September 28, 2019 12:00-10:00PM The Giveback: Fundraiser to Help Rebuild Puerto Rico

In celebration of this year’s Puerto Rican festivities, acclaimed street artist and Puerto Rican native, Christian Alexis Rodriguez-Pagan aka TAMEARTZ is bringing the community together for a block party fundraiser, “Puerto Rico: The Giveback”, in an effort to raise funds for education on the island.

“Puerto Rico: The Giveback” will be held:
Saturday, Sept 28th
12:00PM - 10:00PM
Sunflower Philly
1725 N 5th St, Philadelphia, PA 19122

This family-friendly event will commence with hip-hop funk music and feature live painting of Sunflower Philly’s park walls by artists from Philadelphia, New York, Puerto Rico and Europe. There will be an array of Puerto Rican cuisines and food trucks, music and games including dominoes, a traditional game around community relationships. At 6PM the event transitions to Latin Night, featuring traditional Puerto Rican music, poetry reading and dancing.

The goal is to raise $40,000 for education. Since Hurricane Maria, over 400 schools have closed across Puerto Rico. By collaborating with local philanthropists Victor & Madeline Neris Negron, funds will go directly to creating a community center along the west side of the island in the rural towns of Mayagüez and Añasco. Rural towns have been overlooked in Puerto Rico following natural disasters, struggling to receive and establish basic human services. Understanding the needs of this specific area 100% of the funds raised will go to supporting education in these underserved areas.

Christian, who grew up in, is working to create a sustainable education program for a community center to install a computer lab with the help of community partners, Victor & Madeline Neris Negron, Asher Roth, and Chadwick Smith. The Negrons, full-time residents of Puerto Rico and Philadelphia, are philanthropists who already helped establish a computer lab in Puerto Rico. Roth, musician, community activist and Sunflower Philly Creative Director, is using his assets to raise public awareness. Smith, Sunflower Philly’s Developer and owner of community sponsor, Flow Development & Technology, is leveraging passion for education to support the efforts. By combining their connections and resources, they plan to build and maintain sustainable educational spaces for the local people affected by the hurricane.

To learn how to get involved with the project or to participate in the fundraiser, please visit the GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-giveback-puerto-rico-fundraiser.

"This is not just a Puerto Rican issue; this is a human race issue."
- Christian "TAMEARTZ" Rodriguez