Carroll School of Management senior Maria Daniela Concha can practically pinpoint the time to the minute—8:20—on that Saturday evening in April when everything changed.

One moment, Concha was in Conte Forum watching the annual BC “Showdown” dance event with friends; the next, glancing at her phone, she noticed a highly active group chat that, when she opened it, turned out to be high school friends in her native Ecuador. They were asking after one another “if they had ‘felt it,’” Concha recalled, and sharing photos of damaged buildings and streets.

An earthquake had struck Ecuador.

Then her parents began texting in the group chat, and while they were unhurt and their home in the coastal city of Guayaquil had sustained no significant damage, both were highly stressed about the dangers posed by aftershocks and the possible threat of violence and lawlessness. It took a few days before their anxiety began to lessen.

Within 12 hours, Concha started an online fundraising campaign with the hashtag #BCforEcuador to enable the Boston College community to aid her home country. #BCforEcuador is partnering with the International Medical Corps, which will facilitate the transfer of donations to fund the Teatro Sanchez Aguilar Foundation’s relief efforts. 

As of the Tuesday morning following the quake, nearly half of the $5,000 goal had been pledged to the campaign's website. The funds will be used to buy medical supplies and materials for temporary shelters where victims will be assisted.

[In another fundraising effort, BC students reported donations of some $2,000 for Catholic Relief Services; that same day, students led a prayer for victims of both the Ecuador and Japan earthquakes.]

The 16 7.8 magnitude quake was one of the worst natural disasters to strike Ecuador in decades. More than 650 people were reported killed, and some 16,600 injured; damage was widespread, and President Rafael Correa declared a national emergency, warning that reconstruction would cost billions of dollars.

BC for Ecuador
Maria Daniela Concha with board members of the Latin American Business Club at the club's Latin American Leadership Conference, held at BC. Concha (center, in front of the Ecuadorian flag) was able to promote the relief effort for Ecuador during the event.

Ask Concha—one of six native Ecuadorians enrolled at BC for 2015-16, according to the Office of International Students and Scholars—what comes to her mind the most when she thinks of Guayaquil, and she has a ready answer. “The people are so warm and welcoming. It doesn’t matter what walk of life they come from, they will always have a smile for you.”

The tragedy in her homeland has darkened what would normally be a time of unparalleled excitement and joy for a graduating senior like Concha, a finance and information systems major, as she contemplates the end of her BC years and the beginning of a career in finance. As much as she feels tugged in the direction of home, though, Concha believes she has to stay put for now.

“I wish I could go back to Ecuador, but raising the donations that will help the situation is more important,” she said. She has found comfort from her roommates—“They’ve been looking out for me”—and in the concern and generosity she’s seen from the BC community.

“Many people have contacted me, and I’m surprised by all those who have donated even though they don’t know me personally. I really appreciate it.”

The BC Latin American Business Club's annual Latin American Leadership Conference provided a forum for Concha to promote the #BCforEcuador campaign.

“The Latin American Business Club was extremely supportive of this cause: They not only allowed me to make an announcement twice during the conference, but to set up a stand for the fundraising. The donations from BC students, parents and professors were extremely generous. 

“Most importantly, they gave me a platform to create awareness of this unfortunate event—from which so many of us could feel so disconnected on so many occasions.”

By Sean Smith | News & Public Affairs