How to help the survivors (a partial list)

San Francisco
Music For Japan
Saturday, April 30

There will be a charity concert for Japan performed by various bands at the West Bay Conference Center, 1290 Fillmore St. #200, from 6 p.m. to midnight. Maestro JT, a local musician from Haiti, developed this event to unite Haitians and persons of Japanese descent with regard to the earthquakes that devastated both nations in the past year. The event will feature music by: Maestro JT/Afro-Rhythm, Sophis, Zamico, CyClub, Wesley Ueunten and Ayumi Meegan, Jay’e and Atiim Chenzira. There will also be a live-painting and a silent auction. Admission is $20, and does not include food or drink. This event is sponsored by a variety of entities, including: the African Advocacy Network. It is endorsed by the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco. All proceeds will be donated to the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California’s Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund. E-mail yukikosadaoka@aol.com in English or Japanese to purchase tickets.

Salon! You’re ON! Artists
from the Heart
Saturday, May 21

Eth-Noh-Tec will hold a “Salon! You’re ON! Artists from the Heart fundraiser and event from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Nihonmachi Terrace Community Rooms, 1615 Sutter St. in San Francisco’s Japantown. The event aims to rally artists and community members to raise funds for those in dire need in Northeastern Japan. The festivities will include a concert, exhibition and community conversation of compassion in action. It will also be held as part of the Asian Pacific Island Cultural Center’s Asian Heritage Festival. The event will feature performances by: Wesley Ueunten and the Sushi Cal Band, a neo-traditional Okinawan folk band; Friendling with Words, an exhibit of Tibetan American and Chinese American artists who will share poetry and exhibit their peace quilt; the Gay Asian Pacific Alliance Men’s Chorus, the Haitian community and African Advocacy Network and Eth-Noh-Tec’s Pan-Asian Kinetic Theater, to show an expression of solidarity for both Haiti and Japan having experienced disastrous earthquakes. Funds will be donated to the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California-established Northern Japan Relief Fund. Volunteers are needed to help set up and provide food and refreshments during the event. For more information, call (415) 282-8705 or visit www.ethnohtec.org.

Emeryville, Calif.
Dancing for Japan
Saturday, May 21

Allegro Ballroom will dedicate 100 percent of proceeds from their 13th annual benefit show and dance event, “Dancing for Japan.” The event will take place from 8 p.m. to midnight at Allegro Ballroom, 5855 Christie Ave. There will be performances, a dance lesson, general dancing, taxi dancing, silent auction, prize drawings and refreshments. All funds will go to the Bay Area chapter of the American Red Cross for their earthquake and tsunami relief fund. Tickets are $25. For more information, call (510) 655-2888.

For additional coverage of the ongoing crisis in Northeastern Japan and more information on ways to help the relief efforts, visit www.nichibei.org/disaster_in_japan.

For tips on determining which charitable funds to consider supporting, visit the Better Business Bureau’s Standards for Charity Accountability online at www.bbb.org/us/Charity-Standards, or call (703) 276-0100.