Sean Penn's CORE launches $5 million campaign for Venezuela earthquake relief

Actor and activist Sean Penn’s non‑profit Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE) has launched the “Todos con Venezuela” campaign to raise $5 million for emergency response and reconstruction after the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on 24 June. The initiative was kick‑started with a $500,000 donation from the FIFA Foundation.

The earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5, left more than 5,000 dead, over 16,700 injured and tens of thousands missing. At least 850 buildings were damaged, 190 of them collapsed, and the World Bank estimates direct physical damage at $19.6 billion, with rebuilding costs potentially double that amount. CORE plans to mobilize artists, athletes, creators and philanthropists to meet its funding goal and will focus on delivering food, water, shelter, debris removal, and long‑term housing and livelihood support to affected communities. The campaign builds on CORE’s experience responding to crises such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the 2020 COVID‑19 pandemic, and disasters in New Orleans, Brazil and Ukraine.