PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release

December 29, 2003 Contact: Niloofar M. Nouri, 510-848-0264

The Persian Center family would like to offer their condolences to the friends & family of the thousands of people lost in the devastating earthquake in the City of Bam, Province of Kerman, Iran. Thousands more people are injured and in desperate need of our help. Please read more to see how you can get involved:

FUNDRAISING EVENT:

Persian Center is hosting a fundraising dinner to raise money for earthquake relief efforts. The event will be on Sunday, January 4th, 2004 at the Santa Fe Bistro, 2142 Center Street, Berkeley, from 5-8 p.m.

The evening will include sharing of experiences, stories and images of "Bam", where many humanitarians from the City of Berkeley visited in April 2003, to distribute wheelchairs in conjunction with the Wheelchair Foundation.

A MINIMUM donation of $100 is requested, written to the American Red Cross, IRANIAN EARTHQUAKE. Checks will be collected at the door.

[Note: ALL proceeds for the evening will go directly to the Iranian Earthquake Relief Efforts as the event is co-sponsored by Mr. Soheyl Modarressi, who will underwrite all the cost for food, in honor of his late father, Mr. Seyed Hossein Modarressi, as well as Mr. Ahmad Behjati, proprietor of Santa Fe Bistro, who will be donating the venue and drinks for the evening.] Due to limited space, your RSVP is kindly requested. For more information or to reserve a seat, please call 510-848-0264.

MEDICINE DRIVE:

Persian Center will be collecting NEW Medicine & Medical Supplies (only), to send to Iran immediately. Items can be delivered to 2029

Durant Avenue in Berkeley in the coming week as follows:

• Monday, December 29th from 5-8 pm
• Wednesday, December 31th from 3-6 pm
• Thursday, January 1st from 5-8 pm
• OR Sunday, January 4th at the Santa Fe Bistro

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! If you can volunteer your time, please contact us at 510-848-0264 to help with our Medicine Drive in the next two weeks. Thank you.

Cyrus Travel is sponsoring the relief efforts and has volunteered to send ALL medicine collected to Iran. Additionally, they will sponsor travel costs for any doctor who is willing to travel to Iran. Please contact Mr. Mansour Hariri at 415-398-6111 for more info.

The Persian Center is a non-profit organization with a mission to create an environment in which to conduct social, cultural, educational, and recreational activities designed to strengthen the sense of identity and integrity of all Iranians and Iranian descendants, and to engage individuals interested in or related to Persian community and culture.