Depending on the needs of the Mexican community, we usually support between 15 and 25 organizations and programs. They range from our cleft palate program, to medical and dental, social services, education and cultural enhancement. See https://ifcvallarta.org/our-charities/
There are about 60 restaurants that provide members of IFC with discounts. In addition, the club partners with about 20 other business , such as dentists and spas, who also provide club members with generous discounts on their services. A full list can be found here:
We think it’s the best place in town! That’s why we have “Friendship” in our name. He have “Happy Hour” on Friday afternoons, bridge classes and games, lectures on Mexican history, Movie Nights, Bingo, and lots of opportunities to volunteer. Just check out our Calendar to find the best fit for you. https://ifcvallarta.org/ifccalendar/
The club is, with the exception of our office administrator, totally run by volunteers. Volunteers staff our information desk in the office, help to run our world famous Home Tours, lead our weekly dinearounds to local restaurants, serve on committees, teach bridge, teach English to Mexican kids. IFC wouldn’t exist if people like you didn’t “step up to the plate.” https://ifcvallarta.org/ways-to-help/#volunteer
We offer ways to make new friends and to meet old ones. You can improve your mind with our lectures and Spanish classes. Our preferred merchants offer substantial discounts on restaurant meals and other services. You can feel good by doing good – by volunteering. The benefits are priceless, but we do charge a small membership fee that defrays our expenses and helps our charities. It’s 450 pesos for one calendar year or 700 for two years. Join here: https://ifcvallarta.org/membership/#join
Yes!! Donations over $5,000 pesos, made by credit card, are tax deductible. Those from Canadians are tax deductible if they are made through the Canadian Children’s Shelter of Hope Foundation. American donations go through Banderas Bay Charities. Make your donation at https://ifcvallarta.org/donation-page/
No, the IFC Home Tours are not part of any real estate company, timeshare or vacation club. These tours have been conducted by the IFC for more than three decades and are made possible by generous individual homeowners that open their homes for this wonderful cause. One hundred percent of net revenue raised is used for the IFC Cleft Palate Surgery Program and other local charities supported by the IFC.
No, the IFC Cleft Palate Surgery Program is a local charitable program paid for by the IFC that conducts life changing surgeries for children born with a cleft palate. The IFC brings doctors and their staff from Guadalajara who conduct assessment clinics 3 to 4 times each year. The CMQ hospital donates the use of their facilities to make this possible. This program has helped thousands of Mexican children from the region in and around Puerto Vallarta.
Thank you for considering being a major benefactor. If you would like to make a major donation or leave a legacy gift to the International Friendship Club please email us at donations@ifcvallarta.org and our organization will contact you with the details.
Yes, the pandemic has had a major impact on our operations and charitable giving. The club house has been closed and some of our activities have been moved online. The IFC Home Tours and club memberships generate the majority of our annual revenue. The IFC Home Tours were cancelled for the 2021 season and club memberships were down significantly due to international travel restrictions. Because of this the IFC has had to scale back charitable giving and redirect funds towards food based programs. It is for this reason that the IFC has redesigned our website to increase donations made online.
