Latin superstar Marc Anthony is set to open a new orphanage and school in Colombia after the success of his first charity centre in the Dominican Republic.

The salsa singer opened the Children of the Christ residence in the La Romana area of the Dominican Republic last April (14) via his organisation the Maestro Cares Foundation, and now he is planning to launch a second kids home in Barranquilla, Colombia, the native country of his charity co-founder Henry Cardenas.

They are aiming to open the new orphanage in April (15) to provide housing and care for more than 200 disadvantaged kids, double the capacity of the Dominican Republic centre.

Charity executives are also making plans for similar ventures in Mexico, Peru and Anthony's native Puerto Rico.

Sylvia Zaldivar, Executive Director of Maestro Cares, tells Fox News Latino, "The Foundation is taking off at warp speed. Marc Anthony has been leveraging his relationships to develop projects that are making a real difference in communities in need."

Anthony and Cardenas held their second annual Changing Lives, Building Dreams gala in New York City on Tuesday (17Feb15), raising more than $1 million (£625,000) for their foundation, and the singer admits the cause is one very close to his heart.

He tells People.com, "This is very personal... My kids in the Ninos de Cristo (Children of the Christ) orphanage, they're gonna eat, they're safe, they have their own beds, they have their own space. It comes down to dignity at the end of the day. I always say these children's beautiful, beautiful souls were dealt a rough set of cards, and at the very least (they deserve), a bed, food, education..."

Anthony has also taken his own children to visit the home in the Dominican Republic to show them how privileged they are.

He says, "I am on this mission to do what I'd do for my own children. I've taken my own children to the orphanage. We spent a weekend with the kids, and they came up with ways to make their existence better.

"My two older boys, Christian and Ryan, came up with a whole curriculum, like: 'Based on behaviour, I think we should have a movie night.' And they definitely see what I'm doing. That's just one of those pluses - you don't count on it, but they do see the example you set."

Anthony has four children from his previous marriages - sons Ryan, 11, and Christian, 14, with Dayanara Torres, and twins Max and Emme with Jennifer Lopez. He wed his third wife, Shannon De Lima, in November (14).