Community leaders, in partnership with Penn State, met collectively for the first time last night for an identical purpose -- express genuine concerns and discuss relief plans for the desperate faces of those affected by last month's tsunami.

"Remember and Reach Out," held at the India Pavilion, 222 E. Calder Way, was hosted by the Town and Gown International Partnership (TGIP) and co-sponsored by the Salvation Army and India Pavilion. U.B. Bakker, a former Penn State professor, lead the event.

TGIP goals are to create awareness of the tsunami's destruction, support local victims and, most importantly, provide support to the homelands of the victims, Bakker said.

Three subgroups within TGIP are responsible for coming up with project ideas, deciding their feasibility and then carrying out the relief efforts.

Though project plans are still in progress, many state and local representatives were present, expressing what they have done thus far and what they would like to see in the future.

Ellie Beaver, executive director of Centre County United Way, 2790 W. College Ave., attended the meeting and said United Way's goal is to establish funds when there is an international disaster.

"This is not for immediate help, such as water; our money is for secondary needs like adoption and getting housing," Beaver said.

State Rep. Lynn Herman, R-Centre, referred to the irony of hosting such an event on Martin Luther King Day.

"Today we embellish on the goals of Martin Luther King, reaching out to the community and those in need," he said.

Representing the university partnership, Lewis Jillings, associate vice-provost of international programs, said he hopes to plan presentations on aspects of the tsunami.

Jillings said the international programs have already contacted international students and made administrative arrangements to those who lost their funds at the beginning of the semester due to the tsunami.

Thulitha Wickrama (graduate-health and human development), spoke of his first-hand accounts with the tsunami while attending his sister's wedding in Sri Lanka.

"My old school teachers and neighbors disappeared," he said. "My family and I gave out 200 loaves of bread as relief to homeless families."

Michael Pilato, a local artist, plans to decorate the current mural on Hiester Street with flags of the different countries affected, to provide a sense of inspiration.

"I plan on making 50 mural prints for a $150 donation to build a boat for the fishermen in Sri Lanka," he said.

The TGIP has tentative plans to host a downtown vigil on Feb. 5 beginning at the Central Parklet on Fraser Street and ending at Fairmount Elementary School.

TGIP is hoping to recruit students to help in its efforts to aid tsunami victims and is welcoming project suggestions. "Now that we're all together, we can really get going on our long-term plans for relief," Shawen said.