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Dashane Santana's Family and Friends Holding Fundraiser for Funeral

By DNAinfo Staff on January 22, 2012 5:42pm

Dashane Santana, 12, was struck by a car and killed on Delancey Street Fri., Jan. 13, 2012.
Dashane Santana, 12, was struck by a car and killed on Delancey Street Fri., Jan. 13, 2012.
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By Sarah Tan and Tom Liddy

DNAinfo Reporters

MANHATTAN — The family and friends of Dashane Santana, 12, who was tragically struck and killed by a car on Delancey Street will be holding a fundraiser Sunday night to raise the nearly $9,000 needed for the girl's funeral service.

The event, which runs until 9 p.m. at Bamboo, downstairs from Lucky Cheng's at 24 First Ave., features music from DJ Joaquin "Joe" Claussell and others with a minimum donation of $10.

It is the second effort to raise money this weekend for the tragic girl, a talented singer and dancer who had applied to Juilliard.

Her grieving grandmother, Teresa Pedroza, has been going door to door help raise the $8,600 that the family estimates it will need to hold services for the girl, who was struck by a minivan while crossing Delancey Street, near Clinton Street on Jan. 13. As of last Thursday, she raised $4,700, she said.

During Saturday night's event at Parkside Lounge on Houston Street, organized by family friend Brian Bacchus, some $1,500 was raised.

"It went great," Bacchus said, adding that an additional $4,000 had been raised through PayPal as of Sunday evening. "A lot of people came and dropped off money."

At the event, Dashane's step uncle remembered his niece and said that he thought a musical event was the best way to pay tribute to her.

"She was the sweetest thing, humble, very caring and shy," Ariel Ramos, 33, said. "If there was one way to express her aura, it would be through music."

As a small jazz band played on stage, Bacchus explained the importance of the fundraiser.

"People have just been stopping in all night. One of [Dashane's] friends stopped by with her father and gave $100," Bacchus said. "Funerals are a lot more expensive than we thought, this was $8,600 and people just don't have that kind of money."

Pedroza, 51, has been leading the fundraising effort, along with Bacchus. 

"It's the last bit of money I'm ever going spend on this little girl," Pedroza told DNAinfo. "She deserves it."

Those who cannot make it to Sunday's event can donate to via PayPal to brian@soulfeastmusic.com.