Lehigh Valley United For Puerto Rico Fundraiser Set for November 5 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem

 Photo by Craig Roberts

A small group of Puerto Rican community leaders from the Lehigh Valley have joined forces to unite the entire Lehigh Valley to help family and friends in Puerto Rico who were affected by the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria in September by presenting a FREE music concert at SteelStacks in Bethlehem on Sunday, November 5.

The concert – which will be held at the Levitt SteelStacks Pavilion from 2-6 p.m. – will feature live musical performances by several popular Latin groups, including Grupo EnSecuencia, L Urban Orquesta, Orquesta Xariz, along with recorded music spun by popular DJ’s Baby J & Star.

Bethlehem realtors Sam Del Rosario and Justino Arroyo, Allentown Police Detective Luiz D. Garcia, Bethlehem Councilwoman Olga Negron and the HGSK Law Firm, in partnership with ArtsQuest, have reserved the Levitt Pavilion at SteelStacks. In addition to live and recorded music played from the Levitt stage, there also will be a live stream video feed of the event to connect Puerto Rican families here in the Valley to family and friends in Puerto Rico via Skype and Facebook Live.

While the event is FREE, the goal is to raise money for Puerto Rico hurricane relief through sponsorship and monetary donations from the public. All of the proceeds raised at the event will go directly towards Puerto Rico Disaster Relief.

Individuals and businesses also can support this fundraiser by becoming a sponsor. Sponsors will have the opportunity to have their banner visible at the event and to have their name and business announced on stage as a supporter of the citizens of Puerto Rico. “Hug Puerto Rico” sponsorship – which will allow sponsors to hang a banner up to 4 feet by 8 feet in size to advertise their business or organization – are available for a donation of $500.”Big Hug for Puerto Rico” sponsorship – which will allow sponsors to bring their own 10′ x 10′ tent on site to share information with the community (no selling), and also hang a banner larger than 4 feet by 8 feet – are available for a donation of at least $1,000. In addition to their banners appearing on the stage, the names of all sponsors also will be announced from the stage during the event.

Sponsors include HGSK Law Firm, ArtsQuest & Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks, Hispanic Center of the Lehigh Valley, La Mega 99.5 Lehigh Valley, LUTV Latin Unlimited, Sabroso Video, RE/MAX Unlimited and the Justino Arroyo Team.

The organizers are specifically looking for volunteers who can contact family members or friends who are still in Puerto Rico and who are able to connect online live via Skype or Facebook Live during the event so they can be shown on the big screen to those attending the event at the Levitt Pavilion to provide a live update on the real conditions throughout Puerto Rico, wherever they are.

In addition to collecting monetary donations, the Hispanic Center of the Lehigh Valley will be collecting items needed by families who are relocating to the Lehigh Valley from Puerto Rico. Attendees are asked to bring non-perishable food and clothing needed for the fall and winter months, including but not limited to: coats, hats, scarves, gloves, bed sheets, blankets, pillows and towels.

In addition to the organizers, sponsors and entertainers who will appear on stage, the following Lehigh Valley Mayors are expected to attend in person or send a representative who will participate in the event:

Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski
Bethlehem Mayor Robert Donchez
Easton City Administrator Luis Campos
Fountain Hill Mayor Jose Rosado

All checks for monetary donations should be made payable to Concilio-Unidos PA’ PR and mailed to or dropped off at the HGSK Law Firm, 1136 Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18101. El Concilio is a 501 (c)(3) public charity, so all donations made to them will be tax deductible in accordance with applicable IRS regulations.

For additional information on the event, or to connect with any of the organizers, please contact Bethlehem City Councilwoman and Community Liaison Olga Negron at the HGSK Law Firm via telephone at 484-223-4743 or via email at ONegron@hgsklawyers.com.