A few days ago we posted an email from independent producer Tanya Selvaratnum about the devastating effects of the tsunami in her homeland of Sri Lanka. Now, Selvaratnum in conjunction with Syndicate is organizing a benefit in New York on January 20 in which 100% of the proceeds will go towards tsunami relief. There will be appearances from Angela McCluskey, Metro Area (Morgan Geist + Darshan Jesrani), Moby, Vernon Reid, DJ Rekha, Anna Deavere Smith, DJ Spooky, and Colson Whitehead.

The Benefit Committee consists of: Alpana Bawa, Claude Arpels & Winsome Brown, Jennie Boddy, Gabri Christa & Vernon Reid, Nathan Ellis, Ken Friedman, Nelson George, Padma Laxmi, Rekha Malhotra, Sue Marcus, Sia Michel, Paul D. Miller, Naeem Mohaiemen, Mira Nair, Julie Panebianco, Sherwin K. Parikh, M.D., Jesse Peretz, Troy Selvaratnam & Mary Skinner, and Natasha Stovall & Colson Whitehead. The event will be held at Marquee (289 10th Avenue @ 27th Street), Thursday, January 20, 7 – 11 p.m. There is a $30 minimum donation and one can RSVP at tsunami@syndicate-ny.com.

A website is listed — www.syndicate-ny.com/tsunamirelief — although when I clicked on it, it wouldn’t go through.