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When Venita Katir decided to help the survivors of the 2004 Southeast Asia Tsunami, she did not just write a check and move on -- the UC Davis student started a group to provide lasting support for those affected by natural disasters.

Today, that organization, SHARE, or Students Helping in Aftermath Relief and Education, is inviting the public to attend "SHARE with New Orleans Food & Wine Festival" on Friday, May 18, at the Veterans Memorial Center in Davis. All proceeds from the dinner and auction will benefit a New Orleans school devastated by the floods of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

The event is part of SHARE's effort to raise $20,000 and collect school supplies for the in the lower-ninth ward. The student group members work to rekindle awareness and support for survivors of disasters after the national spotlight has faded.

In celebration of New Orleans' rich cultural heritage, the evening will feature a Cajun-style dinner catered by Monticello Bistro of Winters and live music by the UC Davis Jazz Band. The auction will include items ranging from fine Robert Mondavi wines and a time-share stay in Mexico, to Six-Flags passes and young women's clothing. Guest speakers will include UC Davis Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef; city of Davis Mayor Sue Greenwald; and Sara Massey of New Orleans' (CIS), with which SHARE is working.

Katir, president of SHARE and a senior human development major, believes strongly in generating change through education. "By targeting youth, we hope to make sustainable improvements that will affect generations," said Katir, who is planning to participate in Teach For America after graduation. "They need the tools, skills, and education to make a better and brighter future."

SHARE is partnering with the New Orleans affiliate of CIS, a nonprofit organization that identified MLK Jr. Charter School as highly deserving of assistance. The K-8 school for 600 students in New Orleans' lower-ninth ward is still operating at a temporary site.

Massey of CIS said funds are needed to completely restock the school, and the accompanying emotional support is invaluable. "I think this is a fabulous example of the commitment of the young people of this country to follow a social conscience and help in periods of great need," she said. "We have 58 schools open and could use 57 more groups like this around the country."

Last year, SHARE organized a cultural dance show that raised more than $10,000 in aid for tsunami-ravaged Sri Lanka. The funds helped build a technology learning center in Northeastern Sri Lanka that now instructs 30 orphans in computer skills necessary for jobs.

SHARE member Keisha Williams, a first-year pharmacology and toxicology graduate student, said this cause is close to her heart -- she graduated from Xavier University in New Orleans before moving to Davis. Having weathered Hurricane Katrina, Williams encourages people to reach out to Gulf Coast survivors. "The conditions might look desperate sometimes, but we're all part of the same community. We're all Americans," she said.

The fundraiser is scheduled for 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Center, 203 East 14th St., at B Street.

VIP tickets, which offer prime seating and an additional complimentary beverage, are $40, and general admission tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. To donate or buy tickets, please e-mail ShareTickets@gmail.com or call (530) 635-1383.

Major sponsors and donors include the Robert Mondavi Winery, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and the UC Davis Office of Campus and Community Relations.

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