Laughter is the best medicine.
Numerous studies have proven that laughter, long hailed as the "best medicine," also reduces stress, boosts the immune system, lowers cortisol, and if that's not enough - burns calories.
What could be better than that? Enter the Gotham Comedy Foundation, created to deliver laughs to those who need it the most. The Foundation was created with the goal of bringing laughter to hospitals, nursing homes, senior citizens centers, and social service agencies.
During his own battle with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, GCF co-founder Bill Drewes, learned first hand the transformative, healing power of laughter. While enduring his treatments at NYU Cancer Institute, a dear friend (who happened to be an actor and comedian), would stop by to engage Bill in lively banter to take his mind off everything. Bill noticed other patients also enjoying their upbeat often comedic rapport, and decided that if he survived this illness, he would bring power of laughter to hospitals.
Bill then teamed up with Gotham Comedy Club founder Chris Mazilli to form the Gotham Comedy Foundation and got to work bring happiness to the masses. Today, the Gotham Comedy Foundation boasts 30 community partners including Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, NYU Cancer Institute, New York Cares, and Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York. Shows are produced at no cost to the partner organization, and feature any number of 300 volunteer comedians ready to deliver laughs on demand.
The foundation relies on donations, which can be made through their website GothamComedyFoundation.org, and seasonal fundraisers to continue it's mission of wellness through laughter. Plans for the future include specialized wellness workshops, and bringing the GCF model to comedy clubs in other cities.
Their final fundraising show of 2016 takes place Thursday November 3, 2016 at the Gotham Comedy Club and will honor Devin Voorsanger (Program Director, Technology Entrepreneurship at the Zahn Innovation Center - City College of New York) and Sandi Webster (Managing Director, C2G), who will be named GCF Lifetime Ambassadors of Comedy. A donation of $20 will go towards funding the future of the GCF, all laughs included.
PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE FOR THE FALL BENEFIT OF THE GOTHAM COMEDY FOUNDATION. 6PM THURSDAY NOVEMBER 3, 2016 GOTHAM COMEDY CLUB
GCF WEBSITE
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