Asheville Storytelling Circle will host “Story Tsunami,” part of a nationwide storytelling and fundraising event for tsunami victims, beginning at 7:30 p.m., Feb. 18, in the performance area at First Baptist Church in Asheville.

The event will feature stories by nationally known professional storytellers who reside in the greater Asheville area including Connie Regan-Blake, David Holt, David Novak, Doug Elliott, Barbara Freeman, Gwenda Ledbetter, Michael “Badhair” Williams and Lloyd Arneach as emcee.

The event will benefit the Asheville-Mountain Area Red Cross “From Asheville to Asia: Tsunami Relief Fund.” Red Cross representatives will be present to accept donations and provide receipts. One hundred percent of the funds raised will go to International Red Cross projects in the affected areas, which include developing refugee camps, building shelters and providing emergency food and water.

“Story Tsunami” is the brainchild of Lee-Ellen Marvin, a storyteller and folklorist based in Ithaca, NY.

“When I heard about the disaster my first thought was what can we do for these people who have given us so many wonderful stories?” Marvin said. “Fortunately, the storytelling community is beautifully connected across the country and the world, able to respond quickly to human need.”

Storytellers across the United States responded by organizing more than 40 benefit storytelling concerts within a matter of days. For more information about the nationwide effort visit www.StoryTsunami.org.

The First Baptist Church is located in downtown Asheville at 5 Oak Street, and can be easily accessed from I-240, via Exit 5-B. From Exit 5-B ramp: drive South on Charlotte Street, turn right on College Street, then right on Oak Street.

Requested donations at the door are $10 per person. For more information call 828.274.1123.