Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - When a mother looks into the huge eyes of her new born baby and hears his first cries for leche, (milk) she gently cradles him against the warmth of her body and, with her heart filled with awe and love for her tiny, innocent babe, most mothers begin to breast feed their offspring.

Sadly, this is not the case for Mom's struggling with the Aids virus. What a terrible position to be in; she is taking a huge chance if she feeds her child breast milk, but the newborn will surely die if she cannot give him/her nourishment.

In Puerto Vallarta, there are currently 12 babies who are at risk of getting the Aids virus through their Mother's milk, but there is no social safety net in place - no Milk Bank, nor resources - to help provide formula/leche to these newborns.

This is where Puerto Vallarta's GBLT Community Center, SETAC, and the Puerto Vallarta HIV clinic, CAPASITS, come in to the picture. In April 2012, they launched their ongoing "Mother's Got Milk" project to help meet this critical need.

SETAC's Mother's Got Milk Project means a new mother struggling with her own declining health can safely feed her newborn child. Community donations helped purchase the most critically needed item - powdered infant formula - for babies of HIV-positive mothers living right here in Puerto Vallarta.

The formula is prohibitively expensive for these families, and with growing babies, there's always a need for more, so on March 19th, 2013, Encuentros Restaurant on Lazaro Cardenas will host a 'Gala Benefit for Babies at Risk.'

Join us at 6 pm on March 19th, 2013 at the beautiful Encuentros Restaurant, located at Lazaro Cardenas #308, for an unforgettable evening of fun and friendship featuring live entertainment by Chris Kenny, Jorge Acosta, and a special surprise guest; Door Prizes, Raffles and 50/50 drawings; and a Fashion Show by Cobblestones.

Tickets cost just $300 pesos ($100 pesos towards food or drink, $200 pesos towards formula!) and are available for purchase at the following businesses on on PV's Southside:

Setac, Constitucion #427; Cobblestones, Francisco Madero; Kubukis, Olas Atlas; Encuentros Bar and Lounge, Lazaro Cardenas #306; or by emailing kaynash2010(at)hotmail.com

You can also get your tickets at the door starting at 5 pm on the day of the event (No early birds, please!)

With your help, the SETAC Community Center's Gala Benefit for Babies at Risk will enable a young mother's greatest joy to continue. Her child will grow to be healthy and happy... a child of promise. Get your tickets today!

Through their continued efforts, such as the Mother's Got Milk Project and Babies at Risk Gala Benefit, the SETAC Community Center offers the GLBT community, along with their families and friends, a variety of services meant to improve their physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. Creating a network between members of the GLBT and non-GLBT community allows opportunities for members to experience, learn and participate in the mutual development of our common community.

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.