B’nai B’rith opened its Disaster Relief Fund to provide aid to the victims of the catastrophic earthquake that occurred April 16, 2016, in Ecuador.
The 7.8-magnitude earthquake killed more than 400 people and injured more than 4,000. Aftershocks caused additional damage.
Working with B’nai B’rith members in Ecuador and with local communities, we identified a long-term project to benefit the area. B’nai B’rith’s disaster funds were used to help with a school rebuilding effort in San Plácido.
The B’nai B’rith Disaster Relief Fund is always available to accept your generous donations:
The president of our Jewish community, Alberto Dorfzaun, his wife and I attended the inauguration ceremony in San Plácido. We were the guests of honor in this ceremony, which was also attended by leaders of the community and of the province of Manabí, and by the executive president of Fundación Esquel, which was responsible for the technical direction of the project. Both Alberto and I had the opportunity to say a few words in the ceremony, telling the people something about the history of the Jewish community in Ecuador and of the help that made this project possible through the generosity of several international Jewish institutions, especially B’nai B’rith.
One of the photos is of the plaque that was placed above the door of the main classroom which includes the logos of the Jewish community and of B’nai B’rith.
I want to express again, on behalf of our Jewish community and of course at the request of the San Plácido school board, our special thanks to B’nai B’rith for creating this relief fund, and to the people who generously contributed to the fund. I think we can all be satisfied and proud of the results of the project and of the help that we have been able to give to this small community which suffered so much due to the earthquake.