On Nov. 11, more than 200 members of the Guilford community joined together at the Guilford Community Center for a banquet of food, friends, and music to raise money in support of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico. Thanks to donations from more 25 local restaurants, as well as the collective efforts of many in the Guilford soccer community, the Soccer Club of Guilford (SCOG) boys’ U-13 team, led by Coach Dennis Garcia, raised more $7,000 for disaster relief efforts that are being administered by Arte, Inc.

Highlights of the evening included an amazing display of generosity from the local restaurants that provided food for the night, an original arrangement of the song Despacito that was produced by team parent Nathan Pawalek and performed by the entire U-13 boys’ team, along with heartfelt comments from team parent Adam Hopfner. Leftover food donations were shared with the Immanuel Baptist Shelter, allowing banquet contributions to be shared even beyond those present for the event.

The recipient of the evening’s proceeds was Arte, Inc., a non-profit entity based in New Haven that has now raised more than $125,000 to help address the humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico, 100 percent of which is reaching those people directly impacted by recent natural disasters. Parents, community members, and athletes were all touched by the grateful words of Arte’s leadership team, including Chairman Daniel Diaz and Joseph Rodriguez, the Deputy District Director for Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), who made it clear that the boys’ efforts of service to others was recognized and appreciated just as much as their efforts on the soccer field.

The entire town and soccer family extends a debt of gratitude to the tireless efforts of Meg and Joe Malatesta as volunteer leaders of the SCOG, in addition to Nathan and Karen Pawalek for their help in coordinating both music and support for the event, and, most importantly, Andrea Perez, whose energy and commitment to service has become a trademark part of the athletic experience for Coach Garcia’s soccer teams.

Contributions can still be made in support of the ongoing relief efforts in Puerto Rico by visiting www.arte-inc.com and donating directly to their non-profit work.