Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - On Sunday, November 11, 2012, the "Community Cares Gala" fundraising event will be held to benefit the SETAC Community Centre and the newly formed Puerto Vallarta Men's Choir (PVMC). The Gala will be held at Bistro Balsamar Restaurant starting at 6 pm with a cocktail reception followed by dinner and performances by ACT II Entertainment and members of the PVMC.

One of the beneficiaries of the Gala is Solidaridad Ed Thomas, Asociación Civil (SETAC), the first Gay, Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender Community Center (GLBT) in Mexico, which officially opened in October 2009. SETAC is located at Constitucion #427 and provides access to comprehensive and essential care services to the GLBT community including support in recovery from alcoholism, HIV prevention, education, and testing, along with support groups in both Spanish and English.

SETAC offers the GLBT community, their families, and friends, a variety of services meant to improve their physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. They also help in creating networks between the GLBT and non-GLBT communities, allowing opportunities for everyone to experience, learn, and participate in the mutual development of our communities. The SETAC Center also has a referral system for low income individuals needing medical assistance as well as psychological services. SETAC receives no public funding and is supported through private donations and various fundraising events.

The second beneficiary, the newly formed Puerto Vallarta Men's Chorus, is Mexico's only all-male chorus and is comprised of approximately 50 to 100 gay Mexican and ex-pat members. PVMC's goal is to entertain, enlighten and unify their audiences by using the power of music to recognize the value of the gay community, which helps build bridges of greater acceptance to their members' families, the city of Puerto Vallarta, and the country of Mexico. PVMC presents their musical selections in both English and Spanish. To learn more about PVMC's upcoming season, please visit PVMensChorus.org.

Craig Hinman and Jacques Bourguignon, recent Canadian expats to Puerto Vallarta, are organizing the Community Cares Gala as their contribution to benefiting two of their favorite organizations. They feel that both SETAC and PVMC are committed to making a difference in the community and are proud to help them achieve their fundraising goals.

Tickets for the event are priced at $450 pesos and the net proceeds will be divided equally between the two designated organizations. Tickets are available on a first come first serve basis at the SETAC Centre, Constitucion #427 and at Bistro Balsamar, Basilio Badillo #223. Please show your support for these two wonderful organizations.

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The purpose of the SETAC Puerto Vallarta Gay, Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) Community Center, located at Constitucion #427 on the corner of Manuel Dieguez, is to provide essential services to the GLBT community, including support in recovery from alcoholism and other afflictions, physical and mental health treatment and referrals, education and recreation in an atmosphere of safety, free from discrimination. For more information, contact Paco Arjona at (322) 224-1974 or paco(at)setac.com.mx.

Click HERE to learn more about Centro Comunitario SETAC-GLBT.