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Des Plaines Residents and Zanies in Rosemont Raise Funds for Local Cause Thursday, March 28

Zanies Comedy Club and the Whalen family are working together to raise money to support the Des Plaines Community Foundation at Standup for Des Plaines IV, a special comedy night benefit Thursday, March 28, 2019.

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

According to the Whalens, who have lived in Des Plaines for 33 years, the profit from last year's Zanies fundraiser was nearly $6,000. All funds went to support the Des Plaines Community Foundation and its programs.

Standup for Des Plaines IV will be held at Zanies Comedy Club at 5437 Park Place in Rosemont, IL. Tickets are $20. Everyone must be 21 or older with a proper ID. The show starts at 8 p.m. For tickets call Rosemary Argus 847-525-5566 or Dan Whalen 847-561-0726.

"Zanies Comedy Club and their general manager worked with us to host this fundraiser for the past four 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 IV will be TIM WALKOE with his unique style.

Few comedians are lucky enough to make their television debut on Comedy Central's "Live at Gotham," but after being invited to perform at Montreal's "Just For Laughs Comedy Festival" and "The Great American Comedy Festival" in the same year, Tim Walkoe easily earned the distinction.

"Nonstop laughter from start to finish" is what a Chicago Tribune critic said about the stand-up comedy performance of Tim Walkoe. "Walkoe's rapid-fire delivery and shoot-from-the-hip style leaves audiences laughing so hard it's hard to catch up to the next joke," the critic said.

Walkoe is a veteran headliner at more than 100 comedy clubs nationwide including the Comedy Stop in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, Zanies, Funny Bones, Comedy Store and many more. He has also been a featured performer at the Chicago Comedy Festival for the past four years.

A $10,000 grand prize winner on ABC TV's "America's Funniest People," Walkoe has appeared in a recurring role on Fox TV's "Murder in Small Town X" as Mayor Emerson Bowden. Other television credits include A&E, HBO, Showtime, TNN, PBS, and recently Fox Sports Net Profile Awards in Los Angeles and Chicago.

A musician and improvisational actor, Walkoe uses these talents throughout his performances. He has appeared in concert with Kenny Loggins, Whitney Houston and Elvis Costello. Tim is a veteran of National Public Radio's "All Things Considered," and created the character of "Eddie Vestoon," which can be heard on over 200 radio stations nationally. He was the number one morning show host on WRXR in Chicago and KDWB in Minneapolis.

As a top commercial and industrial speaker and performer, his credits include, Sears, McDonalds, Quaker Products, Mobil Oil, Ameritech, Whirlpool, Chicago Cubs, American Express, World Equity Inc., and Cognizant Technologies.

Walkoe is also the author of the business parody book "Semi-Dynamics" and is adapting his nightclub show into a theatrical production based on his life entitles "The Comic Who Came in from the Cold."

"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."

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 hand a great time also remarked, "What a better way to break up the work week 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. There also will be a "Split-the-Pot" raffle with a $250 prize.

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, Inter-generational Program Committee, and Seasons of Service program Committee.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors 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 Neighbors Helping Neighbors Hot Line (1-888-646-8898) and request help.

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

For tickets call Rosemary Argus 847-525-5566 or Dan Whalen 847-561-0726.

For more information on becoming volunteer visit: www.desplainescommunityfoundation.org. Or for more information about Zanies Comedy Club go to http://rosemont.zanies.com.

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