Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - If you look in my dictionary under Fabulous you will find "Becas Ball." Our presidents Mariel and Carlos Fregoso have been working almost full time for months to make the March 8 Becas Ball live up to my dictionary entry. There are so many reasons for this, but let me give you just a few, leaving some surprises for Ball goers.

Upon entering the outdoor space to get your table number, you will receive a Becas Gift Bag, sponsored by Marcelo Mico Pilates. The bags themselves are keepers, and they will be filled with discount cards from folks such as Cassandra Shaw Jewelry and Melchor Cortes Spanish School, gifts from Timothy Real Estate Group, Lalo Morales, Xocodiva Artisan Chocolates, Diamonds International, and more.

You will also be given a Door Prize Number that could win an exquisite long string of Chinese Pearls designed, crafted and donated by the famous Mexico City jewelry designer Nino Foppiani; a two day stay in one of Ron Morgan's luxury condos; Xocodiva Artisan Chocolates, and more.

You are then in attendance at the social event of the season, considered by the community as an event not to be missed. The decorations, by famous producer Rocco Troyani, will take your breath away. Rocco seems to be able to outdo himself year after year. The cocktail hour, designed and hosted by the Four Seasons, Punta De Mita, will be in the lovely outdoor garden and will feature signature drinks from that famous five star hotel. While you enjoy the one-of-a-kind cocktails, you will have time to peruse the myriad of gifts and gift certificates in the Silent Auction.

Items available in the Silent Auction begin with dinners from Archie's Wok, Bravos Restaurant Bar, Café des Artistes, Coco's Kitchen, Daiquiri Dick's, La Palapa, No Way José!, Old Town Bistro, River Café, Sonora Grill, and many more.

You will have the opportunity to bid on stays in many extraordinary hotels and inns both in Vallarta and all over the state, some of which are Hotel Casa Encantada in Patzcuaro, Quinta Don Jose B&B in Tlaquepaque, Casa Magna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa, Puerto Vallarta's Hacienda San Angel and Casa Isabel, Alma del Sol in Guanajuato, La Perla B&B in Guadalajara, Four Seasons Mexico City, Four Seasons Punta de Mita, and the Grand Mayan in Nuevo Vallarta.

Bidding will also be on many objects de arte including original paintings by Ada Colorina, Meg Monroe, Martha Gilbert, Juan Ramon Navarro and Victoria Ryan; prints by Marta Gilbert, Peter Gray, Stefan Lókós, etc.; and beautiful jewelry by June Rosen, Cassandra Shaw, Alfredo Franco and Diamonds International. There will be flowers and plants from the Botanical Gardens, Florart, and Flowers to Go. There will be rounds of Golf from the local clubs! And this is just a partial list, so bring your check books - we take US and Mexican checks, pesos or dollars, but do not have the ability to charge to your credit card.

Thierry Blouet of Café des Artistes designed and will supervise the preparation of the four course meal that will be presented at the fabulously Troyani decorated tables for ten. Each table will be graced with two bottles of wine (if you need more, we have it for sale) for your pleasure with Thierry's menu: Light Pea Cream Soup with Brussel Sprouts au Champagne, Super Marinated Salmon Blinis, Coq au Vin, Passion Fruit Sorbet with Berry Sauce, Hazelnuts Mille Feuille, and Petit Fours.

While enjoying this gourmet's delight, the famous group Odisea from Ciudad Guzman will play for your dancing pleasure as well as put on a show with beautiful girls and handsome men with captivating voices and dancing skills. This group has thrilled Becas Ball goers for the last several years and never disappoints. They always produce some surprises and this year will be no different. So bring your dancing shoes and your listening ears.

This Ball is Becas Vallarta, A.C.'s largest fund raiser of the year with the funds used to give scholarships to over 400 students with great ability but limited economic resources. Scholarships start at the second year of junior high and run through senior high and university. Of the 400+, the number at each level is about even. Once we accept a student in the program, we promise to fund his or her education until the goal is reached, even if the goal is to become a doctor. We only require that the scholarship recipient maintain a grade point average of 8.5, be a good citizen in school and at home, live in Puerto Vallarta and help with events when asked. You will have the opportunity to meet more than twenty of these university scholarship students at the Ball and you can identify them by the Black and Gold shirts they will wear. You will have a lovely experience chatting with any of these bright young people.

Here are the facts - Time: 6:00 pm through 12:30 am. Place: Patio Los Arcos, Club Regina, Marina Vallarta. Tickets: $1500 pesos or $120 US Dollars, US or Mexican checks, dollars or pesos accepted, and must be purchased in advance from any Becas Member or by contacting Polly Vicars at (322) 223-1371 or phvicars(at)gmail.com. Suggested dress colors: pink, black, gold. See you there?