Former President Bill Clinton, Deepak Chopra, and M.C. Hammer to Headline India Relief Event in San Jose; -- A Fund-raising Concert for Victims of the Recent Earthquake in India --.

Lifestyle/Entertainment Editors

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 23, 2001

Locally based United Community Appeal (UCA) for India announced today that a special fund-raising event will be held on Friday, March 2 in San Jose featuring former president Bill Clinton, best-selling author Deepak Chopra, popular music star M.C. Hammer, and others who will draw attention to the needs of victims of the recent earthquake in Gujarat, India.

In addition to the keynote address by Clinton, a message from Deepak Chopra, and music by M.C. Hammer, the evening also will feature prominent personalities well known in the large Indian-American population that resides in the Bay Area. These include actress Shabana Azmi and kathak dancer Chitresh Das. The evening will be emceed by ZTV personality Shekhar Suman.

The IndUS Entrepreneurs (TiE), a worldwide group of Indian business leaders based in California's Silicon Valley, facilitated the founding of UCA for India, a non-profit organization supported by more than 25 community, business, cultural, religious, civic, and charitable organizations to assist relief efforts for the tragic earthquake in India.

"We are pleased that so many have rushed to support UCA for India during this hour of need," said TiE President, Kailash Joshi. "This occasion not only marks the beginning of the road to recovery for India but also demonstrates how the greater Bay Area can get behind and support people in need."

UCA for India is partnering with several established global relief organizations such as World Vision. Operating in India for nearly 40 years, the humanitarian agency's permanent staff of 1,500 serve some 15 million people annually through ongoing development programs.

Tickets for the event open to the public start at $50 and are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. They can be obtained by calling the TiE office at 408/567-0700 or by visiting their Web site at www.tie.org.

The Jubilee Christian Center is located at 175 Nortech Parkway in San Jose. The concert begins at 7:30 PM.

Those wishing to make an outright donation can send their gifts directly to the Community Foundation Silicon Valley (CFSV), where the UCA for India fund resides. Contributions by check, wire transfer or securities transfer, can be made to: UCA for India, c/o Community Foundation Silicon Valley, 60 South Market Street, Suite 1000, San Jose, CA 95113. Those wishing to donate to World Vision may phone toll free 888-56-CHILD, or send donations to India Quake Relief, World Vision, P.O. Box 70288, Tacoma, WA 98481-0288.

UCA for India is a donor-advised fund at Community Foundation Silicon Valley, a 501(c)(3) public charity. Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Donations may be made via check or securities.

World Vision, celebrating its 50th year, serves more than 80 million people in poor communities in nearly 100 countries, without regard to the recipient's race, gender, or religion. For more information on the Christian humanitarian organization, please see www.worldvision.org.