Spotlight On

Mission:
The ComedyCures Foundation brings joy, laughter and therapeutic humor to kids and grown-ups living with illness, depression, trauma and disability. Through therapeutic comedy programs, we educate and entertain patients, families, and caregivers about the power of a comic perspective and the positive benefits of laughter on the body, mind, and spirit. "Yes, laughter is great medicine!" Our joy-filled events invite patients and their families together for an uplifting social experience.

Background:
Saranne Rothberg founded this non-profit 501(c)3 human service organization from her chemo chair in 1999 as an outgrowth of her personal experience with the healing power of joy. Four years later, ComedyCures is an impact non-profit organization, sharing the undeniable benefits of therapeutic humor with people of all ages. Saranne is cancer-free and ComedyCures has a waiting list of over 100 substantial organizations.

Recognitions and Awards:
"The Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award", "The Hope for the Future Award", A United Way "Family Caring Charity", The Foundation Center Pick for Technical Assistance Expansion Grants 2002-2003 and 2003-2004, Helping Hands New Jersey", "New Jersey Woman".

Collaborators:
American Red Cross (Ground Zero, United States Troops), United Way (United States Troops), Rotary International, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Paul Newman's Double H-Hole in the Woods Ranch, UJA, Coalition for Asian American Health, Gilda's Clubs, Girl & Boy Scouts, Susan B. Komen, McCartney's Garland Foundation, CareOne Senior Facilities, Cancer Institute of New Jersey Cancer Research Day and National Cancer Survivors Day.

Current Programs:
ComedyCures currently present four outreach programs. They include:

• The ComedyCures Live Therapeutic Comedy Program is an interactive event designed to entertain and educate people of all ages with family-friendly humor. We help patients identify impediments to joy with concrete strategies for increasing opportunities for play and positive thinking. These strategies assist patients of all ages in coping with illness, pain, fear, anxiety, depression, disability, insomnia and the physical side effects of medication.
• The ComedyCures LaughLine is a toll-free 24-hour joke line that allows patients to call and hear a new joke everyday. (1-888-Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha!) The LaughLine has reached over 17,000 callers in 48 states, Mexico and Canada. Professional comics have offered to help us spread the laughter by donating 60 seconds of professional comedy material 365 days a year.
• Inspirational Speaking is another way that ComedyCures Founder, Saranne Rothberg, reaches millions of people each year through her witty, inspirational, motivational and interactive presentations. Greatly sought-after as a speaker, she has entertained audiences at conventions, meetings, award banquets, and benefits.
• The Wellness Joke Book Program is a unique community service project that combines therapeutic art and humor. Participants of all ages create handmade wellness joke books to be gifted to patients, displayed in hospitals, doctor's offices and senior centers. These joy-filled joke books have even been sent to the troops in the Middle East in collaboration with United Way. This Wellness Joke Book Program is one of the only community service projects in the country designed to include patients living with illness.

Funding Needs:
ComedyCures is seeking contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations. The demand for our hi-quality, unique programs has skyrocketed because of our entrepreneurial, collaborative spirit, massive media coverage, and a dedicated group of volunteers. (Office space donated in-full $41,000, phone system donated in full $30,000 by major corporate sponsors). We need funding to help us meet the national demand and build a solid infrastructure to support our growth. We have hi-profile sponsorship naming opportunities also:

• Program Sponsors needed for individual and reoccurring, hi-quality therapeutic comedy programs.
• Training program sponsors needed so that we can replicate our successful program model.
• In-service and in-kind donations -please check with office.
• Capacity building monies to expand to meet the demand for our programs and patient outreach. (Over 100 on our waiting list.) We need general operating income to hire and train more people.
• Unrestricted funding to respond to tragedies, e.g., past collaborations with the Red Cross and United Way in times of national or local disaster or trauma.
• Create a program fund to help cover the program costs for the underserved, minorities and facilities without program budgets.

Every month, the "Spotlight On" highlights the activities of a different 501(c)3 nonprofit organization located in the tri-state region (NY, NJ, or CT). The selection of organizations for the "Spotlight On" is based on criteria such as programmatic interests, geographic focus, and size, to ensure the broadest possible representation of the region's nonprofit sector.

If you'd like to see your NPO in the "Spotlight," please use this submission form to send us a profile of your organization. Or e-mail a description of your organization, following the above format, to nyweb@foundationcenter.org, with "Spotlight Submission" in the subject line.