A benefit concert originally created to help Venezuela recover from its catastrophic June earthquakes has expanded its mission following the deadly magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck Colombia this week, with Latin pop stars like Luis Fonsi, Ricardo Montaner, Marc Anthony and Chayanne leading the show.
Now titled Unidos por los Nuestros: Benefit Concert, the international concert and telethon will support affected families and communities in both countries when it takes over Miami's Kaseya Center on Sunday, Aug. 16.
The show begins at 6 p.m. ET, with doors opening at 5 p.m. What started in July as Unidos por Venezuela has become a broader appeal for two neighboring countries confronting mass displacement, destroyed homes, and a long, expensive recovery.
Colombia was added after the Aug. 10 earthquake caused widespread destruction across the country's western region. At least 273 people had died by Thursday, while approximately 3,800 were injured and 377 remained missing, according to the latest figures reported by Reuters.
More than 12,500 homes were destroyed, with damage also reported at schools, health centers, roads, and other public infrastructure. Smaller and isolated communities in Chocó, near the earthquake's epicenter in San José del Palmar, have been especially difficult for emergency crews to reach.
Venezuela, meanwhile, is still struggling to recover from two powerful earthquakes that struck within seconds of each other on June 24.
The magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes devastated communities along the country's Caribbean coast, with a death toll above 6,000 and displaced tens of thousands of residents.
People across the United States and Latin America can support the relief effort even if they cannot attend the Miami concert. During the Aug. 16 broadcast, viewers can donate online from any country through Univision.org or scan the QR codes displayed on screen. People in the United States can also contribute by texting "UNIDOS" to 707070. The telethon will be available on Univision, ViX, TelevisaUnivision radio stations, iHeartLatino and WAPA platforms, while viewers in Venezuela can watch through VenevisionPlay.com. Donations will support emergency assistance and long-term recovery programs in Colombia and Venezuela.
Univision Foundation and Maestro Cares Foundation announced Thursday that they will lead the distribution and administration of the money collected during the telethon.
Funds will be directed to five humanitarian organizations selected after an evaluation of their experience, transparency, response capacity and existing presence in affected communities: All Hands & Hearts, CARE, Global Empowerment Mission, TECHO and World Central Kitchen.
The organizations will divide their work across immediate relief and long-term reconstruction.
Global Empowerment Mission will provide food, drinking water, hygiene kits, temporary shelter and supplies tailored to conditions in each affected region. It will also participate in rebuilding efforts.
World Central Kitchen will continue supporting community kitchens and food banks with meals, equipment and infrastructure improvements. Its work will include culinary training and investments in local restaurants, chefs and organizations that can continue feeding residents after the initial emergency response ends.
WCK also plans to donate bakery equipment to expand local bread production, allowing communities to produce food for both everyday consumption and continued meal distributions.
TECHO will work directly with residents to build or repair homes, schools, community centers, rainwater collection systems and safe access roads. All Hands & Hearts will help reconstruct schools while providing safe spaces, educational activities, recreation and psychosocial assistance for families.
CARE will concentrate on women and children, including mental health services and programs intended to create safer communities and reduce gender-based violence during the recovery period.
The plan reflects an effort to prevent donations from being limited to short-term food and supply deliveries. Money raised will also support mental health care, housing reconstruction, schools, roads and community infrastructure.
Maestro Cares Foundation will maintain an ongoing role overseeing expenditures financed through the benefit.
"At Univision Foundation, our mission is to create lasting, positive impact in the communities we serve," Irisaida Mendez Iriarte, executive director of Foundation Relations at TelevisaUnivision, said. She added that the organizations were chosen to ensure each contribution results in "meaningful support for affected families" and sustainable recovery.
Marc Anthony, who co-founded Maestro Cares Foundation with concert promoter Henry Cárdenas, said the enormous scale of the destruction requires the entertainment and nonprofit sectors to work together.
"We have all witnessed our communities experience devastating destruction at one point or another," Anthony said. "We have lived through it time and again across many of our countries and around the world. The need is immense."
Anthony credited Cárdenas and Pimiento Entertainment President Felipe Pimiento with building the coalition behind the event. He also recognized TelevisaUnivision, iHeartRadio, Spotify and the participating artists for donating their time and platforms.
More than 30 performers from across Latin America will appear at the concert. The lineup includes Marc Anthony, Chayanne, Ricardo Montaner, Luis Fonsi, Feid, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Chino y Nacho, Jay Wheeler, Elena Rose, Silvestre Dangond, Gente de Zona, Mau y Ricky, Olga Tañón, Lasso, SanLuis and Piso 21.
Corina Smith, Nella, Micro TDH, Jonathan Moly, Jorge Luis Chacín, Jerry Di, Isadora, Manu Manzo, Noreh, Alleh, Zhamira and Free Cover are also scheduled to perform.
The telethon will bring together hosts, journalists, actors, presenters and digital creators from Univision and other media platforms. Don Francisco, Chiquinquirá Delgado, Adamari López, Raúl de Molina, Amara La Negra, Dayanara Torres, Jomari Goyso, Rodner Figueroa, Jackie Guerrido, Tony Dandrades and Erika de la Vega are among the personalities expected to participate.
News journalists Borja Voces, Elyangélica González, Francisco Urreiztieta, Luis Carlos Vélez, María Antonieta Collins, Mariana Atencio and Paulina Sodi will provide updates on the humanitarian response in both countries.
The special will air simultaneously at 6 p.m. ET and PT, and 5 p.m. CT, on Univision and ViX. It will also be carried by TelevisaUnivision radio stations, iHeartLatino, WAPA-TV, WAPA América, WAPA Orlando, WAPA+, WAPA.TV, WKAQ-580, KQ-105 and VenevisionPlay.com in Venezuela.
Viewers will be able to contribute by scanning QR codes displayed during the broadcast, texting "UNIDOS" to 707070 or donating through Univision.org. Tickets for the Kaseya Center concert are available through Ticketmaster.
The new name removes one country from the title but expands the purpose behind it. Unidos por los Nuestros is no longer only a Venezuelan relief concert. It is now a joint response to two disasters, connecting artists and audiences across borders while Colombia and Venezuela begin the much longer work of rebuilding.
