PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Dear Members and Friends,

We are in our last week before the International Friendship Club season formally ends with our Closing Brunch on March 22, 11:00-2:00, riverside at Le Bistro on Isla Cuale.

The Closing Brunch, ever a member favorite, will feature the youth of Ballet Folklorico Tradiciones, a group of young dancers dedicated to preserving and sharing the vibrant traditions of Mexican folkloric dance.  Their colorful costumes and lively music and the garden surroundings will make the morning memorable.   Register HERE.  I’d love to see you before heading north.

The Carlos Navarro: Connect with Mexico Lecture Series, Home Tours, Spanish classes, Hiking, NIA Dance, Yoga, Meditation and Social Bridge will continue for at least one week after the Closing Brunch.  Keep an eye on the calendar and stay in touch with your teachers/leaders.

Just a heads up, we are now working to schedule the Cleft Palate Clinics that will take place during the Summer.  We will keep you posted.

WIXARIKA SCHOLARSHIP FUND

The IFC provides grants for scholarships to the Wixarika Scholarship Fund, established in 2018 to help indigenous Wixarika university students pay expenses related to attending university. To date the Scholarship Fund has supported more than 75 Wixarika university students.

In 2025, the IFC allocated $56,000 pesos for 7 scholarships, and in 2026 we are proposing to offer $60,000 pesos in grants.

The Wixarika are an indigenous people of western Mexico, who traditionally live in the rugged mountains of the Sierra Madre Occidental.  They are known for their vibrant art, beadwork, yarn paintings and deeply spiritual traditions tied to the natural world. 

The Wixarika maintain one of the most intact indigenous religious traditions in Mexico.  Their spirituality centers on sacred relationships with nature and ancestral deities.  Key sacred elements include Peyote cactus, used ritually for spiritual vision and healing, the sacred desert of Wirikuta, where pilgrims travel annual to reenact the creation story of the sun, and ceremonies led by spiritual leaders called mara’akate or shamans.

Please join us on Friday, March 27, 2026, at 3:00 PM Vallarta time (central standard time), for an ONLINE Panel for the Benefit of the Wixarika Scholarship Fund. 

Moderator: The panel will be moderated by Isaias Navarrete Chino (Kuruxi Manuwe), Forestry Engineer from the Autonomous University of Chapingo and current graduate student in the Social Science program at FLACSO, Ecuador.  Isaias was a member of the first cohort of scholarship recipients.

Panelists: Also participating in the panel are Wixarika Scholarship fund alumni:
- Muwieri K+kame Cosio (Tuapurie), Medicine & Obstetrics, University of Guadalajara
- Wiwiema de la Cruz (Waut+a), Mathematics, Autonomous University of Nayarit
- Tzeliee Ramirez (Tateikie), Nutrition Sciences, ITESO Jesuit University of Guadalajara

Tune in Friday, March 27 at 3:00 PM CST.
Transmission via Zoom:   https://tinyurl.com/4k4h8mvb

There will also be a live transmission via the Wixarika Research Center Facebook page.

To learn more about the Wixarika, check out their website HERE. 

VALLARTA CARES

The International Friendship Club has supported Vallarta Cares since it was formed as a food bank in 2019 to respond to the needs of the Vallarta Community during the Covid pandemic.  The food bank since expanded into a multi-service community service organization, with bathing showers, medical and dental care, English classes and much more.

For 2026, the IFC Social Services Committee proposed to offer a $60,000 peso grant to Vallarta Cares.  This sum funds the soup kitchen one day per week.

Vallarta Cares holds its Spring Fair on Thursday, March 19, on Rio Cuale Island, from 4:00- to 10:00 PM.  There will be games, a bouncy castle, face painting, food and drinks, music, a raffle, and much more.   

 

DONATE TO SUPPORT IFC CHARITIES AND CLEFT PALATE WORK

As our season comes to a close, you can have an impact that will help the IFC to fund grants and cleft palate clinics throughout the year.  Support the 20-some non-profits vetted by the IFC for need and merit, as well as our 3 Cleft Palate Clinics occurring this Summer.

DONATE HERE

 

LAST HIKES OF THE SEASON

Lace up your hiking boots for the final IFC hikes of the season on March 27 and April 3! These adventures have it all—a scenic bus trip, a beautiful hike, and panga rides to some of the most breathtaking spots you’ll see all season. Great exercise, incredible views, and fun with friends along the way.

Space is limited—don’t be left out! Reserve your spot now.

The cost is 200* MX for the guided tour
*bus, panga rides and lunch are additional

https://ifcvallarta.org/calendar

3.14 PI(E) DAY CELEBRATION

 

We had such a great time celebrating 3.14 with “pi”es galore!

 

Thank you to everyone who joined in on the fun. Such sweet memories!🥧🍰

 

 

 

This past Monday’s cooking class featuring chef Scotty McIntyre at Georgia Darehshori’s condo. 

 

Suzanne and Lenny Cahnmann attended the class and raved about the class.  Suzanne said the cooking class was, “Amazing! The food came out amazing. I never knew how to make a salad like he did.” Scotty was a hit with the group -- we think he will be invited to many dinner parties. 

 

ENJOY IFC MEMBER SAVINGS YEAR 'ROUND
 
While our popular Dine-Arounds may be ending for the season, you can enjoy year 'round savings by viewing our Preferred Provider Map.
 
Click on this link to view an interactive map  and to see if your favorite restaurant is on the list. If it is not on the list, ask the PPP team to reach out at ifcpreferrredprovider@ifcvallarta.org. 

 

JOIN US FOR THE LAST HOME TOUR OF THE SEASON

Explore inside some of Puerto Vallarta’s most remarkable homes, from charming traditional casas to stunning multimillion-dollar beachfront condos and villas. Travel in comfort aboard our air-conditioned tour bus while our friendly guides share fun and informative commentary along the way. All proceeds support our Cleft Palate Program—now over 30 years strong—as well as other local charities.

On tour day, we meet at the Sea Monkey Restaurant which is located at Aquiles Serdan 174 at the Malecón. The Sea Monkey offers our guests a discounted breakfast beginning at 9:00 am before each tour.

Members: $800
Non-Members: $960

General Schedule
9:15 am to 9:30 am - Check-In 
9:45 - Intro Talk 
10:00 am - First Bus Departs

The tour is approximately 3-4 hours.

 

Reserve your seat here: https://ifcvallarta.org/calendar