The Zabuli Education Center for Women and Girls got a tremendous shot in the arm after Saturday night's Concord fundraiser. School founder Razia Jan spoke passionately about the school that is educating girls from kindergarten through grade seven at the home of Kristen and Jim Canty.

Approximately $60,000 was donated to Razia's Ray of Hope Foundation that oversees the school.

There is another tie to the Canty family that completes the circle of giving. Jim's brother was killed on Sept. 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center attack, and the senior Cantys promised to match gifts made to the school in their son's honor.

So the event was part education, part fundraising, part fun (well, a big part), and part shopping since there was a room dedicated to Afghan clothes and jewelry. Jan spoke about the progress of the burgeoning school that she founded four years ago and now boasts at least 300 girls.

"The girls show up promptly every day," said Jan. The school goes year round, teaching English, math, science, like a regular U.S. school, except, Jan said, that her school provides uniforms, pencils, books, paper, and lunch every day because many of the families that send their girls are impoverished.

State-side Razia's Ray of Hope Foundation director, Patti Quigley has an office in Wellesley where Razia Jan is speaking on Wednesday.

"Tragedy brings people together and we makethe best of it," said Jan. She worked with Afghan war widows before founding the school in Deh'Subz near Kabul.