Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico – The International Friendship Club (IFC) Puerto Vallarta has released its latest Impact Report, showcasing another year of support for local organizations that improve healthcare, education, and family well-being throughout the region.
Founded in 1986 by a group of expats committed to helping children born with cleft lips and cleft palates receive life-changing medical care, the IFC has grown into a non-partisan, non-sectarian volunteer organization dedicated to strengthening the community. Through social, educational, and cultural activities, the club raises funds and mobilizes volunteers to address medical, humanitarian, and educational needs across Jalisco.
The organization’s annual report highlights the collective efforts of donors, volunteers, and community partners whose contributions continue to create opportunities for thousands of residents. According to the IFC, every grant awarded and every program supported reflects the generosity of people committed to building a stronger future for Puerto Vallarta.
Healthcare remains one of the club’s longest-standing priorities. For more than 41 years, IFC has helped organize cleft palate clinics that provide free surgeries and follow-up care for children born with cleft conditions. Three clinics are typically held each year, serving approximately 135 children and their families through volunteer medical teams and local partnerships.
Additional healthcare funding expanded rehabilitation services at Clínica de Rehabilitación Santa Bárbara, where a MXN $50,000 grant helped provide treatment for 40 additional patients, bringing the clinic’s total rehabilitation services to 915 people. IFC also supported hydrotherapy programs at Pasitos de Luz, benefiting 130 children with disabilities and 80 families through specialized rehabilitation services.
Families facing childhood cancer also received assistance through the Aid to Families of Children with Cancer (AFCC), with grants covering transportation to medical treatments, food baskets for 23 families, and educational support for children undergoing care.
The club’s community partnerships also strengthened programs that provide essential services for vulnerable children and families. Funding helped Casa Hogar Máximo Cornejo provide housing, meals, medical care, utilities, and education for 26 children living at the shelter. Grants to Dives en Misericordia supported meal programs, food baskets, and childcare services that allow parents to remain employed.
Support for Santa Esperanza Children’s Shelter (RISE) helped provide nutrition and infant formula for 35 children receiving around-the-clock care, while assistance to the Salvation Army funded daily lunches for 50 to 60 children in an underserved neighborhood. IFC also expanded support for Vallarta Cares, helping increase soup kitchen services for marginalized residents.
Education continues to be another major focus of the organization’s charitable giving. Through its partnership with Vallarta Abuelos, IFC helped provide backpacks and school supplies for as many as 700 at-risk students.
Funding for the Instituto de Artes Musicales de Puerto Vallarta (IAMPV) supported music instructors, instruments, orchestra members, and educational programs that reach more than 5,000 people each year. Grants also benefited Volcanes Community School, where more than 300 students receive free after-school instruction in English, computers, music, and other subjects.
The Leer y Crecer literacy program received support for books, teacher training, and library spaces in five schools, benefiting approximately 1,000 students. Additional educational assistance helped seven Indigenous university students through the Wixárika Research Center, while the Vallarta School for Girls received school supplies and academic support for 40 girls from underserved communities.
IFC also continued its commitment to arts education by funding uniforms, instruments, and instructors for Alas Escuela de Canto, giving Puerto Vallarta children and adults greater access to performing arts opportunities.
In her message accompanying the report, International Friendship Club President Peggy Nelson thanked the IFC’s supporters for making the year’s accomplishments possible, emphasizing that every donation represents hope, encouragement, and a shared commitment to improving lives throughout Puerto Vallarta.
The complete 2025-2026 Impact Report is available on the International Friendship Club Puerto Vallarta website, where supporters can also learn more about the organization’s programs and make donations to help continue its work.
The International Friendship Club is a registered charitable organization in Mexico listed as Club Internacional de la Amistad de Puerto Vallarta A.C. It is located at the northeast corner of the Rio Cuale Bridge above the HSBC Bank, Colonia El Centro, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico, 48300. Phone: 322-222-5466. Website: ifcvallarta.org Email: ifcvallarta(at)gmail.com
