETAC supporter and sponsor of the non-profit organization for several years.

The evening began on 'just the right note,' with a professional wine tasting led by Nina Goodhope of Cork & Bottle, which was followed by a four-course, sit-down dinner prepared by chefs from some of the finest restaurants in Puerto Vallarta, who worked together in an innovative and collaborative fashion to create a spectacular gourmet meal.

Raffle tickets were sold throughout the evening with the winners taking home a variety of great prizes, such as dinners, deluxe hotel and condo stays, $5000 peso gift certificates from Lan's Department Store, spa treatments, Vallarta Botanical Garden memberships and more, all donated by generous individuals and businesses.

All of the monies raised will be used to both launch and continue several pivotal projects at the SETAC LGBT Community & Wellness Center, whose mission is to reduce HIV and other sexually transmitted infections in Jalisco's coastal region and Banderas Bay, through education and behavior modification that encourages responsible sexual health decisions.

"While many people tend to associate sexually transmitted infections in general - and HIV in particular - with the gay community, the fact is that many women are also affected. Consequently, their newborns are at risk. With the funds raised at the 2018 Red Ribbon Gala we will be able to continue to provide our community with a safe, comfortable environment, where they can take advantage of our services," commented Paco Arjona, Executive Director of SETAC.

"We are deeply grateful to Almar Resort/Mantamar Beach Club Owner, Vidal Meza Peņa, for opening his doors to us, and for all of the support we received from the community," SETAC Founder, Ed Thomas, added. "Thanks to the participation of our guests, as well as that of everyone who donated time, service and goods to the event, we were able to raise much-needed funds that will help us continue offering programs to improve the entire community's physical, emotional and spiritual well being, as well as community activities that encourage solidarity and fraternity through equality and respect for everyone."

Located at Aldanaca 178 4A & 4B, in the Colonia Versalles of neighborhood of Puerto Vallarta, SETAC is a non-profit community and wellness center whose mission is to reduce HIV and other sexually transmitted infections in the greater Banderas Bay region through education, detection and prevention. Free counseling, testing, treatments and referrals for HIV and other sexual transmitted illness are just some of the free services SETAC provides to the entire population, without prejudice or discrimination. For more information, follow SETAC on Facebook, visit the website, call (322) 224-1974 or email contacto(at)setac.com.mx.