Record Breaking Riverfest 2017 for Special Needs Children in Puerto Vallarta Pasitos de Luz
March 30, 2017

The 6th annual Riverfest fundraiser for Pasitos de Luz was an overwhelming success! We made a RECORD BREAKING 311,438 pesos for the children of Pasitos de Luz!

Thanks go to so many who helped make it such a success - the musicians, the businesses and individuals who donated auction items, the approximately 70 volunteers and more than 800 attendees over the three days helped us bring the house down! By spreading the festival to three days people were able to find seating and line ups for service were almost none.

For the first time ever, auction item purchases jumped the six figure mark bringing in just over 100,000 pesos! Just one donation can turn into SO MUCH! The four 50/50 draws saw all winnings returned back in support of the special needs Pasitos children. Thanks go to Ben Leeuwestein, Ian MacInnin, Jindra Casperson and an anonymous donor who all donated their winnings back. Saturday saw Alexander A Salon owner, Alex Daoud, hard at work cutting hair with ALL proceeds being donated to Pasitos! From door opening at 11:30 am to 5:30 pm, Alex had people in his chair who made his donation into an amazing 5000 pesos with an additional 5000 pesos being added by Alex from proceeds of cutting hair at the La Cruz Sunday market! That's 10,000 pesos!

Attendees David Sokolowski, Preston Sokolowski and Thomas Harvey stepped up and donated $600 USD (approximately 12,000 pesos) in the name of our Riverfest MC Amy Armstrong and Riverfest musicians Kim Kuzma, Sylvie (From Sylvie and the Zippers) and her mom! Another donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, passed on 20,000 pesos for the cause.

The food presented by El Rio BBQ Bar, Barcelona Tapas and Pasta Fresca was outstanding! Each of these restaurants donated time and food at cost or donated a percent of net revenues. Artisan vendors donated some of their proceeds and individual attendees added contributions throughout the event. Many other people sent donations to the event through friends and volunteers. Add all of this together and the kids of Pasitos de Luz and their families came out the real winners!

Special, special thanks go out to our musicians Hard Money, Bob & Gilberto, Kim Kuzma and Piel Canela, Stolie and her band, Joker Trio Band, Tequila Rush, Sylvie and the Zippers, La Trez Cuartoz, Real de America Mariachis and Los Bambinos plus all the individuals and businesses who donated to the silent auction! Our sincerest thanks to Mario Jimenez at Print PV who donates his time and many services so promptly and with style. Our thanks also to the media who helps us out. Kurt Sinner, in the stunning location of El Rio BBQ bar, consistently demonstrates outstanding generosity and purpose in donating back to the community. The children, the families, the volunteers and the staff of Pasitos de Luz are humbled and privileged to be a part of your generosity! Mil Gracias.

To everyone who was involved in any way, please know that your generosity really does help make dreams come true!

Read related: 6th Annual Riverfest Fundraiser for Vallarta's Special Needs Children

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