The massive earthquake that struck Ecuador on April 16 hit home for many members of the Hostos Community College family with connections to South America, as well as the campus as a whole.

Looking to make a difference, the College’s students, staff and faculty, and with the support from Organización Juventud Ecuatoriana, have come together as “Hostos Helping” for a benefit concert. The “Hope for Ecuador Concert” will be held in the Hostos Main Theater on Thursday, May 12, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and feature some of the leading Ecuadorian musicians based in the U.S., including the folkloric ensemble Roberto Cachimuel and Grupo Yarina, folkloric group Ayazamana, pop artist Luis Terreros, high-energy Afro-Ecuadorian fusion group Chota Madre, and singer Melania Maldonado along with a special appearance by the Lehman (College) Jazz Band.  Additional artists are expected to be announced.

Carlos Guevara, the Director of Hostos’ Office of Educational Technology and the Co-Director for the Center for Teaching and Learning, helped to organize the event. As an Ecuadorian and founder and former president of Organización Juventud Ecuatoriana, an organization that promotes the intellectual development of Ecuadorians worldwide, he said the relief effort is another great example of Hostos uniting once again with the community for a greater good.

“We have come together to bring a small ray of hope to our brothers and sisters from Ecuador affected by this earthquake,” Guevara said. “The Hostos family has shown time and time again how important it is to step up when tragedy strikes. I feel proud that my Hostos family has united to help.”

Tickets can be purchased at the Hostos Box Office website here: http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?orgid=22328&pid=8243970 or by calling (718) 518-4455. The cost is $20 for general admission and $10 for Hostos students, faculty, and staff.

A webpage also has been created to collect donations. All the funds collected at the concert will go to the Ecuador Earthquake Relief Fund through GlobalGiving.

Visit the Hostos Helping Ecuador fundraising page here: https://www.globalgiving.org/fundraisers/hostoshelpsecuador/

Visit the Hostos Helping Facebook Page here: https://www.facebook.com/hostoshelping/?fref=ts

Please help to spread the word about Hostos’ relief effort by using the hashtag: #HostosHelpingEcuador

About Hostos Community College
Eugenio María de Hostos Community College is an educational agent for change that has been transforming and improving the quality of life in the South Bronx and neighboring communities since 1968. It serves as a gateway to intellectual growth and socioeconomic mobility, as well as a point of departure for lifelong learning, success in professional careers, and transfer to advanced higher education programs. The College’s unique Student Success Coaching Unit provides students with individualized guidance and exemplifies its emphasis on student support services.
 
Named one of the top 10 finalists for the 2015 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, Hostos offers 27 associate degree programs and two certificate programs that facilitate easy transfer to The City University of New York’s (CUNY) four-year colleges or baccalaureate studies at other institutions. The College has an award-winning Division of Continuing Education & Workforce Development that offers professional development courses and certificate-bearing workforce training programs. Hostos is part of CUNY, the nation’s leading urban public university, which serves more than 500,000 students at 24 colleges.