| | |  News from Around Banderas Bay | October 2008 
Vallarta's Heart Goes Out to Gib
 PVNN
| | At the October 22nd fundraiser Gib's friends raised a total of $60,000 pesos, which enabled him to schedule his first treatment on October 27th. | | |
Just about everybody who lives in Puerto Vallarta or even spends time here in the winter, knows Gib Hauersperger. Gib was, for years, the concierge at the Blue Chairs Resort Hotel and then at Brisas del Mar. And, most currently, he has been named the concierge at the new Blue Seas Resort on Los Muertos Beach.
Gib's huge smile and helpful attitude are known to all his friends and literally thousands of visitors to our resort town. Gib's former partner, Shane, also known as Miss Ida Slapter, performed frequently at many venues around town.
It was with sadness that the community learned very recently that Gib had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and would be treated with chemotherapy. Knowing Gib, we all had no doubt that he would not only make the right choices about his own medical care, but that he would tackle his situation with vigor and courage. Then came the news that Gib had no medical insurance to cover his treatments.
Gib's friends obviously take their lead from him. That means that you address all situations with vigor and courage. So it was only days until Tom and Luis of Frida's Bar (on Lazarus Cardenas, across from Farmacia Guadalajara) came up with the idea of throwing a benefit ... quickly ... to help raise a good start on the funds that would be needed over the next several months.
They talked to Peter Deep of Club Mañana and Seth Cloutman, owner and chef of Qué Raro, the new restaurant that offers American-style comfort food inside of Club Mañana, located at Venustiano Carranza 290, corner of Calle Constitución. Next, they contacted Gib's closest friends, Christopher Wynn Anderson, Derald Long and Lee Bright. In less than two weeks the whole thing was put together.
It was held on Wednesday, 22 October 2008, at Club Mañana, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Some one hundred and fifty people, principally local full-time residents, showed up. They paid a suggested donation at the door of $250 pesos, along with anything extra they wanted to drop in the special "extra donation for Gib box" at the door.
Frida's Bar donated the red and white wine, which was poured generously all around the pool terrace by friendly and accommodating waiters. Peter Deep donated the space and extra personnel, and Seth Cloutman prepared a fabulous buffet, which stretched out on a long table. It included:
• Caesar Salad
• Meatloaf with Homemade Tomato Cream Sauce
• Buttermilk Marinated Southern Fried Chicken
• Slow Braised Pork Ribs w/Homemade Barbeque Sauce
• Yankee Pot Roast
• Roasted Vegetable Lasagna
• Beer Battered Cod with Tartar Sauce
• Mashed Potatoes with Country Gravy, Creamed Spinach, Old Fashioned Boston Baked Beans, Herb Roasted Vegetables, Onion Rings and Creamed Corn
• Cinnamon Rice Pudding, Bourbon Bread Pudding and Indian (chocolate) Pudding
This feast, which never ran out of anything all night, was backed up by a long table across the stage of Club Mañana. It contained a couple dozen silent auction items donated by local businesses and personal friends of Gib's, crowned by one fabulous headdress made locally a few years ago for Miss Ida Slapter. As the night continued, the bidding and over-bidding got frantic until the auction was finally closed about 8:30.
One of the highlights of the evening was the appearance of stand-up comedian Alec Mapa, a long-time friend of Seth's, who was in town on the Atlantis Cruise ship. When Seth spoke to him, he volunteered his time to perform at the event. Alec, who currently is appearing on the American TV series Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives had us all rolling in the aisles. He is one funny guy.
By the time the evening concluded, Gib's friends raised a total of $60,000 pesos, given to him for his immediate needs. This enabled Gib to schedule his first treatment for Monday, 27 October.
Here's the best part about this benefit. Not one of the people mentioned above took one penny for costs or expenses. Yes, that's right. They gave 100% of the proceeds to Gib, considering their costs just part of the gift. Now that, my fellow Vallartenses, is the way to run a benefit for a cause that you really feel passionate about. Gib attended and spoke briefly. He was, to say the least, very touched by everyone's presence and their overwhelming generosity. |
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