Tag Archives: Gildas Club

A night of laughter: Tickets available for Red Door Gala featuring comedian Tom Papa on March 14

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Going Local, Kent County, Local Entertainment, Non-Profits, Upcoming Events, West Michigan, , , ,
Top comedian Tom Papa will be performing a night of laughter in Grand Rapids (Courtesy, Gilda’s Club)


By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


One of the top comedic voices in the country, Tom Papa, will perform an unforgettable night of laughter on March 14 in celebration of the Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids program.

Currently on his Tom Papa: 2023 Comedy Tour!, the highly rated comedian, author, actor, and host of Breaking Bread with Tom Papa and What a Joke with Papa and Fortune is ready to steal the show with his wit and hilarious observations on everyday life.

What to expect

Held at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park (FMG), the Gala doors will open at 6 p.m. with a cocktail reception. The Gilda’s Club program and dinner will be presented at 7 p.m., with comedic entertainment commencing at 8:30 p.m.

(Courtesy, Gilda’s Club)

Toast the transformative power and hope Gilda’s program creates through free emotional health support for those on a cancer or grief journey.

Prepare to be entertained!

As the Gala approaches, watch Tom Papa on his five highly-rated Netflix comedy specials or in his starring film roles. You can also read his books and listen to the monthly show, Come to Papa Live on Channel 93.

For more Red Door Gala event information, click here. Tickets can be purchased here.

To learn more about comedian Tom Papa, click here.

LaughFest announces ‘High Five’ Corporate Challenge Day on March 4

Community Health, Local Entertainment, Local Faces, Non-Profits, Upcoming Events, , , , , ,

Sheriffs high five
Members of the Kent County Sheriff’s Department participating in the “High Five” Challenge

 

By Tyler Lecceadone

 

Gilda’s LaughFest, the nation’s only community-wide festival of laughter, has announced their upcoming “High Five” Corporate Challenge Day open to all West Michigan businesses, offices and organizations to participate.

 

The “High Five” campaign celebrates the importance of emotional health and the role laughter plays in our lives. It creates visibility for the cancer and grief support programs offerfed through Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids and Gilda’s Club Lowell. This year they’re illuminating their children’s programs – cancer, grief and in-school emotional health programs.

 

Organizations may collect donations by inviting employees to wear jeans to work, or a hat, or a tee shirt, or the color yellow (for LaughFest!) or any other seriously fun and funny thing they can offer their team as “special” that fits with their culture and work environment.  This year’s Grand Prize for the organization that raises the most money in High Fives on March 4 includes LaughFest tickets, merchandise, and goodies, along with restaurant gift certificates and more.

 

How the “High Five” campaign works is simple. Each participating business or organization is asked to give Gilda’s LaughFest a “High Five” ($5 donation or greater per person that wishes to participate). Their goal is to generate $50,000 for children living with cancer or grief, and for their in-school emotional health programs. All proceeds raised go directly to Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids.

 

“We’re very grateful for all the past companies who participated and helped us raise funds for our children’s programs,” said Wendy Wigger, president of Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids and LaughFest. “We’re hoping to get many more local businesses and organizations to participate this year.”

 

Gilda’s LaughFest was created by a team at Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids in 2011. Designed to celebrate laughter for the health of it, LaughFestfeatures free and ticketed events including stand-up, improv, film, authors, community showcases and a variety of seriously funny stuff. PastLaughFest headliners have included George Lopez, Wanda Sykes, Billy Gardell, Iliza Schlessinger, Jay Leno, Lily Tomlin, Chris Tucker, Mike Birbiglia, Margaret Cho, Betty White, Whoopi Goldberg, Mike Epps, Rodney Carrington, Martin Short, Kevin Nealon, Wayne Brady, Jim Breuer, Joel McHale, Lewis Black and Brian Regan. Proceeds from the festival will go to support the free cancer, grief and emotional health programs offered through Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids. Visit the website, or call 616.735.HAHA (4242) to learn more about Gilda’s LaughFest.

To sign up to participate in the “High Five” Corporate Challenge Day on March 4, please contact Shawn Ruetz, Director of Development at sruetz@gildasclubgr.org or 616.453.8300 ext. 137 for details and materials.

 

Laugh, give blood, get a T-shirt!

Community Health, Non-Profits, Upcoming Events, Volunteers, , , , ,

laughfest 2016

By LaughFest

 

It’s often said laughter is the best medicine. Unfortunately for many, laughter simply isn’t enough. So for the fourth year in a row, Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids (GCGR) and LaughFest are partnering with Michigan Blood and Blue Care Network to host blood drives during LaughFest. The drives will be held February 29-March 3, 2016.

 

“We are thankful for this partnership with Michigan Blood and Blue Care Network,” said Wendy Wigger, president, Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids. “Many cancer patients rely on blood product transfusions. Donating blood is a great way for loved ones, and even complete strangers, to make a real difference in the health of patients in need.”

 

For every person that donates blood, Blue Care Network (BCN) will donate $5 towards LaughFest’s High Five campaign, which supports the free emotional healthcare, cancer, and grief support programs offered through Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids. Individuals interested in donating directly to the “High Five” campaign may do so by clicking here.

 

“Hundreds of Michigan patients are in need of blood every single day,” said Jessica Iloff, manager of community responsibility at Blue Care Network. “Whether they suffered an accident or are receiving treatment for cancer, these patients depend on lifesaving transfusions. Blue Care Network is happy to partner with Gilda’s Club and Michigan Blood each year to make it convenient for LaughFest attendees to provide blood to those who need it most.”

 

Donors will also receive a t-shirt, along with a chance to win tickets to see Michael Palascak, Roy Wood Jr., and other hilarious LaughFest shows.

 

Please visit one of the following locations for your chance to save a life, support Gilda’s Club and share some laughter.

 

Grand Rapids Donor Center
1036 Fuller NE, Grand Rapids
Monday, February 29, 9 am – 7 pm

 

Grandville Donor Center
Grandville United Methodist Church
3140 Wilson Avenue SE
Thursday, March 3, 12:00 – 7:00pm

 

Michigan Blood wants to remind the public that they are the sole provider of blood and blood products for the majority of hospitals in Michigan, including Spectrum Health, Metro Health, and Mercy Health Saint Mary’s. Donations that are given outside of Michigan Blood do not stay local nor have a direct impact in your local community. Donate blood at Michigan Blood and help save the lives of patients in Michigan hospitals. Any healthy person 17 or older (or 16 with parental consent) who weighs at least 110 pounds may be eligible to donate. Blood donors should bring photo ID. For additional information on donating blood, and to make an appointment, click this link.  

 

About Michigan Blood
Founded in 1955, Michigan Blood is a fast growing, independent, non-profit blood bank headquartered in Grand Rapids. It provides blood products and services for more than 50 hospitals throughout Michigan and is an established leader in quality and service. Michigan Blood collects more than 125,000 units of blood each year at nine permanent donation sites and more than 3,600 mobile blood drives in 40 counties statewide. Michigan Blood has a nationally recognized stem cell (marrow) program and created Michigan’s first public cord blood bank. In addition, Michigan Blood provides therapeutic apheresis, cellular therapies for the treatment of cancer and transfusion medicine consultations. For more information, click this link.

 

About Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids
Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids is a free cancer and grief support community of children, adults, families and friends. Its comprehensive program includes education, structured sharing times, networking, lectures, workshops and social activities. Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids is the largest and busiest of the 52 affiliates in North America. The organization runs entirely on charitable donations and currently serves more than 10,000 individuals each year at its clubhouses in Grand Rapids and Lowell, Mich., in various schools and in five community centers. For more information, visit their website.

 

About Blue Care Network
Blue Care Network of Michigan features award-winning disease management programs and the largest HMO network of physicians and hospitals in the state, with more than 5,000 primary care physicians, 16,000 specialists and most of the state’s leading hospitals. Blue Care Network is the affiliated HMO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more company information, go here and here.

LaughFest Announces Additional Artists and Shows for 2016

Local Entertainment, Non-Profits, Our Cities, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , , , , , ,

LAUGHFEST_final_2By: Tyler Lecceadone

 

Gilda’s LaughFest, the nation’s only community-wide festival of laughter, today announced the addition of Miranda Sings and other ticketed shows for the 2016 festival,which takes place March 10 to 20, 2016. Individual tickets for all events will be available for purchase on Friday, Jan. 15 at 10 a.m.

Laughfest - Miranda Sings
Miranda Sings

 

Most recognizable for her signature big red lips, international YouTube sensation, Miranda Sings first established herself on YouTube quickly generating over 60 million views all over the world. Her one-woman show is filled with comedy, hit songs, magic tricks and much more. Her performance will take place on March 19 at Fountain Street Church, and will be her second appearance at LaughFest after a sellout show in 2014.

Laughfest - Hasan Minhaj
Hasan Minhaj

 

Hasan Minhaj is best known as a correspondent on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah and stars in his own one-man show off Broadway. Minhaj will perform on March 11 at 10:30 p.m., at Wealthy Theatre.

Laughfest - David Cross
David Cross

 

Emmy Award winner and Grammy Award nominee, David Cross was named one of the Top 100 Stand-Up Comedians of All Time by Comedy Central. Perhaps best known for his role as Tobias on Arrested Development, Cross will launch his own nationwide tour this year and will premiere on IFC’s third season of Todd Margaret. You can see Cross perform at Fountain Street Church on March 18.

 

Michael Palascak is known for clean adult laughs and recently finished in the top 5 of last season’s Last Comic Standing on NBC. He has previously performed on a variety of late night television shows such as The Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Comedy Central’s The Half Hour, The Late Show with David Letterman and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Palascak’s performance will take place at Grand Volute in Lowell on March 18.

Laughfest - Michael Palascak
Michael Palascak

 

Other shows announced today include Failure:Lab – LaughFest Edition, an intimate event showcasing the untold failures behind success and exploring the space between people who fail and quit, and those who get back up again; the Rockin’ Homegrown Jam is returning for its fifth year as part of LaughFest, with an added twist – special musical guest The legal Immigrants join the comics on stage to perform songs between each comic’s set; and Hen Sapp and Friends Keeping it Clean, featuring edgy Christian comedian Hen Sapp performing for the sixth time at LaughFest along with special guests Crystal P. and Laughin Lenny.

 

LaughFest 2016 will include more than 200 free and ticketed shows featuring over 100 artists at more than 40 venues in Grand Rapids and Lowell during the 10 days of the festival. Artists already previously announced include headliners: Seth Meyers, performing during Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids Signature Event, Kathy Griffin, Ron Funches, Anjelah Johnson, Roy Wood Jr., Chris D’Elia, Bert Kreischer, and Heather McDonald.

 

Individual tickets are priced from $7 to $80, excluding the Signature Event. These will be available beginning Friday, Jan. 15, 2016 at the Van Andel Arena Box Office, Ticketmaster outlets, LaughFest Central, when it opens in mid-February, through the closing day of LaughFest, and at ticketmaster.com.

 

Gilda’s LaughFest was created by a team at Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids in 2011. Designed to celebrate laughter for the health of it, LaughFest features free and ticketed events including stand-up, improv, film, authors, community showcases and a variety of seriously funny stuff. Past LaughFest headliners have included George Lopez, Wanda Sykes, Billy Gardell, Jay Leno, Lily Tomlin, Mike Birbiglia, Margaret Cho, Betty White, Whoopi Goldberg, Rodney Carrington, Martin Short, Kevin Nealon, Wayne Brady, Joel McHale, Lewis Black and Brian Regan.