Big Valentine weekend gala planned to help children with autism and other disabilities

The Valentine Gala will provide help for children with autism and other disabilities.

Put on your dancing shoes and get ready to party! That’s the message from sponsors of a February 15 Valentine weekend gala aimed at providing assistance to children with autism and a variety of other disabilities.

Gala organizer Ned Meisner, left, with Cuenca Mayor Pedro Palacios.

“This will be the event of the year in Cuenca,” says Ned Meisner, one of the gala sponsors. “There will be fabulous food, live salsa music by a great Cuban band and it’s all happening in a great venue, the Hotel Inca Real in the historic district.”

In addition to Meisner and Ecuador Charities, the gala is sponsored by Garry Vatcher and Hogar de Esperanza, Bob Higgins and the Cuenca Soup Kitchen, Veronica Peralta and Adacapia, Margarita Andrades and Miki in Quito, the Lions and Rotary Clubs.

According to Meisner, proceeds from the evening will support families with children with autism and other disabilities throughout Ecuador. Among the specific projects the benefit is considering, is establishing a farm outside of Cuenca to provide special services and recreation to children with autism.

“Our Mission is to raise the consciousness around the need to provide support to families with children with autism and other disabilities in Ecuador,” Meisner says. “The mission of Ecuador Charities is to help Ecuador develop by improving its society and economy. We are accomplishing this from the bottom up by working with the various charities. We are looking to propose projects in the future which will have a major impact in both of these missions.”

Gala tickets are $30 per person and dress is semi-formal with the action beginning at 6 p.m., Saturday, February 15 at the Hotel Inca Real, 8-40 General Torres. The hotel is offering a special rate of $60 for partiers who want to spend the night.

For more information about the event, write Leita Hulmes at leitajean48@gmail.com or Ned Meisner at nedmeisner@meisnerfinancial.com, or call 099-194-4086.