Oscar-winner Hanks to appear Saturday at SCT fundraiser

Two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks will make a one-night only fundraising appearance Saturday at Solano Community College in Fairfield.

The appearance by the star of such films as "Philadelphia," "Forrest Gump" and "Saving Private Ryan" will include a dinner with guests and a presentation later on Solano College Theatre's main stage, 4000 Suisun Valley Road.

Tickets for the dinner, which begins at 4:30 p.m. in the school's dining hall, are $100; tickets for the 7 p.m. presentation, which features clips from Hanks' films, including a new project to be released on HBO in March, and a question-and-answer session, are also $100.

Call the SCT box office, 720 Main St., Suisun City, telephone 864-7100 for more information.

Box office hours are noon to 5 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays.

Proceeds from the event will support the Tom Hanks/Rita Wilson Endowment Fund, which was established by the actor-director and his wife earlier this year.

In a press release, theater spokeswoman Amy Lenahan said the fund is "a living legacy from Mr. Hanks and honors students as well as his long friendship with SCT Artistic Director George Maguire." The endowment will support the programs and students in the school's Theatre Arts department, she added.

Hanks, 53 and a native of Concord, has long been a strong supporter of the arts and arts education, Maguire said.

Sponsors of the Hanks fundraiser include Advocates Advertisement Hopkins Acura for the Arts, NorthBay Healthcare and Copart.