Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - The International Friendship Club (IFC) announced that the next Cleft Palate Clinic and Surgeries will be held in May this year. Due to a variety of circumstances surgeries will not be held in February as they normally are.

For the last 23 years the IFC has funded and organized a program for the children of Puerto Vallarta who have been born with a cleft palate, and the many problems that accompany this affliction. At any given time there will be as many as 200 children from birth to age 18 in this program that brings talented doctors from Guadalajara who specialize in making these children whole.

Guillermo now, at age 7

Dr. Ezequiel Fuentes and his team come to Puerto Vallarta four times each year to perform surgeries and meet with the children to review their needs.

In addition to closing the lip and palate, additional plastic surgeries are performed. Dental and orthodontia work are provided, and most children will see a speech therapist several times a month for many years. All of these services are provided free of charge by the IFC for the children in the program.

April Mitten, new Medical Chairperson for the IFC, will speak about the Cleft Palate Program at the IFC General Meeting on March 13th, at 7 pm, at the IFC Clubhouse on the northeast corner of the Rio Cuale Bridge above the HSBC Bank.

Recently the IFC came across the father of a cleft palate program child at the Sea Monkey Restaurant on Los Muertos Beach. Eric Davies, an IFC volunteer and officer, went to the Sea Monkey to solicit some door prizes for an IFC fund raiser from the manager, Guillermo "Memo" Zepeda Palomera. When he told Memo who he was and what he represented, Memo had tears in his eyes as he told Eric about his 7 year old son, also Guillermo, who was born with a cleft lip and palate.

He proceeded to tell Eric how the IFC became involved, and how thankful he is to the group. Memo brought out photos of his little boy to show to Eric, and at age 7 he looks wonderful! Young Guillermo had his lip closed when he was 3 months old and his palate was closed before he reached 3 years old. His progress is still followed by the IFC program and he will have ongoing services as needed. Needless to say the Sea Monkey was very generous with the raffle prizes!

The primary funding for this ongoing program comes from three sources; IFC memberships, special events, and the IFC Original Home Tours. The tours depart every Wednesday and Thursday morning at 10:30 am from November through April from in front of La Albufera Restaurant, Aquiles Serdan and I. Vallarta, just past the southbound bridge in the Zona Romantica. Memberships and tickets can both be purchased online or at the IFC Clubhouse.

Tickets for the Home Tour can also be purchased at the departure location beginning at 9 am the day of the tour. For more information on the International Friendship Club, its mission, the charities it supports, and the activities that it is in engaged in, please visit the IFC website, or call them at (322) 222-5466. Your involvement can make a difference in the life of a child!