Marc Anthony's nonprofit Maestro Cares Foundation will administer funds from a star-studded benefit concert in Miami on Aug. 16, channeling private donations to earthquake recovery in Venezuela and Colombia after disasters that killed more than 6,400 people. The concert demonstrates how private charitable networks are stepping in to address humanitarian crises in countries where government infrastructure has faltered.
The event, "Unidos por Los Nuestros," will livestream from Miami's Kaseya Center at 6 p.m. ET on Univision, ViX, WAPA and TelevisaUnivision radio stations. Proceeds from ticket sales and online donations will fund immediate and long-term needs, including rebuilding homes, repairing schools and community spaces, supporting children and providing mental health support. Anthony said, "Uniting for a common cause — taking action and helping fellow human beings facing hardship — is a duty we all share."
The Humanitarian Challenge
Venezuela's twin earthquakes on June 24 — measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude just 39 seconds apart — killed at least 6,300 people in northern areas of the country. Organizers expanded the concert's scope Monday after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, killing at least 181 people and injuring more than 2,500. Researchers called it Colombia's worst quake this century.
Tens of thousands of displaced survivors in Venezuela need housing, clean water and sanitation, and ongoing medical attention. More than six weeks later, people are still searching for missing friends and relatives, often without any official help. Rodner Figueroa, co-founder and vice president of the I Love Venezuela Foundation, said, "The biggest challenge right now is to keep the moment alive." He added, "The need in Venezuela continues to be at a scale that is unbelievable."
The Maestro Cares Foundation will work with the Univision Foundation to distribute funds to All Hands and Hearts, CARE, Global Empowerment Mission, Techo and World Central Kitchen. These established nonprofits provide direct relief without the bureaucratic delays that often hamper government-to-government aid.
Private Sector Mobilization
The concert features Luis Fonsi, Chayanne, Feid, Jay Wheeler, Piso 21, Gente de Zona, Elena Rose, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Ricardo Montaner, Mau y Ricky, Olga Tañón and others. The performers span Latin genres from salsa and reggaeton to pop, and join from across Latin America, including Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina, Cuba and Puerto Rico. Dozens of Latin television personalities, journalists and other celebrities will help host the event, including Don Francisco, longtime host of "Sábado Gigante," and former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres.
Some Colombian artists committed to the fundraiser well before they knew an earthquake would soon affect their own homeland. The Urbano Latino musician Feid, born in Medellín, has been reaching out to his more than 14 million Instagram followers this week to support aid groups there. Latin music shares a special connection with Cali, Colombia, one of the hardest-hit cities and a globally recognized hub for Salsa music and dance.
Anthony said, "We have all witnessed the devastation that has affected our communities at some point — we have seen it happen time and again in many of our countries and across the globe. The need is immense." He also said he advocated and raised funds after Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico in 2017.
Broader Relief Efforts
Other musicians are mobilizing relief efforts independently. The Venezuelan band Rawayana founded Fundación El After shortly following the disaster to support impacted young people. Shakira and other Colombian musicians, including Karol G, Ryan Castro and J. Balvin, rallied support for Colombia on Monday through social media. Metallica's foundation donated $100,000 for Venezuela to humanitarian organization Direct Relief.
Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel will host a benefit concert for earthquake recovery Aug. 23 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, his last performance with the Los Angeles Philharmonic before he joins the New York Philharmonic. Proceeds from Dudamel's "A Concert for Venezuela" will benefit recovery funds of the United Nations Development Programme and the CAF Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean. Beck, Natalia Lafourcade and Carlos Vives will join Dudamel.
"Unidos por Los Nuestros" is being organized by Cárdenas Marketing Network, Maestro Cares Foundation, TelevisaUnivision and PIMIENTO Entertainment.
Why This Matters:
The private sector's rapid mobilization for earthquake relief highlights the effectiveness of charitable networks when government capacity proves inadequate. Venezuela's humanitarian crisis continues at an "unbelievable" scale more than six weeks after the earthquakes, with tens of thousands still displaced and searching for missing relatives without official help. The concert's direct funding model — channeling donations through established nonprofits to specific recovery projects — offers accountability that government-administered aid often lacks. For Colombia, where authorities are still assessing devastation from their worst quake this century, private relief efforts provide immediate resources while official response mechanisms organize. The entertainment industry's ability to sustain public attention on humanitarian crises that would otherwise fade from view demonstrates how civil society can fill gaps left by faltering state institutions in troubled regions.