![\"Michael](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/MIA_100GEMVenezuela17NEWPPP.JPG\" "\\"Michael")
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Michael Capponi, founder of the Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), talks during a press conference about his time in Venezuela following the earthquakes and the plans for GEM to continue sending aid. He spoke at the organization’s headquarters in Doral on Friday, July 17, 2026.<\/p>\n
Pedro Portal<\/p>\n
pportal@miamiherald.com<\/p>\n
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 \u201c10,000 Surfsides.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis 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],\u201d Capponi said of La Guaira, the hardest hit state on Venezuela\u2019s Caribbean coast.<\/p>\n
Cappponi, who spoke to the Herald before a press conference at Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) headquarters in Doral on Friday, just spent 18 days in the South American country. He said he\u2019s heard from engineers that as many as 10,000 buildings have collapsed. He plans to return on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have 10,000 Surfsides,\u201d he told the Herald.<\/p>\n
Capponi, 54, arrived in La Guaira with the first round of aid on Sunday June 27, three days after two earthquakes — 7.2 and 7.5 \u2014 struck the Caribbean coast of Venezuela just 39 seconds apart.<\/p>\n
GEM has led relief operations in partnership with I Love Venezuela Foundation<\/a>, C\u00e1ritas Venezuela<\/a>, local authorities, and in coordination with the U.S. State Department.<\/p>\n Capponi said he thinks at least 500,000 people have been displaced and need help.<\/p>\n Despite the destruction and rubble choking off La Guaira, he said the people affected are grateful and hopeful. He said he was surprised that the people, even in Chavista neighborhoods, asked for pictures with U.S. Marines and even local police cheered when they arrived with help.<\/p>\n At the press conference, Capponi was joined by Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, who thanked the nearly 20,000 volunteers who\u2019ve gone to help Venezuela.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer,\u201c Collins said.<\/p>\n Capponi said the organization plans to expand its response. He also announced a Latin American headquarters in La Guaira and said GEM is committed long-term to supporting Venezuela in its recovery. GEM estimates it will serve at least 250,000 earthquake survivors over the coming months.<\/p>\n \u201cIndefinitely,\u201d he said when asked how long GEM would be in Venezuela. \u201cMark my words on it: We will be there all year, and the next year and the next year, with your support.\u201d<\/p>\n The disaster relief organization has six warehouses designated for the Venezuelan response: the headquarters in Doral, three other local warehouses (two in Doral and one in Sweetwater) and two warehouses in La Guaira, the state hardest hit by the earthquakes.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s five Costcos filled to the brim with aid for Venezuela,\u201d Capponi said about the warehouses in South Florida. In total, 37 states have set up drop-off sites and are sending aid for Venezuela through GEM.<\/p>\n According to the organization, they have served 105,498 people as of Wednesday. Over 37,000 family necessity kits were distributed, more than 1,000 pallets of humanitarian aid have been mobilized and $6.5 million in aid delivered.<\/p>\n Capponi stressed the importance of donations. While GEM\u2019s Doral headquarters accepts donations daily, there are other drop-off points throughout South Florida that are also accepting donations including Nu Stadium, Marlins Park, several Coral Gables fire houses, and local businesses. To find one near you visit www.gemdropoff.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n To volunteer you can sign up for a time slot by visiting www.globalempowermentmission.org\/volunteer\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n This story was originally published July 17, 2026 at 6:57 PM.<\/p>\n![\"Volunteer](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/MIA_102GEMVenezuela17NEWPPP.JPG\" "\\"MIA_102GEMVenezuela17NEWPPP.JPG\\"")
Volunteer Ibrahim Reyes greets Claudia Chacon as she writes messages of hope on boxes with supplies for the earthquake victims in Venezuela at GEM headquarters in Doral on Friday, July 17, 2026. Pedro Portal pportal@miamiherald.com <\/p>\n![\"Volunteers](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/MIA_105GEMVenezuela17NEWPPP.JPG\" "\\"MIA_105GEMVenezuela17NEWPPP.JPG\\"")
Volunteers fill boxes with supplies for earthquake victims in Venezuela at the Global Empowerment Mission in Doral on Friday, July 17, 2026. Pedro Portal pportal@miamiherald.com <\/p>\n
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