Press Release
To: City Desk, Feature & Arts Editors
From: [your name, phone number, email address]
Date: [insert today’s date]

Story Tsunami: Local Storytellers to participate
in worldwide fundraising effort

In an outpouring of sympathy, storytellers across the world are working together to raise funds to aid the victims of the December 26, 2004 earthquake and tsunami. Story Tsunami will be a series of benefit storytelling concerts with a goal of raising $50,000 in as many as fifty communities worldwide.

[Name of storytelling organization and/or venue] will be hosting a local Story Tsunami event on [date and time] at [name of location] at [street address] in [town]. The concert will feature stories from [names of the countries included] told by featured storytellers [names of the storytellers] [There will also be performances by [names of other performers].

The funds raised at this event will be sent to Oxfam, Mercy Corps, Save the Children, American Red Cross. These organizations were selected for their accomplishments as cost-effective relief agencies with a long-term commitment to recovery.

[Write a paragraph that includes a quote by you or a storyteller about responding to the need for funds and/or use this one:] Story Tsunami is being coordinated by Lee-Ellen Marvin, storyteller and folklorist based in Ithaca, NY. “When I heard about the disaster,” says Marvin, “my first thought was what can we do for the people that have given us many wonderful stories? Fortunately, the storytelling community is beautifully connected across the country and the world, able to respond quickly to a human need.” Within days, a committee was assembled around the idea: storytellers responded by organizing over forty benefit storytelling concerts across the United States, and the world. For more information about Story Tsunami, see www.StoryTsunami.org.

Locally, the Story Tsunami event will be co-produced by [name of producer] and [name of co-producer]. For more information about [storytelling organization], see [web address]. Requested donations at the door are $10 each. For information, call [phone number]

END

Calendar Listing

To: Calendar Editors
From: [your name, phone number, email address]
Date: [insert today’s date]

Story Tsunami

[Name of your storytelling organization or venue] will host a local Story Tsunami on [date and time] at [name of location] at [street address] in [town]. A world-wide response to the tsunami disaster in Asia by storytellers, Story Tsunami is raising funds for Oxfam, Mercy Corps, Save the Children, American Red Cross. The concert will feature stories from [names of the countries included] told by featured storytellers [names of the storytellers]. [with music by [names of musicians] and stories told by children from the [name of school]]. Tickets are [price] each and are available at [insert locations] or may be purchased at the door. For reservations and information, call [phone number].

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Public Service Announcement

To: PSA Coordinators
From: [your name, phone number, email address]
Date: [insert today’s date]

Story Tsunami (30 second announcement)

Help support the tsunami relief effort
and listen to stories from asia
during Story Tsunami.

This fundraising event
will feature storytelling (and music)
by (names).

Story Tsunami takes place
on (date) at (time)
in the (building name)
at (address).

Call (number) for more information

[After filling in the details, read out loud and revise until
the script runs roughly 30 seconds or less]