MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – “The Wave of Hope” will hold a fundraiser dinner and auction on Saturday, March 28.

The event will take place from 5 to 10 p.m. at the Twin Pine Casino event center in Middletown. Dinner is at 6 p.m., with the live auction starting at 7 p.m.

In addition to dinner and the auction, there will be live entertainment by musician Dennis Purcell during dinner followed by a Hula performance by Kehaulani Studio and a performance by the Sonoma County Taiko Drummers. The auction will be followed by two hours of dancing with the C.A.M. Band.

The Wave of Hope is a nonprofit organization formed to combat Lake County's high suicide rate.

It is a traveling exhibition of written stories and photographs depicting people who have gone through hard times and come out the other side with hope.

More importantly, it is what they would say to someone who is standing in the shoes they once wore. These are everyday people, who one would never suspect went through what they did.   

Founder Sharon Dawson said the project is saving lives and turning people in a direction other than suicide by simply breaking the silence.

“Suicide usually comes from a sense of alienation and the idea that one is alone in their difficulties.  So much shame and fear surround the opening act,” said Dawson. “We are about letting people know that they are not the only ones who have ever felt how they are feeling how and that there is a light at the end of the tunnel of depression We are about ending the loneliness that isolates us from one another. We are about breaking the silence.”

Dawson said the fundraiser will help with creating more “waves” and a second group of people who have stories to tell – each reaching out to a different faction of society.

It also will assist the organization with continuing to develop its school program, which she said has proven to be highly successful.

“Please help us continue what we have done so far,” said Dawson. “It’s working. We have saved lives.”

Tickets cost $35 each, with sales closing on March 15. Each attendee over 21 will receive $5 free play for the evening compliments of Twin Pine Casino.

Ticket can be purchased online at http://www.thewaveofhope.org/tickets.htm or through any of the following:  Middletown – Olive Tree Salon, The Dawson Studios Photography, Neft and Neft Realty, Middletown Florist and Gifts; in Hidden Valley Lake, through Jen Mullen at Century 21; or in Kelseyville at Anna’s Boutique; or call 707-888-0882.