Vallarta Cares has been recognized for its ongoing work supporting vulnerable people and families in Puerto Vallarta, receiving first place in the interior of Jalisco at the 2026 Premio a la Generosidad Jalisco.
The award was presented during a ceremony at Guadalajara’s Degollado Theater, presided over by Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro and attended by representatives of the Guadalajara Food Bank, government, business and civil society organizations.
Created in 2022, the Jalisco Generosity Award recognizes individuals, foundations and civil associations with a history of helping people in need. Now in its fifth edition, the program highlights organizations working in areas including food assistance, health, disability services, and support for children and older adults.
For Vallarta Cares, the recognition reflects how much the organization has grown since its beginnings during the COVID-19 pandemic. What started as a grassroots food bank has developed into a broader community support network providing food, drinking water, medical and dental care, educational assistance and disaster relief.
The organization also helps people experiencing homelessness by delivering food and works with families seeking employment and trying to get their children enrolled in school. Its goal is to provide more than short-term assistance by helping people gain access to services and opportunities that can improve their lives.
Vallarta Cares operates through Alacena por Amor a Vallarta AC, which received 250,000 pesos for winning first place in the category for organizations working in communities outside the Guadalajara metropolitan area.
The Western Muscular Dystrophy Association received 250,000 pesos after taking first place in the Guadalajara metropolitan area. The organization has spent three decades providing therapies, psychological support, medication and assistive equipment to people with muscular dystrophy and their families.
Contigo Más Vida AC received 200,000 pesos for its work assisting low-income men with cancer. Its services include lodging, meals, medication, physical and emotional therapy and support.
Together, the three organizations received 700,000 pesos in awards.
During the ceremony, Governor Lemus praised the contribution of civil society organizations and said state resources allocated to the sector will increase next year. The Food Bank of Guadalajara and the State Government jointly sponsor the Generosity Award.
The ceremony also included a posthumous recognition for businessman Jorge Vergara Madrigal for his social work through the For the Children of the Planet Foundation and the Jorge Vergara Foundation. The names of this year’s winners will be added to the Monument to Social Assistance in Jalisco.
For Vallarta Cares co-founder Francie (Frankie) Victoria Bañuelos, the award belongs to the entire community that has supported the organization since its earliest days.
“After a year of difficult challenges, this recognition gives us encouragement to keep serving people and families in need,” Bañuelos said. “Vallarta Cares began with our community, and our community continues to sustain it.”
She added that the honor recognizes the staff, volunteers, donors and partners who have helped turn compassion into action.
For an organization that began by responding to an immediate crisis, the award is another indication of how Vallarta Cares has become an ongoing source of support for people across Puerto Vallarta.
To learn more, volunteer, or donate, please visit vallartacares.org, and be sure to like/follow them on Facebook to stay up to date on what they are doing to help the community.
Vallarta Cares is 100% volunteer based, but all of their work would be impossible without the generosity of donors and supporters. If you would like to help the families of Puerto Vallarta get through trying times, please visit vallartacares.org for donation information.
