Aid to Latino Families of Baltimore Bridge Tragedy

Dear John,

In the week following the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, we turn our focus to expediting funds to the families of the six victims, all of whom have been left to navigate not only the unthinkable loss of a loved one, but the financial hardship of needing to cover immediate costs and basic living expenses. The fact that four of the six victims still haven’t been recovered breaks our hearts. The recovery timeline is non-existent which adds an even bigger hardship to the families—no closure or answers, for some just the memories of the last voice message and text moments before the tragedy occurred.

The LULAC Institute, Inc., is spearheading a fundraising effort, ensuring that 100% of your donations directly assist the families left to navigate an uncertain future. Most of the victims were the breadwinners of their families; others supported educational efforts in their home countries. These funds must be in the hands of the families left behind as quickly as possible. We are over halfway to our goal of $25,000, which means we can donate close to $2,000 to each family immediately. The money raised could help cover funeral costs and cost of living expenses such as rent, groceries, and utilities as they begin to navigate the unprecedented future.

As our National President Domingo Garcia said last Friday, "This week’s tragedy has shaken, not only the Baltimore community to its core, but also the Latino community at large. The death of these 6 men while working to fill in potholes in the middle of the night sadly highlights the systemic issues facing Latino immigrants in the United States. Despite making up a significant portion of the construction workforce and other jobs in varying industries, they are disproportionately exposed to life-threatening dangers. Most of these construction workers, originally from Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Mexico, symbolize the broader narrative of Latino workers' significant contributions to our Nation and communities.”

Let’s come together as LULAC members, Latinos, Americans, and most importantly as humans to help rebuild. We thank you for your generosity as we honor these six integral members of Baltimore’s growing Latino community. According to NPR, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that up to a third of construction workers in 2020 were Latino, and many are foreign-born. These workers, who arrived in the United States with dreams of a better life, faced the ultimate sacrifice in their quest for the American Dream, and it is crucial we as a community stand by their families during this difficult time.

Let’s continue to donate. Time is of the essence.

Very Sincerely,

Juan Proaño
CEO

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About LULAC
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest Hispanic civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 535 Councils and 145,000 members across the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services, and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting the critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit www.LULAC.org.