Cena con Propósito: Lotus Rooftop Gives a Full Day of Sales to Venezuela Quake Relief

Quick answer: On Wednesday, July 23, Lotus Rooftop in Medellín is hosting Cena con Propósito — a charity dinner where 100% of the entire day’s sales are donated to humanitarian aid for families affected by the earthquakes that struck Venezuela in June 2026. You take part simply by coming in to eat and drink that day; every table becomes a donation. Reserve through Lotus Rooftop’s Instagram or the reservation link.

Cena con Propósito: one night, one purpose

Lotus Rooftop is turning an ordinary Wednesday into a fundraiser. Under the name Cena con Propósito (“Dinner with Purpose”), the venue is committing every peso of that day’s sales — not a percentage, not the tips, the whole day — to humanitarian relief for Venezuela.

There’s no separate ticket to buy and no minimum. If you have dinner, order drinks, or bring friends up to the rooftop on July 23, your bill is the donation. The organizers put it plainly on the invitation: “cada plato compartido es un acto de solidaridad” — every shared plate is an act of solidarity.

If you’ve been meaning to try one of the city’s rooftops, this is a good reason to go. (For more options, see our guide to the best rooftop bars in El Poblado.)

Why Venezuela: the June 2026 earthquakes

The cause behind the dinner is one of the worst natural disasters the region has seen in a century. On June 24, 2026, two powerful earthquakes — magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 — struck north-central Venezuela just seconds apart, with epicenters near the coastal town of Morón, roughly 100 miles west of Caracas (CNN; Britannica).

The scale of the damage is staggering. The quakes collapsed more than 250 structures, and the UN’s early assessment put direct physical damage to housing and infrastructure at around $37 billion (UN News). By mid-July, more than 5,000 people had died and over 16,700 were injured, according to figures compiled in ongoing coverage of the disaster (Wikipedia).

Weeks later, the emergency is far from over. Aftershocks continue, families remain displaced, and hospitals are under heavy pressure — the Pan American Health Organization has been mobilizing tons of medicines and medical supplies into the affected states to keep the health system functioning (PAHO/WHO). Medellín is home to a large Venezuelan community, and for many people here the disaster is personal — friends and family caught in the middle of it.

Lotus Rooftop and Stuart’s decision to help directly

The dinner is the idea of Stuart, Lotus Rooftop’s owner, who wanted the restaurant to do something concrete rather than watch from a distance. The part he cared about most was making sure the money actually reaches people on the ground.

That’s why the proceeds aren’t going into a general pot. Stuart chose to route the full day’s sales through Bastión, a philanthropy organization working across Venezuela and Colombia whose entire model is built on vetting where donations go. For this campaign, the funds raised are directed toward medical supplies and humanitarian relief for earthquake-affected families in Venezuela. The goal, in his words, is help that reaches families directly and isn’t lost along the way.

Who is Bastión?

Bastión (Bastion Life) describes its approach as smart philanthropy. Rather than simply collecting money, it acts as a vetted bridge between donors and trusted local NGOs on the ground across Venezuela and Colombia. Its process is built around due diligence, monitoring how funds are used, and even putting up its own matching resources on the projects it backs — an accountability-first structure meant to ensure that contributions actually reach the people they’re intended for. Its broader mission centers on improving access to education, health, and nutrition for children in Latin America.

That accountability model is exactly why it fits this fundraiser: with Bastión vetting and tracking the delivery, the money raised at Lotus Rooftop is designed to translate into real aid on the ground rather than getting lost along the way. You can learn more or donate directly at bastion.life or on Instagram at @bastion.life.

For diners, the appeal is simple: you get a night out on one of Medellín’s rooftops, and the entire value of your evening turns into medicine and supplies for people who need it right now. It’s a low-friction way to contribute — no wire transfers, no guesswork about where the money lands, just dinner with a purpose.

How to take part

1. Go on July 23. The donation applies to that day only.
2. Reserve a table through Lotus Rooftop’s Instagram (@lotus.mde) or the reservation link so the team can plan for the crowd — walk-ins are welcome too.
3. Bring people. Every additional plate and drink is more aid delivered.
4. Spread the word. Share the event so more of Medellín shows up.

Looking for more things to do in Medellín this week? This one comes with a reason to feel good about the check.

Event details are as provided by the organizers; confirm the date, hours, and reservation details directly with Lotus Rooftop before you go.