Goal reached!

The Congolese benefit evening was a success! Well past the goal of $2000, at $2141 and counting, all of the proceeds are going directly to the Panzi Hospital in the Congo to help build the City of Joy community living center to aid the victims of violent rape.

On a slightly lighter note of the evening, here are a couple pics of Fushadance performing!




Best to all, and a good Turkey Day, if you're into that kind of thing! ;-)

It's a bit last minute, but all for a good cause . . .

Tonight, I will be performing at a small benefit show with Fushadance Company. If you happen to be free . . .

To celebrate their birthdays, Gary Weingarten and Anna Williams invite you to the

"CITY OF JOY" & PANZI HOSPITAL BENEFIT

- a "Safe Space" and treatment center in the DR Congo for women and children who are the victims of sexual violence.
“City of Joy” will be a focal point for education, leadership support and economic empowerment for survivors of brutal sexual violence in Bukavu, DR Congo. The project is organized by V-Day, UNICEF and Panzi Hospital which provides the life-saving surgeries for these survivors.

We aim to raise $2000.00
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2007. 7PM

LIVE CONGOLESE DRUM AND DANCE PERFORMANCE BY
FUSHA DANCE COMPANY @ 10 PM
DJ MSG SPINS THE BEST AFRO GROOVES ALL NIGHT!

VERLAINE, 110 Rivington Street. 212/ 614-2494

A donation of $10.00 or more for THEM means
Happy Hour 'till midnight for YOU, including $4 Lychee Martinis!

The UN Under Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs calls
the systematic rape of women and children in the Eastern Congo
the most prevalent in the world -- likened to "a cultural phenomenon."

Human Rights Watch reports that as many as 30% of rape victims are tortured
and mutilated during the assaults, usually with spears, machetes, sticks or gun barrels.

for more information, please call Gary (646.872.7434) or Anna (831.601.0576) or check out the following links:

http://www.vday.org/congo_splash.html
http://www.glamour.com/news/articles/2007/08/reallifedrama
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/10/08/1340255
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/07/world/africa/07congo.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
www.crisisgroup.org