OAKLAND — Tickets are still available for Saturday’s 10th annual PURPLE Gala, a dinner and fundraiser to help relatives of Oakland homicide victims.
Sponsored by 1,000 Mothers to Prevent Violence, more than 150 relatives, whom the organization calls survivors, are expected to attend the dinner, which begins at 6 p.m. Saturday at St. Columbia Catholic Church Hall, 6401 San Pablo Ave. The dinner is complimentary for parents or next of kin who have lost loved ones to homicide in Oakland last year and this year.
Lorrain Franklin-Taylor, founder of 1000 Mothers to Prevent Violence, said the organization wants “to honor grieving families so that they will know someone cares and that they do not have to suffer in silence. We also need an ongoing dialogue with homicide investigators who play a significant role in the progressive healing and closure for homicide victim survivors.” Her twin sons, Albade and Obadiah, were murdered in Oakland in February 2000.
Members of law enforcement, city and county government and other organizations are expected to attend.
The event is sponsored in part by the Northern California Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, St. Columbia Catholic Church and the Oakland Police Foundation.
The event is open to the public and a suggested ticket donation, which includes dinner, is $75. For more information visit www.1000mothersorg. Survivors wanting a complimentary ticket can call 510-581-0100 or email mothers1000@aol.com