Funds will help tsunami victims

Several Augusta Indo-Asian organizations are working together to raise $25,000 to help victims of the Dec. 26 tsunami that killed hundreds of thousands of people in Asia and Africa.

On Friday, a cultural program and dinner fund-raiser will be held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Belair Conference Center, located at 4081 S. Belair Road in Augusta. Organizers of the event include members of the Hindu Temple Society in Augusta, Swaminarayan Temple in Evans, Gurusingh Sabha, Indo-American Cultural Association, Pakistan American Cultural Association and Asian Indian Mission.

Tickets cost $25. For a $400 donation, patrons will be able to reserve a table for eight. With a $1,000 donation, corporate sponsors can display their banner and reserve a table for eight.

"This is a joint effort to give the local people a chance to donate because so (many) people have asked how they can participate," Indo-American Cultural President T.R. Reddy said, adding that the group immediately began organizing the fund-raiser two weeks after the catastrophe, which resulted after a major earthquake occurred in the Indian Ocean.

Reddy said the event will feature an array of Indian food, cultural, classical dances and a silent auction, which will feature paintings and more.

Reddy said the event is an excellent opportunity for the organization's members to give back to the community where they once lived. He added that the group expects 400 people to attend and plans to donate the proceeds to Red Cross and other non-governmental organizations working on the tsunami disaster relief.

For more information, call 650-0080 in the daytime and 855-2098 in the evening.