Press

MIAMI, Fla. – Today, U.S. Senator Rick Scott visited the Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) humanitarian facility in Miami to thank the volunteers and partner organizations working tirelessly to prepare critical humanitarian aid for the Venezuelan people as the nation recovers from the devastation caused by the recent earthquakes and moves toward a democratic transition.

It's been one month since back-to-back earthquakes in Venezuela left thousands of people dead and thousands more injured. Search and rescue crews from around the world, including here in South Florida, raced to the devastated South American country to help in the aftermath. And Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), which is based in Doral, has reached a historic milestone. It has led what is believed to be the largest private-public humanitarian response ever coordinated for a natural disaster in Venezuela's modern history.

The Miami-Dade County school board voted to send humanitarian aid to Venezuela following last month's devastating back-to-back earthquakes. Doral's Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) is working in partnership with We Love Foundation to send donations. “We call to all the Venezuelan and Latino people here in Miami to put a hand to your heart and think of our Venezuelan brothers and sisters, because they really need us," said Francine De La Rosa, executive board member for GEM.

MEMPHIS, Tenn., July 20, 2026 – FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) is using its integrated air and ground network to bring humanitarian relief to those affected by the earthquake that devastated Venezuela. A dedicated humanitarian relief flight to Venezuela is carrying necessity kits provided by Global Empowerment Mission (GEM). The supplies are expected to support approximately 10,000 people affected by the catastrophic earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24.

Michael Capponi, president and founder of the biggest group sending U.S. aid to Venezuela after two devastating earthquakes, described the disaster zone that has claimed lives of nearly 5,000 people as “10,000 Surfsides.” “This looks exactly like if you drove from First Street Miami Beach to like North Hollywood, and every other building or so looked like Surfside [after the condo collapse],” Capponi said of La Guaira, the hardest hit state on Venezuela’s Caribbean coast.

The Astros Foundation partnered with Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), a disaster relief organization dedicated to delivering the most aid to the most people in the shortest time. GEM is directly connected in Venezuela, partnering with I Love Venezuela to mobilize immediate relief efforts.

Now, 27 tons of donations have reached Miami, where Forward Latino's humanitarian partner, Global Empowerment Mission, will ship them to communities devastated by the late June earthquakes that hit Venezuela. It's only the first semi-trailer full of donations from Wisconsin, containing non-perishable food, bottled water, sleeping bags, blankets and other emergency supplies.

In line with the organisation's mission to serve beyond the court, the ATP will be making a donation to help those rebuilding from the Venezeula earthquakes. Fans interested in supporting the cause can do so through the Global Empowerment Mission.

Lynn employees transported the donations to Doral, Florida, and delivered them to Global Empowerment Mission, a disaster relief organization supporting recovery efforts in Venezuela.

Working with Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), Goya is providing critical relief to communities in need. As Goya celebrates its 90th anniversary, its commitment to service continues through Goya Gives.

MAIQUETIA, Venezuela (AP) — Thousands of people affected by the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela last month are increasingly facing challenges accessing clean water as well as sanitation and hygiene services.

One week after devastating earthquakes struck Venezuela, relief efforts in South Florida continue at a steady pace. Rows of cars have remained lined up at the Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) in Doral, where volunteers are collecting donations of non-perishable food, tents, and diapers to send to the disaster zone. "As of this morning, three planes have landed, and aid is being distributed," said Francine De La Rosa, a member of the GEM Executive Board. "Over 171 pallets have been unloaded from those planes and nearly 8,000 family necessity kits."

CBS News Miami is also partnering with GEM for donations after deadly earthquakes shook the country.

DORAL, Fla. — A week after the 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes in Venezuela, the Global Empowerment Mission had dispatched more than $1 million in aid, according to the Doral-based nonprofit’s representatives. A team of community donors, volunteers, and GEM’s staff moved some 235,000 pounds of donations in a logistics-heavy operation. The team had some 50 tons of aid at a warehouse in Doral and another 50 tons at a warehouse in Valencia, which is operating as a distribution center.

MIAMI (June 30, 2026) — iHeartMedia Miami is partnering with Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) to amplify a growing humanitarian response effort led by Miami-Dade County, using its radio and digital platforms to drive donations during a focused campaign TODAY, for victims of the recent earthquakes in Venezuela.

DORAL, Fla. — After they stopped accepting donations on Monday afternoon in Doral, dozens of Global Empowerment Mission volunteers clapped because more help was on the way to the devastated coastal towns of Venezuela. In northern Venezuela’s state of La Guaira, there was also applause after search-and-rescue teams pulled someone out alive from the rubble five days after the 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes.

DENVER -- The Marlins on Monday announced a relief effort to support communities impacted by the earthquakes in Venezuela, including a $100,000 donation to Global Empowerment Mission to aid emergency response and recovery efforts. The initiative, which will involve participation from the organization, corporate sponsors and fans, will provide financial assistance and critically needed supplies.

MIAMI (June 30, 2026) — iHeartMedia Miami is partnering with Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) to amplify a growing humanitarian response effort led by Miami-Dade County, using its radio and digital platforms to drive donations during a focused campaign TODAY, for victims of the recent earthquakes in Venezuela. The collaboration builds on a countywide aid initiative with GEM. On Tuesday June 30, iHeartMedia Miami is broadcasting appeals across its South Florida stations, encouraging listeners to contribute funds and essential supplies to support families affected by the disaster.

Donations continue to pour in from across South Florida to help those in need following the powerful and deadly earthquakes in Venezuela last week, and on Monday members of the Miami Dolphins joined in on those relief efforts. CBS News Miami’s Austin Carter has more from GEM.

DORAL, Fla. — After they stopped accepting donations on Monday afternoon in Doral, dozens of Global Empowerment Mission volunteers clapped because more help was on the way to the devastated coastal towns of Venezuela. In northern Venezuela’s state of La Guaira, there was also applause after search-and-rescue teams pulled someone out alive from the rubble five days after the 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes.

NFL star Andrés Borregales, who was born in Caracas and moved to South Florida in 2004, joined the Global Empowerment Mission’s team to help send aid to northern Venezuela. The 23-year-old New England Patriots player — who made NFL history on Feb. 8 as the first Venezuelan-born player to make it to a Super Bowl — didn’t just hand over money and donations.

Global Empowerment Mission sent video to CBS News Miami showing crews offloading supplies that are desperately needed in the aftermath of two deadly earthquakes last week. This comes as crews are still searching for people who may be trapped under the rubble and still alive several days after the disaster.

JERSEY CITY, N.J., June 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Goya Foods, the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the United States, responds to the humanitarian crisis following the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela by donating 100,000 pounds of food to help families affected by the disaster.

MIAMI – June 29, 2026 – CBS Miami, in partnership with Neighbors 4 Neighbors and Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), is launching Hope 4 Venezuela, a multiplatform relief initiative supporting families impacted by the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela. Headquartered in Doral – home to the largest Venezuelan population in the United States – CBS Miami is leveraging its deep community connections and trusted local journalism platform to mobilize aid, elevate critical resources and serve as a central hub for information and support.

As Venezuelans search for missing victims in the aftermath of devastating earthquakes, U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody assisted in relief efforts from South Florida this weekend. Moody was in Doral on Saturday to lend a hand at a staging area for the Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), where volunteers packed containers of food and other relief boxes bound for the area hit hard in Venezuela this past week. She was joined by her husband, Justin Duralia, who helped prepare boxes of relief goods.

CBS Miami and Neighbors 4 Neighbors are partnering with Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) to launch an emergency relief campaign for families impacted by the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela. The initiative, called Hope 4 Venezuela, is collecting both monetary donations and essential supplies to help communities affected by the disaster.

At Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) in Doral, volunteers have been working non-stop to get supplies to those who need it most, with some of that aid already arriving in Venezuela as of Friday morning. Volunteers collect donations from local residents, bound for Venezuela as relief organizations work to deliver emergency supplies after two major earthquakes hit northern Venezuela, at the Global Empowerment Mission headquarters in Miami, Florida, on June 25, 2026.

The Venezuelan restaurant, open 24 hours, seven days a week, at the Chevron gas station, at 10191 NW 58th St., was among the drop-off locations collecting aid to be delivered to the local nonprofit Global Empowerment Mission’s warehouse in Doral. “I haven’t stopped crying since the earthquake,” said Susanna Taddei, a Venezuelan-American LGBTQ+ rights activist who was dropping off aid at El Arepazo.

Now, Miramar is joining Global Empowerment Mission, an internationally recognized disaster relief organization that is already working to collect donations in Miami, to expand the collection. The city is calling on residents and businesses to support the Venezuelan community by donating essential supplies. “Miramar has always been a community that leads with compassion. Many of our neighbors have family and loved ones in Venezuela who are experiencing unimaginable loss and uncertainty,” Mayor Wayne M. Messam said in a news release.

To help ensure donations reach those affected as quickly as possible, the City of Miramar has partnered with Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), an internationally recognized disaster relief organization that will coordinate the transportation and distribution of donated supplies directly to impacted communities in Venezuela.

GEM disaster relief organization based Florida is mobilizing aid after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela.