Neighbors Helping Neighbors June 5: Des Plaines residents and Zanies raise funds for local cause

Zanies Comedy Club and the Whalen family are celebrating the sixth year of working together to raise money to support the Des Plaines Community Foundation at Standup for Des Plaines VI, a special comedy night benefit Wednesday, June 5.

“This will be the sixth year of the charity event for the Des Plaines Community Foundation,” explained Dan and Jody Whalen.

According to the Whalens, who have lived in Des Plaines for 37 years, the profit from last year’s Zanies fundraiser was nearly $8,500. All funds went to support the Des Plaines Community Foundation and its programs.

Standup for Des Plaines VI will be held at Zanies Comedy Club at 5437 Park Place, in Rosemont. Tickets are $20. Everyone must be 21 or older with a proper ID. The show starts at 7:30 p.m.

For tickets call Rosemary Argus at (847) 525-5566; Dan Whalen at (847) 313-6211 or Jody Whalen at (847) 561-0726.

“Zanies Comedy Club and their general manager worked with us to host this fundraiser for the past six years and allowed the entire ticket price to go to the charity,” said Dan Whalen. “All event guests have to do is purchase a ticket and two items off the menu — such as a drink or an appetizer — and enjoy the show.”

According to Rosemary Argus, the executive director of the foundation, the Whalen’s provide a very fun evening and raised a significant amount of funds for the Foundation.

“We appreciate their good work,” said Argus.

The comedy headliner at Standup for Des Plaines VI will be Jim Flannigan with his unique style

Flannigan is a nationally touring stand-up comedian from Chicago. Known for his fast paced, clever punchlines, Flannigan is a regular headliner at top comedy clubs including Zanies and The Improv, as well as being a regular performer at Chicago’s Laugh Factory and Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club in Las Vegas, Nevada.

He has opened for some of the biggest names in the world of comedy, including Sebastian Maniscalco, Demitri Martin and more, along with TV appearances on ABC, NBC, WGN and NBC Sports among others.

Flannigan spent three years as the co-host of the hilarious “All Over the Place,” a weekly podcast that is just that, with Pat McGann. In April 2023, He recorded a set for Nate Bargatze’s “Nateland Presents The Showcase,” to be released later this year.

Dan Whalen also plans to do about five minutes of stand-up comedy at the event — reminiscing his younger days when he did open mic night at the old Rosemont COMEDY Cottage in the mid-1980s.

Another guest who had a great time last year at the event also remarked, “What a better way to break up the workweek and get a few laughs at the famous Zanies comedy Club.”

Jody Whalen will prepare a dozen or so raffle gift baskets packed with items from local businesses for guests. The baskets will include gift cards and gift certificates and they will be selling raffle tickets. There also will be a “Split-the-Pot” raffle with a cash prize.

“Zanies has been very helpful in planning the date and the show,” said Jody Whalen. “We had more than 150 guests show up the past two years, which was just great.”

The Des Plaines Community Foundation raises funds to identify, link and mobilize assets to support the service programs of the Des Plaines Healthy Community Partnership Programs whose activities improve the lives of those that live and work in Des Plaines.

Some of the programs include: Neighbors Helping Neighbors Program Committee, Healthy Community/Healthy Youth Program Committee, Intergenerational Program Committee, and Seasons of Service program Committee.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors (NHN) also delivered on about 500 requests for help from Des Plaines residents in need this year. The NHN Program links community volunteers with residents in need of transportation to medical appointments, grocery shopping, yard and home care, installation of emergency response boxes, wheelchair ramps and decks.

Volunteers also provide transportation to Des Plaines residents. All residents have to do is call the NHN Hot Line at (888) 646-8898) and request help.

The foundation has no paid employees and is 100% volunteer. Foundation is a 501c3 organization and funds are obtained from individuals, businesses, corporate tax-deductible contributions, and other foundations and applied for grants.

For tickets, call Dan Whalen (847) 561-0726; Jody Whalen (847) 561-0726 or Rosemary Argus at (847) 525-5566.