Crane Alley, 115 West Main St., Urbana, will hold a fundraiser Wednesday night to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Lauren Jakubowski, a University graduate student, organized the fundraiser, which will send three-quarters of the profits to the Red Cross and the other fourth to the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association.

“I felt like I had to do something,” Jakubowski said. “I watch the stories on TV, and it’s just heartbreaking. I wanted some way to raise funds that would really help.”

Patrons of the bar can choose to buy wristbands at the door for $8. All the proceeds from these wristbands will be distributed to the Red Cross and the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association. Jakubowski said the Veterinary Medical Association is taking care of the displaced animals, a subject she said is dear to her because she is in the University’s veterinary program.

In addition to raising funds, the wristbands allow the wearer to take advantage of drink specials for the night, Jakubowski said. The specials include $1 Pabst Blue Ribbon drafts, $2.50 Long Island iced teas and $2 Jim Beam whiskey and Coke bottles, a new item at the bar.

Jakubowski originally approached a number of bars in downtown Champaign but none of them responded. She said that she is happy with Crane Alley, a bar that she frequents.

She said she was leery about using Campustown bars and felt more comfortable with bars in downtown Champaign and downtown Urbana.

She has been sending e-mails, posting flyers and putting messages on the Quad. She hopes to get 200 to 300 people, which would raise from $1600 to $2400.

The crowd will probably be mostly graduate students, Jakubowski said, which was her target audience for the fundraiser. She said she has spoken to people in the University’s College of Law and other graduate programs. Jakubowski said 107.1 FM has promoted the fundraiser as well.