SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - The Silveira family, who over the July 4 weekend suffered a devastating traffic accident that killed one child and hospitalized two others, has friends in San Jose's Brazilian Community.  C.R.E. União Brasileira, a San Jose dance club and restaurant that caters to San Jose's Brazilian community, and G.R.E.S. Sambão Para O Povo, a Samba School based in Mountain View, are combining efforts to host a benefit for the family on Saturday, July 31, 2004.

The event, a dance party and silent auction, will take place at C.R.E. Unaio Brasileira, located at 80 North 27th Street in San Jose. Doors open at 8:00pm, admission is $10 at the door.

The fundraising event will feature 2 DJs and live music. The Basa Nova group Sambosseros will perform, followed by the carnaval-evoking Samba show by G.R.E.S. Sambão Para o Povo's award-winning bateria (drum battery) and beautiful, besequined
samba dancers. The fiery Carnaval dance music will be balanced by a laid-back Pagode, a down-home sing-along version of samba.

Guitarist and samba musician Jefferson Silveira is the step-father of the deceased and father of the injured, and has strong ties to the South Bay Brazilian community. From Santa Catarina, Brazil, Jefferson has been a member of both C.R.E. União Brasileira and Sambão and has played in various versions of bands with members of the Sambosseros.  News of his family's ordeal spread quickly throughout the community which has pulled together to support them.

Sambão's director, Brad Hamilton, leads the effort by organizing the benefit, a date that was originally scheduled to raise funds for the school. "We can't undo the horrible tragedy that has occurred, but we can show our support and hopefully provide a modest monetary contribution," Hamilton explains.

"This was already a tenuous time for them, financially," adds Ted Syrett, Sambão's treasurer, when voicing his support for the benefit. "Jefferson and [wife] Catherine Silveira were both unemployed. They have no health insurance and their two small children will need all kinds of support. So much bad news! But we will do what we can to help."

All door proceeds and additional funds collected at "From Sambão with Love" will be donated directly to the Silveira Family Fund.

Direct donations can be made to the Silveira Family Fund, Acct. No. 201-635-8174 at any Wells Fargo branch, or they can be mailed to Wells Fargo Bank, STEVENS CREEK,65 N WINCHESTER BLVD, SANTA CLARA, CA 95050. Please be sure to specify the account number.

For More information:
Brad Hamilton
(408) 280-0193
brad@musicishealing.com
http://www.musicishealing.com/Bateria/Maps/SilveiraBenefit.htm

To donate an item to the silent auction, please contact:
Kim Harris
(650) 804-2882
kimbaila@yahoo.com