Tras la Tormenta: Puerto Rico One Year After Maria

The Progreso Latino Fund takes a look back to look forward at the future of Puerto Rico one year after Hurricane Maria at its annual forum.

Hon. Julia M. Nazario Fuentes, Mayor, Loiza, Puerto Rico

Dr. Nelson I. Cólon, President & CEO, Puerto Rico Community Foundatio

Progreso Latino Fund Forum
Thursday, November 15, 2018
5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m
New Haven Lawn Club
193 Whitney Avenue, New Haven

Program begins promptly at 6:00 p.m.
Complimentary reception to follow.

Hurricane Maria caused an unprecedented level of destruction when it struck Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017. The aftershock has been a slow, painful recovery effort. On Nov. 15, PLF hosted a visionary and big-picture conversation about Puerto Rico's future in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. Guests learned how nonprofit and philanthropic communities mobilized residents across the island and have taken lead roles in building sustainable energy projects, housing reconstruction, economic development, and a major fundraising campaign on the island to equip 100 hospitals with electricity-producing micro-grids. Featured speakers from the island shared their unique perspectives on the future of Puerto Rico, their own sustainable renewal efforts, and discussed several unique community-based initiatives that demonstrate the resilience and determination of Puerto Ricans to stay and create a better future. he Progreso Latino Fund also issued a $15,000 match challenge at the Forum to provide a microgrid for a hospital on the island in Naranjito, Puerto Rico. Each unit costs $30,000 to fully equip a center and the goal is to fully sponsor one of the facilities.

The 2018 Naranjito Matching Gift Challenge

Photo: Naranjito Health Clinic

The Progreso Latino Fund is on a mission to help the residents of Naranjito Puerto Rico and surrounding towns by purchasing renewable, reliable solar energy for their emergency health care clinic.

Over 4,000 patients a month rely on this community health clinic and your generosity will help to ensure that power to the facility remains durable in the strongest of storms.

Since April, the Puerto Rico Community Foundation has teamed up with funders across the country, to equip healthcare centers on the island with solar-electric kits built to resist nature's forces. So far, 13 are fully complete and 10 are nearly ready to begin installation.

Greater New Haven has adopted a center, Centro de Salud Integral en Naranjito, to fully install a durable solar-electric system for this community. Known as the City of Colors, Naranjito is located in the central mountainous area of the island and hosts a population of over 30,000 people.

Please make your gift today and the Progreso Latino Fund will match up to $15,000 in gifts through December 31st.

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