CHICAGO, IL — March 31, 2026 — (NOTICIAS NEWSWIRE) — Nuestra Escuela Vocational School in Caguas, Puerto Rico, is entering an important new chapter. With the support of the Maestro Cares Foundation (MCF) and Puerto Rican singer and actor Chayanne, the school is expanding its daycare center and constructing a permanent dining hall to better serve hundreds of students and families.

The project broke ground in Fall 2025 and is expected to be completed within 10 months. The total investment is $1,255,000. With $855,000 already raised, Maestro Cares Foundation and Chayanne will contribute the remaining $400,000, each committing $200,000 to bring the project to completion.

“This project is about investing in families and giving children the strong foundation they deserve,” said Chayanne. “Education and community support can truly change the direction of a young person’s life, and I am proud to stand alongside the Maestro Cares Foundation and Nuestra Escuela in making this expansion possible.”

Expanding early education and family support

The daycare center, which currently serves 49 children ages 0–5, will increase capacity by 30 additional children.

The expansion will include:

• Two new classrooms
• Child-friendly bathrooms
• A fully equipped kitchen
• A dedicated pedagogical learning space
• An outdoor play area
• A permanent dining hall

Community impact

This expansion will significantly strengthen services for the broader Caguas community:

• Expanded access to early education: 79 children will receive free, reliable early childhood care.
• Support for young parents: Nearly 50 adults will be able to continue their education and pursue career pathways through the school’s vocational program.
• Nourishment and stability: 450 students will benefit from nutritious meals in a safe and welcoming dining space designed to foster connection,stability and well-being.
• Emergency refuge: Approximately 500 families will have access to Nuestra Escuela as a trusted community hub during large-scale emergencies.
• Sustained academic success: The school maintains a 97% retention rate, reflecting strong outcomes and deep community trust.

Building on momentum

In February 2025, Nuestra Escuela celebrated the grand opening of Nuestra Innovación Digital, a vocational technology school in Caguas that unified Nuestra Escuela’s three vocational programs in a newly renovated building, which also serves as the organization’s headquarters. This initiative was also partly funded by the Maestro Cares Foundation. Since reopening, 90 students have enrolled in the school’s technical programming, expanding access to workforce training for disadvantaged youth in the region.

For more than 25 years, Nuestra Escuela has served as a cornerstone of opportunity in Puerto Rico. Its holistic model supports children from infancy through primary school, continues through middle and high school education, and provides vocational training for youth ages 13 to 21 seeking a second chance.

More than a school, Nuestra Escuela is a place where families find stability, education, and hope. This expansion ensures that its impact will continue to grow for generations to come.

About Maestro Cares Foundation
The Maestro Cares Foundation (MCF) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2012 by international music icon Marc Anthony and entrepreneur Henry Cárdenas. The foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life of disadvantaged children and communities in Latin America and the United States. MCF partners with local foundations and organizations to fund sustainable projects that create safe and healthy environments for children, supporting both their developmental and academic needs. To date, the Maestro Cares Foundation has funded 45 projects in 17 countries and territories, positively impacting the lives of thousands of children. Additionally, the foundation runs the Maestro Cares Foundation Scholarship Program, which provides educational opportunities for Latino/a students who excel academically, have financial need, and are committed to charitable work. Through 23 university partnerships and individual scholarships, MCF has supported over 150 scholars in their educational endeavors.

About Chayanne
Chayanne, a native of Puerto Rico, is one of the most recognized and influential figures in Latin pop music. Over a career spanning more than four decades, he has sold more than 60 million albums worldwide and performed in sold-out tours across the Americas and Europe. In addition to his music career, he has appeared in films, television series, and telenovelas, earning numerous international awards.

Beyond entertainment, Chayanne is deeply committed to philanthropy. His humanitarian efforts focus on disaster relief, public health, and improving the lives of children and vulnerable communities. He has supported organizations such as the American Red Cross, Make-A-Wish, and Saving Hands Emergency Aid (SHEA), and has advocated for relief efforts in Puerto Rico following natural disasters. He also supports initiatives related to cancer research, ALS awareness, and the work of the Maestro Cares Foundation.

About Nuestra Escuela
Nuestra Escuela is an alternative education project that designs and implements its educational model using strategies that respond to the needs and interests of a population of young people who have been out of school. This model is structured around 12 elements anchored in five principles: Vital Essence Workshop, Circles, All for My Star, Personalized Education, and Entrepreneurship. All of these contribute to an effective and supportive teaching and learning process with an emphasis on the students' socio-emotional well-being and the development of their attitudes and skills so they can become responsible and ethical citizens, committed to their own future and that of their country.

CONTACT:
projects@maestrocares.org