Staff Reports
The big-name Latin music telethon “Unidos por Venezuela” has grown into something bigger and a bit messier. What began as a benefit for Venezuelan quake victims will now also raise money for Colombians after a separate, deadly quake. Stars like Marc Anthony, Luis Fonsi, Chayanne and many more will play at Miami’s Kaseya Center and the event will be livestreamed to reach a global audience.
Big concert, quick expansion
Organizers say the telethon will take place at the Kaseya Center in Miami and be broadcast on Univision platforms. The show was planned after two powerful earthquakes hit northern Venezuela. Then a 7.4 magnitude quake struck western Colombia, and organizers widened the mission to include both countries. That makes sense on the surface: more victims, more need. It also makes the fundraising and distribution plan more complicated.
Money and partners
Who will handle the cash?
Marc Anthony’s Maestro Cares Foundation and the Univision Foundation are listed as the groups administering proceeds. Organizers also named relief partners like Global Empowerment Mission, All Hands and Hearts, CARE, Techo and World Central Kitchen. Viewers will be asked to give via on-screen QR codes, text-to-give, online donations and ticket sales. Those are fine tools for raising funds fast. The big question is how the money will be tracked, audited and sent to people who actually need it in Venezuela and Colombia.
Good intentions don’t replace checks and balances
Celebrities raise awareness, and that spotlight matters. But a stage full of stars and a trending hashtag won’t fix corruption, ruined homes or broken water systems. Venezuela in particular has a fraught political environment where aid can be diverted. Conservatives who want private relief to work should demand real transparency: clear earmarks, public audits, receipts for rebuilding projects and independent third-party oversight. In short, don’t applaud the show until you see the balance sheet. Stage lighting won’t rebuild schools; verified dollars will.
If you’re giving, give smart
If you plan to donate during the telethon, do it with eyes open. Ask how funds are split between immediate relief and long-term rebuilding. Look for partnering NGOs with a track record of delivering aid on the ground. Insist on periodic public reports and audits from Maestro Cares and the Univision Foundation. Support the victims, sure — but demand accountability. That way the concert will be more than a feel-good evening; it will be a real step toward helping families in Venezuela and Colombia recover.
