Silver Spring, Maryland--An estimated 300 people attended a concert at the
Washington Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church in Silver Spring, Maryland,
on Sunday, August 26, to support families whose lives have been shattered by
the recent earthquake in Peru.
Concert proceeds, including matching funds, totaled more than $13,000 and
were donated to the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA)
International for its continuing relief efforts in the earthquake-affected
area.

The four-hour benefit event, "ADRATON pro Perú" (ADRATHON for Peru),
featured a car wash, food booths, and musical performances by several local
Christian bands.

"The concert went very well," said Mario Ochoa, executive vice president of
ADRA International. "It was absolutely a success as an appeal to the public,
with many people showing their support for the earthquake survivors."

Victor Huamán, director of emergency response for ADRA Peru, called in from
Chincha, one of the earthquake-hit areas where ADRA is implementing relief
projects, to speak to attendees about the impact of the tragedy, what ADRA
is doing, and encourage the crowd to continue helping those in need. He
thanked donors for their support and contributions.

Homero Salazar, pastor for the Washington Spanish Seventh-day Adventist
Church, was also pleased by the turnout at the event.
"I am grateful for the support of the members of the Washington Spanish
Church," said Salazar during a post-concert interview.
"I am from Peru, and when I was eight years old, a massive earthquake hit
Peru. I remember seeing houses falling, and crying because I was scared. I
know what it feels like to have to sleep in the streets, because I had to
sleep in the streets. When I saw in the news what had happened, it all came
back to me. That's why it was so important to me to organize and motivate my
church and the community in this way," he added.

On Wednesday, August 15, at 6:41 p.m. local time, an 8.0 earthquake struck
off the coast of Peru, affecting the cities of Ica, Pisco, San Vicente de
Cañete, and Chincha Alta and surrounding areas. Its effects were felt as far
away as Lima, Pucallpa, Iquitos, Contamana, Trujillo, and Cajamarca.

The Peruvian National Institute of Civil Defense (INDECI) has reported at
least 519 people killed, with nearly 1,400 people injured. More than 71,250
houses were damaged or destroyed by the earthquake.

ADRA Peru immediately sent a disaster response team along with more than 80
volunteers including doctors, nurses, psychologists, and nutritionists to
the affected region. To date, the ADRA team has distributed more than 40
tons of supplies, including food, medicine, water, tents, blankets, and
clothing donated by Peruvian businesses to aid survivors in the earthquake
affected regions of Chincha and Pisco.

Over the past two weeks, ADRA Peru disaster response teams have set up
nearly 170 tents for displaced families, delivered more than 1,100 blankets,
distributed clean water to 550 households, and set up five kitchens where
volunteers have served warm meals to affected persons in the Chincha
communities of Melchorita, Salvador, Túpac Amaru, Santa Rosa, and San Luis.

ADRA is expanding its response in the affected areas to help thousands more
additional families through a partnership with U.S.-based Heart to Heart
International and ADRA supporting offices in the Netherlands, Norway,
Switzerland, Denmark, Austria, Canada, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere.

ADRA is continuing to accept financial donations in response to the needs of
earthquake survivors. Donations will be used to purchase additional
emergency response supplies in Peru.

To donate to ADRA's earthquake response efforts in Peru, please contact ADRA
at 1.800.424.ADRA (2372) or donate online at www.adra.org.

ADRA is present in 125 countries, providing community development and
emergency management without regard to political or religious association,
age, gender, or ethnicity.

Additional information about ADRA can be found at www.adra.org.