Benefit Concert for Earthquake Relief
(AP) — Latin music icons, including Luis Fonsi, Chayanne, Feid, and Jay Wheeler, are set to perform at a significant benefit concert in Miami this Sunday. The concert aims to raise funds for those impacted by the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela and Colombia.
Money generated from online donations and ticket sales for the concert, named “Unidos por Los Nuestros” (United for Our Own), will cater to both immediate and long-term needs. This includes rebuilding homes, repairing schools, supporting children, and providing mental health resources.
“It is our shared responsibility to unite for a cause, to step up and assist those in distress,” remarked Anthony, a celebrated Grammy Award winner. His nonprofit, the Maestro Cares Foundation, will oversee the fund alongside the Univision Foundation.
The concert’s proceeds will benefit various nonprofit organizations such as All Hands and Hearts, CARE, Global Empowerment Mission, Techo, and World Central Kitchen.
The scope of the concert expanded following a major disaster in Colombia on Monday.
Initially, the event was focused on aiding Venezuela, which faced earthquakes registering 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude. These quakes struck just 39 seconds apart on June 24, tragically resulting in over 6,300 fatalities. Following the recent catastrophic event in western Colombia, organizers decided to include neighboring countries in their fundraising efforts.
As Colombian officials and citizens grapple with the aftermath, it’s becoming clear just how severe the situation is. By Wednesday afternoon, 265 confirmed deaths had been reported along with nearly 500 missing individuals, as stated by President Abelardo de la Espriela. A private database suggests that more than 4,100 people remain unaccounted for.
In Venezuela, Rodner Figueroa, vice president and co-founder of the I Love Venezuela Foundation, emphasized that this fundraiser is crucial, especially as public and media attention has waned on a longstanding humanitarian crisis. “The biggest challenge now is to keep the focus on this urgent need,” he said. “The situation in Venezuela is still dire.”
Tens of thousands of displaced individuals require housing, clean water, sanitation, and ongoing medical treatment. Even weeks after the earthquakes, numerous people are still searching for missing loved ones, often without official assistance.
The benefit concert, scheduled for Sunday at 6 PM ET at the Caseya Center in Miami, will be broadcast live on Univision, ViX, and various radio stations. Viewers can contribute by scanning a QR code on the screen or text messaging UNIDOS to 707070.
Other performing artists include Piso 21, Gente de Zona, Elena Rose, and many more, showcasing an array of Latin music genres from salsa to reggaeton, with representatives from numerous countries including Venezuela, Colombia, and Argentina.
Numerous celebrities and TV personalities, such as Don Francisco, will host the event. “We’ve witnessed devastation in our communities multiple times,” Anthony shared. “The need is immense, just like what happened during Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico back in 2017.”
Prior to Monday’s earthquake, various Colombian artists were already participating in fundraising initiatives. For instance, Urbano-Latin musician Fade, who has a substantial social media following, reached out to support local aid groups.
Cali, Colombia, recognized globally for its significant salsa music and dance scene, was notably affected by the quakes.
The “Unidos por Los Nuestros” event is organized in collaboration with Cárdenas Marketing Network, Maestro Cares Foundation, TelevisaUnivision, and PIMIENTO Entertainment.
Additional relief initiatives are also in the works. The Venezuelan band Rawayana established Fundación El After to assist young people in the immediate aftermath of the earthquakes. Colombian artists like Shakira, Karol G, and J Balvin also rallied support through social media, while the Metallica Foundation contributed $100,000 to Venezuela via Direct Relief.
Prominent conductor Gustavo Dudamel is slated to host another benefit concert for earthquake recovery on August 23 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, marking his final performance with the Los Angeles Philharmonic before transitioning to the New York Philharmonic. Proceeds from Dudamel’s “Concert for Venezuela” will aid the United Nations Development Program and the CAF Development Bank’s Recovery Fund.
