The Sarah Grace Foundation for Children With Cancer Inc. strives to put smiles on the faces of children with cancer, and this spring it will again be bringing smiles to the faces of adults. The organization will be holding its 12th annual Night of Laughter on April 10 at 7:15 p.m. at the Milleridge Cottage in Jericho.
Remembering that laughter is the best medicine, the foundation’s board of directors has lined up a slate of top area comics who will bring a variety of styles to the show and are guaranteed to have the audience laughing from start to finish.
Rick Morgan, who has appeared at several comedy clubs including Caroline’s, will be the evening’s host. Headlining the event will be Paul Bond, who has been seen on “Saturday Night Live” and Comedy Central’s “The Roast of Denis Leary,” and has done stand-up comedy at clubs across the country. Also appearing will be Nicky Sunshine from the popular “Sistah Talk,” Pat Gagliardi, a member of The Laugh Pack and Steve Lazarus, an author, comic, and the “Beer Guy” of Yankee Stadium.
“Rick always provides a great evening of entertainment with a talented lineup,” said Matt Weippert, Executive Director of the Sarah Grace Foundation. “It’s a great show, great meal and a wonderful gathering of those who support our mission. I believe Sarah would be very proud of these events and thrilled at the outcome—which is bringing smiles to other children with cancer.”
The Night of Laughter is for mature audiences only. Tickets are $75 per person, which includes entertainment, dinner, beer, wine, soda, coffee and dessert. There will be numerous raffles including Walt Disney World park passes, TD Bank Visa gift cards, as well as a 50/50/50 with even prizes for three winners. Raffle books, which include these grand prizes, are available at a pre-show discount of $25 per book.
Tickets for the event must be purchased in advance, and all proceeds will benefit the foundation.
In November 2002, Sarah Grace Weippert lost her ninth-month battle with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. The fun-loving 12-year-old was a student at Hicksville Middle School and loved crafts and music. She never lost her smile throughout her fight, which included months of chemotherapy followed by cranial and total body irradiation in preparation for a bone marrow transplant from her younger brother, James.
The following year, Sarah’s parents established the foundation, a non-profit corporation, to improve the quality of life for children with cancer, and to provide comfort and support to their families. Donations fund various initiatives including The Escape Hatch, which provides a child newly diagnosed with cancer a “travel suitcase” that contains items of fun and distraction, and the Bead Program, designed to document and honor the journey of children diagnosed with cancer.
“As an all-volunteer organization, all funds raised directly benefit the children we serve,” said Weippert. “We are extremely grateful for the support continually provided to us by the community. It is a tribute to Sarah and an honor to her memory that our foundation has been able to continue helping these wonderful children for the past 12 years.”
Reserve tickets by calling 516-433-9745 or by visiting www.TheSarahGraceFoundation.org.
—From the Sarah Grace Foundation
