Winter Haven hosts benefit concert to fund aid for bus crash families

Winter Haven residents gathered Monday evening at the Ritz Theatre for a benefit concert aimed at supporting families affected by a deadly school bus crash. The event, titled Winter Haven United: A Night of Hope, featured musical performances designed to offer comfort and community solidarity.

The concert raises funds for the two families impacted by a multi-vehicle collision that occurred on October 5. The accident claimed the lives of Adinaluz Prieto Oyola, a 16-year-old 10th-grade student at Winter Haven High School, and DeShawn Smith, a 26-year-old man driving to work.

Organizer Vincent Miller, a former teacher at Winter Haven High School, coordinated the evening's programming. He selected songs such as Stand by Me and Man in the Mirror to emphasize themes of inspiration and love. Miller stated the goal is to demonstrate that the community stands behind the victims in their time of need.

Resident Laura Robinson described the crash as a traumatic event that prompted her and others to seek ways to help. She expressed a desire to ease the pain of the affected families through collective action. Sherry Bryant, president of the Jewett Alumni Association and an event organizer, emphasized the importance of ensuring the families know they have local support.

One hundred percent of the proceeds and donations from the concert will go to the Polk Education Foundation. Tracy Porter, the foundation's senior director, explained that the organization is working with school and district leadership to identify specific needs of the families. This collaborative approach ensures that financial aid addresses immediate requirements.

Porter noted that the foundation is coordinating with counselors and administrators at Winter Haven High School. This process helps determine how the raised funds will be distributed most effectively. The foundation serves as the primary channel for delivering the financial support gathered during the event.

Organizers specified that any money raised beyond the immediate needs of the families will be allocated to scholarships. These funds will support students who were riding the bus on the day of the collision. The benefit concert marks a direct community response to the loss of two lives in the October accident.