Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and Casa Cupula have both recently come through with sizeable cash donations for our local AIDS organization, Vallarta Enfrenta el SIDA (Vallarta Confronts AIDS in English, or VES for it's acronym). As this important local organization relies 100% on donations, the arrival of these funds is very timely and greatly appreciated.

Based in New York City, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) is a group of concerned individuals including singers, actors and other people connected with Broadway productions. One of their mandates is to raise funds to donate to AIDS organizations. The proceeds of their fundraising initiatives are primarily dispersed in the New York City area, but are also granted to worthy AIDS organizations around the world. Recently while visiting Vallarta, BC/EFA Executive Director Tom Viola heard about VES and on March 6, 2008, a $5000 grant was awarded to our local AIDS organization.

In addition to this large grant from BC/EFA, Don Pickens, owner of Casa Cupula, also came through with a generous donation. Pickens regularly asks guests at his hotel for financial contributions to VES, which he matches up to $500. The total contribution from Casa Cupula was $24,000 pesos.

Paul Crist, President of VES, is excited about these two substantial financial contributions. The organization will use the funds for its major initiatives. Part of the funds will be used to financially support patients at the local HIV clinic known as CAPASITS (Centro Ambulatorio para la Prevención y Atención de SIDA e Infecciones de Transmisión Sexual), who would otherwise be unable to pay for necessary medical treatment. Funds will also be used to produce the next VES Health Fair, to be held on April 4, 2008, in Colonia Remances. This will be the third health fair organized by VES, at which they offer counseling and information on HIV and AIDS, as well as free rapid HIV testing, in nearby communities where such services are scarce or non-existent. Test results are available the following day at CAPASITS, along with additional counseling by a VES staff psychologist. VES also invites healthcare professionals from other medical specialties to participate in these health fairs, which broadens the range of information presented and helps to attract a diverse public to the events.

Hats off to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and Casa Cupula for their generous contributions to Vallarta Enfrenta el SIDA! For further information or if you can help in any way go to: www.bcefa.org, www.casacupula.com, www.vallartaenfrentasida.org or contact Paco Arjona, Executive Director of Vallarta Enfrenta el SIDA at tel: 322-223-0535 or email: pacoarjona@vallartaenfrentasida.org