Puerto Vallarta - The American Legion Post 14 of Puerto Vallarta announces their "P.V. Poker Tour Fundraiser," a charity event benefiting Corazon de Nina and Youth Sports.

Participants will be required to make a $100 peso donation to take part in the event which will start at 1:00 pm at Steve's Bar, American Legion Post 14 headquarters. Next we'll go across the street to Nacho Daddy - then we start the tour.

We'll stop in at Thirsty Cougar, Monchis/Pour Favor, Escondida Sports Bar, Cheeky Monkey, Cafe Roma, and will finish up around 5:00 at Murphy's Irish Pub with a raffle drawing and the poker hand winners. Three taxi buses will be provided by the participating bars - players can ride in these buses or walk.

Fifty percent of the donation proceeds will be divided between Corazon de Nina and Youth Sports. The other half will be distributed to the Poker winners, with first place receiving 50 percent, second place receiving 30 percent and third place with 20 percent.

Corazon de Nina is a local non-profit children's shelter dedicated to providing housing, education, food, medical care, and love to young girls who have been removed from shockingly abusive situations.

Youth Sports, which is highly supported by American Legion Post 14, features Futbol Americano in the Banderas Bay area and includes Vallarta's "Torpedos " and the "Piratas" out of Nuevo. They operate similar to US Pop Warner football with ages 7 to 18 boys and girls playing.

The American Legion is also working through the Jay Sadler Project, the Recreation Director of the municipality, and DIF to set up a basketball league at the Aurora Recreation Center. To start, we are sponsoring 4 teams of 10 players and 4 coaches, and the Legion will pay for the coaches, balls, and shirts. We are recruiting players now and hope to start in March. Jon Murphy - A. L. member, vice president of the Navy League, excellent basketball player at the Coast Guard Academy, and owner of Murphy's Irish Pub - will be holding clinics for the players in April.

Advance tickets may be purchased at any of the above locations - all of which are located in Old Town and Downtown Puerto Vallarta. Steve's Bar is located at #286 Basilio Badillo in Old Town. Telephone is (322) 222-0256. For more information, email Dennis Rike at dennis2rike(at)hotmail.com.

You won't want to miss this!