Hearts of Gold presents its fourth annual Christmas gala

“Putting the Fun Back Into Fundraising!” is the theme of Hearts of Gold fourth Christmas gala Friday night, December 4. The highlight of the evening will be an “auto lotto” in which a new car or a $15,000 cash prize will be awarded to the winner.

Hearts of Gold kids at last year’s gala.

The Christmas Gala will be held at Quinta Lucrecia on Av. Primero de Mayo in Cuenca and will include the gala meal, auctions, and dancing to live music. According to Hearts of Gold director Natasha Verkley, the number and length of speeches will be limited to allow guests more time to socialize.

Tickets for the gala are available through Wednesday, December 2 (see below for purchase information).

All proceeds from the event go to fund three community charity programs.

The first is the donation of 45-pound Christmas canastas, or Christmas baskets, to poor families in the Cuenca area. The canastas include food and personal items along with small toys and treats for the children. Second, is the new Mikuna food bank in which Hearts of Gold partners with the Azuay Province government. The third recipient is the Partner Agency Program which supports education and skill-building programs for CETAP-Lucy, El Arenal and NOVA School.

According to Verkley, Hearts of Gold has grown from a small group of volunteer expats that provided toys to children at a local orphanage, to a full-fledged international non-profit foundation. “Thanks to the generosity of the Cuenca community, today we fund a number of full-time projects. With continuing community help, Hearts of Gold will be able to help even more people next year.”

Some of the crowd at the 2014 Christmas gala.

Verkley says that one of the objectives of the Christmas Gala is to reward Hearts of Gold volunteers. “This is a very dedicated group and many of them have been working with us for four years,” she says. “Most of them participate as a way to feel connected and to enjoy and share in the Christmas spirit which can sometimes be difficult being so far away from home. The Christmas Gala serves as a chance for people to get together, enjoy the holiday spirit and give back to their new home.”

Tickets to the gala can be purchased through Wednesday Dec. 2, either on-line at http://heartsofgoldfoundation.org/hearts-of-golds-4th-annual-christmas-gala/ or with cash or credit card at the Hearts of Gold office in Edificio 4 Rios building on Av. Primero de Mayo at Av. Las Americas.