LOS AMIGOS PAST EVENTS

Second Annual Fundraiser a Resounding Success!

Los Amigos de La Peņita held its 2nd Annual Fiesta La Peņita benefit on Sunday, February 8, 2009. The event was hosted by Thomas Bartlett at Hacienda de La Peņita, his internationally acclaimed estate.

Photo Credit: Thanks to Eddie Dominguez		more photos »

This benefit event featured a guided house tour, a hosted bar and finger foods, music and dancing. Entertainment was provided by a number of local performers - Ja'Qui, Mimi Flammang, Giovana and the Young Ladies of La Peņita (Osiris, Islis and Marisol). There was also a silent auction of donated art and other valuable items as well as a number of door prizes.

The fundraiser was a huge success. Roughly 200 people attended and, although final figures are still being calculated, proceeds from ticket sales and the silent auction together amounted to approximately 212,000 pesos.

We also introduced and sold the first copies of the Los Amigos "Recetas Favoritas" to raise another 4,200 pesos. Kudos to Mary Alice Ranta for organizing and editing and to Jeanie Mintzmyer for formatting and producing the final version.

A number of dignitaries attended the event, including Lic. Hectór López Santiago, Presidente Municipal; Luís Enrique Medina Cuevas, Sindico Municipal; and Lic. Jose Luis Bejar Fonseca.

Our profound thanks to our host, Thomas Bartlett, for his gracious and generous support and for providing the inviting and welcoming ambience of his Hacienda La Peņita. Thomas's decision to underwrite the full cost of this event means that all of the monies raised will go to support the work of Los Amigos.

Our thanks also go out to all of the individuals and businesses who donated items to the silent auction or to be used as door prizes.

We also owe our gratitude to the businesses who volunteered to serve as tickets outlets - Xaltemba Restaurant and Galeria, Hidden Paradise Real Estate, Daniel's Backstreet, Bavarian Gardens, Latitude 21 and Doris Chabot - Coldwell Banker La Costa.

A number of media outlets have been invaluable in helping to promote not only Fiesta La Peņita but the other activities that Los Amigos has been involved in over the winter - particularly our recycling program, the beach clean-up and the EcoPark. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Jaltemba Sol, Jaltemba Bay Folk, the Riviera Nayarit Forum, Vallarta Lifestyles, Vallarta Tribune and Vallarta Today for helping us get the word out.

This event would not have been possible without the Los Amigos members and other volunteers who worked tirelessly to ensure the event was a success:

• Sydney Richmond, Gail Gafuik, Deborah Drew and Nelson Gothie for organizing and producing an extremely successful silent auction and door prize drawings;
• Ian Richmond for very ably and efficiently managing ticket sales;
• Anne and Dave Easby for working to promote the event;
• Sarah Walker for managing and directing the venue at Hacienda La Peņita and Ralph Reichert for serving as the liaison between Sarah and the Planning Committee;
• Bob Gibbs, who did an admirable job as master of ceremonies;
• Roberto Gil de Montes for organizing and arranging for the food service and Eddie Dominquez for lending the support of Xaltemba Restaurant to our event;
• Our volunteer entertainers - Ja'Qui, Mimi Flammang, Giovana and the Young Ladies of La Peņita - and Juan Flammang, who made sure we heard them all;
• Bruce Hilton, Lin Chimes, Barbara Higgins and Lupita Cobian who made sure that reception went smoothly;
• Eddie Dominguez and Jeanie Mintzmyer who helped capture the event on film;
• Our docents - Agneta Dyck, Helma Stewart, Sara Ferguson, Nora Dixon, Olga Porter, Mary Alice Ranta, Anne Easby, David Hughes, Ralph Reichert, Joyce Vanderstaak, Peter Martin, Bob Tripp, Margarete Arnold, Magie Walker and Tom Plattenberger; and
• The Planning Committee who held it all together - Tom Plattenberger, Ben Ussery, Ian and Sydney Richmond, Ralph Reichert and Dave Easby.

And last, but certainly not least, we want to offer our heartfelt thanks to those of you who attended or/and made donations and showed your support for Los Amigos.

Muchas, muchas gracias a todas!

Ken Snyder, International President
Zobeida Lozano Barrera, National President
Tom Plattenberger, Chairman, Fundraising Committee

Acknowledgements »
Event Photos »
Stationary Camera Photos »

Fiesta La Peņita 2008 »