Rentals & Lodging Gay Vallarta Condos - Condominiums LP - Beach condos PB - Beach condos ED - 3 bedrooms MDA Vallarta Gay Hotels Gay Vallarta Villas - 2 bedroom villas - Three bedrooms - 4 bedroom villas More Vallarta condos Gay Puerto Vallarta Art Galleries Botanical Gardens Cafes - internet Calendar of Events Contact Info Fun - Excursions Gay Bars Gay Beach Gay Cruises Vallarta Gay Links, etc Gay Puerto Vallarta Global Gay Alerts Gyms - spas Law and Custom Lesbian Vallarta Map Malecon More Gay Bar photos More Gay Beach pics More Malecon photos More Restaurant pics Other Beaches Photos Carnival 2010 PV Sunset pictures Quick Gay Travel tips Restaurants Services Shopping Straight PV Nightlife Tourist Information Vallarta Photos Vallarta Weather

AIDS/SIDA The new organization Vallarta Confronts AIDS (Vallarta Enfrenta el SIDA) is involved in education and prevention programs, non-judgmental outreach to at-risk communities and groups, including MSM's, sex workers, IV drug users and others, as well as counseling and support for those affected, including HIV+ individuals, their families and loved ones. There some 300 AIDS cases in Puerto Vallarta. AIDS is now the second leading cause of death in Mexico for those 15-44 years old and there are more than 220,000 infected persons in the country. The high prevalence of bisexual behavior among men will have a major impact on the risk of HIV infection among women and children.  The Men of Vallarta 2008 Calendar, a high quality 12 month calendar with photography of some of the hottest guys in Puerto Vallarta is now available. For just $15 US, you'll be helping Vallarta Enfrenta el SIDA continue to do what they do best... and you get to enjoy 12 months of looking at these hot guys. Proceeds from the sale will benefit people of limited resources who are living with HIV in Puerto Vallarta and surrounding communities. Order by calling (322) 223-0535 in Mexico, 1-866-388-2689 toll free in the US and Canada, or send an email to paulcrist@hotel-mercurio.com Vallarta Enfrenta el SIDA provides funds for medical care, counseling services, and education and prevention programs, and is solely funded by donations and fund raising programs. Vallarta Confronts AIDS is 100% funded by donations. Contact Paul Crist at paulcrist@vallartaenfrentasida.org  Local Tel: 223-4793 or 223-0535. Alano Club: AA, NA, Al-Anon and CoDa AA meetings in English plus Al-Anon, NA, SLAA and Coda. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) general open group meetings Mon-Sat at 9am and 6:30pm and Sun at 11am; for women only Thurs at 10:30am; for men only Thurs at 8pm; Sun for gay and lesbian at 11am but call for location please. Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Daily at 5pm; Al-Anon, Mon and Fri at 6:30pm (Fri only May-Nov). N/A Step Sisters, Tues at 6:30pm. Co-Dependents (CoDa), mixed, Weds and Fri at 10:30 am. Over-Eaters Anonymous (OA), daily at 5pm. Meetings at the 329 Basilio Badillo, interior, across the street from Johnny's Diner. Further information Tel: 222-5711, 222-3906, 222-2505, or 209-0746 evenings. For current pertinent information, locations and contacts in the Puerto Vallarta-Banderas Bay area, from Yelapa to Guayabitos and beyond, visit the website of the Alano Club of Puerto Vallarta America-Mexico Foundation/Becas Vallarta The AMF is a volunteer, non-profit U.S tax-deductible foundation that works in conjunction with the non-profit Becas Vallarta organization to assists qualified Puerto Vallarta students continue their education by providing scholarships. These foundations together supply scholarships to some 200-250 high student and university students. Volunteers welcome. Find further information on their Becas Vallarta site and perhaps you can lend a helping hand. Contact: Mariel Fregoso, Tel: 221-0789 or Buri Gray, Tel: 221-5285. Bay and Beach Clean Up Organizes annual clean ups usually in mid-November after the rainy season and in mid-May before the rains begin. Dedicated to raising awareness among the peoples of Puerto Vallarta. Contact, Craig Caughlin, Tel: 223-2542 with email at zentiente@pvnet.com.mx Casa Hogar An orphanage near the airport/bus terminal run by Catholic nuns. Most of the children come from families who are unable to care adequately for them. Needs include food, hygiene supplies such as soap and shampoo, clothing and toys. Contact Luz Aurora, Tel: 221-1908. email casahogar_maximocornejo(at)hotmail.com Ecology Group of Puerto Vallarta The ecology group of Vallarta (Grupo Ecologico de Puerto Vallarta) believes that residents of the Banderas Bay area have the legal right and moral responsibility to participate in the conservation of the natural beauty and wildlife of the area as an essential element of our community. Contact: Sonia Aracely Contreras at her Email: muchotextil@yahoo.ca or R. C. Walker, Tel: 222-0897 at his Email: grupoecologicopv@yahoo.com.mx

Feed the Children Vallarta
Formed in 1998 with the mission to help the poor children who were living in and around the city dump, Children of the Dump’s main focus is on helping the children in Puerto Vallarta go to school and stay there. While there are no children now living in the dump, Feed the Children Vallarta provides food for more than 1,800 children daily in the  primary and kinder schools around the dump and an additional 1,500 children each week with their hot meals program. For information Children of the Dump/Feed the Children Puerto Vallarta  Contact Cell: 044-322-158-8815 / 322 223-4311
 

Grupo Ecologico de la Costa Verde, A.C. (Ecology Group of the Green Coast)
Founded in 1992, the Green Coast Ecology Group was originally set up to protect nesting turtles along the San Francisco (San Pancho) beaches in the state of Nayarit which begins just north of Puerto Vallarta. In April 1993 Groupo Ecologico de la Costa Verde received official recognition by the Mexican government to become the first non-profit environmental civil organization of the Nayarit region with a special interest in the protection of the marine turtle. Through the governmental offices of SEMARNAT (Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources) this ecology group has works to help protect all other endangered species of flora and fauna along that part of the Pacific Coast of Mexico. They sponsor environmental education programs as well.

International Friendship Club (IFC)
The Friendship Club is a group of expatriates from the U.S. and Canada whose goals include promoting friendship between the international and the local communities. The group works to provide funds to such community programs as school construction and education supplies, reconstructive surgery for cleft palate patients, emergency medical aid, AIDS, a local orphanage and physical rehabilitation clinic, as well as funding a large community food distribution program. The Club annually collects and distributes over $100,000 to 16 programs. Office at Edificio del Parian #13 upstairs, corner of Libertad and Miramar in downtown Vallarta. Mon-Fri, 9am-1pm. Tel: 222-5466  Email: ifcvallarta@gmail.com

Los Bambinos
A group of young Mexican brothers (and a cousin) available to sing at your gathering/celebration/party. You can catch them around town in the evenings singing at many of the restaurants and bars on the South Side. CDs also available. Email: gerardocarlos@yahoo.com  Tel: 222-6412

Make-a-Wish Foundation
Make-a-Wish Foundation of Mexico is a non-profit organization that grants wishes to children with life threatening illnesses who will not likely see their 18th birthday. One hundred percent of the funds are used for the wishes. Funded by corporate sponsors and private donations that are tax deductible in the U.S. and Mexico. Started up in Vallarta and active here since 2003, they work to grant wishes to children that are between 3 and 18 years old in all of Mexico. Office at 337-A San Salvador street, Colonia 5 de Diciembre, Puerto Vallarta. Contact Bob Mandel, Tel: 222-9111 and toll free: 01-800-337-3671. Further information visit Make-a-Wish Foundation of Mexico.

Mama Vallarta
A Puerto Vallarta non-profit foundation providing free food and support to unfortunate women, men, children and elderly people. Their free kitchen, located at 306 Luis Donaldo Colosio in the Remance neighborhood is open 1pm-7pm daily, with the main emphasis on children and the elderly. Established in September 2009 by Adriana & Gabbi Paz. A wish list of needed items include: new or used kitchen items, plates, glasses, tables, chairs, napkins, toilet paper, sheets, blankets, towels, beans, rice, pasta, milk, salt, pepper, sugar, flour, consommé, oatmeal, cooking oil, tomato sauce, cleaning supplies, baby formula, diapers etc.  For info and to offer assistance, contact, Tel: 221-5074 or cell: 044-322-101-6936 and email at MamaVallarta@yahoo.com

Melchor's Spanish Language School
Do you have a broken VERB? Do your PREPOSITIONS hurt? Are your CONJUNCTIONS swollen? Are you in a SUBJUNCTIVE mood? Three week course, with all levels of instruction. Visit Melchor's Spanish Language School in PV website. The only Puerto Vallarta language school using the famous Warren Hardy school materials. Contact Senor Melchor Cortes, from US at Cellular: 011-52-322-118-0822 or local Tel: 224-8917

Private Home Tours - International Friendship Club
Take a tour through some of Puerto Vallarta's and Banderas Bay's most beautiful homes and villas. Sponsored by the International Fellowship Club (IFC), the donation goes to the various Puerto Vallarta charities outlined above. Starting November 18, meet at Andale's on the Bay at 513 Olas Altas street at Rodolfo Gomez street, Weds and Thurs, $35 USD cash only. Ticket sales opens at 9am on tour day, there are no advance reservations. Bus departure at 10:30am, returns at 2:30pm after viewing 4 homes. Tours run from November through April. Try to wear comfortable walking shoes, and bring a camera. For further info call Tel: 222-5466 or email pvifc@ifcvallarta.com or Website: ifcpv.com/home-tours

Public Library Los Mangos (Biblioteca Los Mangos)
The public library of Vallarta needs funds to operate and increase their book inventory, as well as to help with the cultural center. Art classes, dance performances, etc. The Puerto Vallarta Public Library (in spanish) offers activities for local children every Sat morning 10am-Noon. Located at 1001 Avenida Francisco Villa, colonia Los Mangos. Contact director Ricardo Murrieta Grada, Tel: 224-9966, 293-1957.  Open, Mon-Fri, 9am-9pm; Sat, 10am-6pm

Red Cross/Cruz Roja
Handles hospital and emergency services locally, offering its services to those who are unable to afford it. In need of operating funds and equipment as well as volunteers, as you could well imagine. One of the outstanding organizations in Mexico that always offers massive assistance in earthquakes, hurricanes and other natural disasters that afflict the country. Contact the Red Cross clinic, Tel: 222-4973 or Aurea Torres, Tel: 222-2455.

Refugio Infantil Santa Esperanza RISE (Children's Shelter of Hope)
Shelter for babies and children under the age of fifteen, the Refuge was established in 2001 and is run by the nuns from the Order of Carmelites of Jesus of Nazareth. Some of the children are orphans or come from unbearable situations having been abused, neglected or simply abandoned. Some have been transferred from other facilities because of overcrowding and many have been in institutions for most of their lives. Located at 251 Ricardo Flores Magon street, Colonia Benito Juarez. Visitors welcome 11am-1pm and 4pm-6pm. Contact Marde Mari, Tel: 222-7857, Sol Rios at Tel: 222-7857 or Sudy Coy, Tel: 224-4407. Further info visit Refugio Infantil Santa Esperanza

Sea Turtles Program of Protection & Conservation in Puerto Vallarta
For many years Mexico has had one of the most advanced programs of protection of marine turtles in the world, where programs are implemented for the protection of this natural international resource. Puerto Vallarta has been protecting sea turtles and their egg laying since 1993. Turtle experience activities are available between June and October. Read Justin Burch's article The Olive Ridley turtle - Puerto Vallarta's favorite ocean visitor about the many sea turtles that make their way home to the beaches of Puerto Vallarta in order to lay their eggs in the sandy beaches of Banderas Bay. He writes that "with the assistance of the Puerto Vallarta Sea Turtle Protection Program, 96% of the eggs are able to hatch." Good news indeed. Sea turtle hatching occurs usually between July and December. For further info visit Puerto Vallarta sea turtles conservation

S.O.S. Animal
Dedicated to finding homes for street dogs and cats. If you want to adopt an animal, call Tel: 221-0077 or cellular Tel: 044-322-227-5519

SPCA of Puerto Vallarta
Helps fund and promote sterilization and adoption of animals in the Puerto Vallarta area. Email: spcapv@gmail.com and website: www.spcapv.com

Toys for Tots
Raises funds to purchase toys for distribution to the neediest kids of the Bay area on Three Kings' Day, January 6. Donations of cash or toys are accepted year round. Contact: Jerry Lafferty, Tel: 221-6156; Kelly Trainor, Tel: 222-0069; or Gaby Castro at the Marriot hotel, Tel: 221-0004.

Western Ecological Society
The Western Ecological Society (Sociedad Ecologica de Occidente) is a non-profit agency in Mexico created to promote the conservation of natural resources in the region of Puerto Vallarta and the Bay of Banderas (Flags Bay). The organization seeks to create simple projects, but with a clear focus that fulfills objectives with a minimum of capital. Their goals include: "To promote and to impel the protection and conservation of the Wildlife and natural resources in the region of Puerto Vallarta and the Bay of Banderas in Mexico. To foment the respect of nature through participatory  environmental education in participation, creating conscience and willingness to contribute to the conservation of wildlife. To develop and to support specific projects of conservation and ecosystem restoration, as well as find ways to obtain the economic and human resources necessary to achieve our goals." Email: seaturtlesvta@aol.com

Also helping out the children of Vallarta is the charitable organization Children's Shelter of Hope Foundation, among others. One of the most complete lists of community service groups is on-line at Banderas News here Puerto Vallarta Charities and Non-profit Organizations.

Note: The information provided in the Gay Puerto Vallarta Travel Guide was considered accurate when posted but changes occur, so you may wish to confirm details directly with the charities, environmental groups and non-profit organizations noted above.