DPCF and Zanies Comedy Club Raise Funds for Local Cause
Zanies Comedy Club and the Whalen family are celebrating the 5th year of working together to raise money to support the Des Plaines Community Foundation at Standup for Des Plaines V, a special comedy night benefit Thursday, April 9, 2020.
"This will be the fifth 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 34 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 V 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 Dan Carlson worked with us to host this fundraiser for the past five 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 V will be DALE JONES with his unique style. With more than 25 years of comedy experience Jones is known for his machine gun style delivery and healthy dose of animated faces. He combines that with quick improvisations and well-placed physical comedy. He leaves the audience wishing they had his energy. His shows are always a night you won't soon forget.
Jones is a regular on Sirius XM's "The Jeff and Larry Channel" and has performed at countless clubs, colleges, corporate functions, cruise ships and comedy festivals. To date he is the winner of the Comedy 10K, Laughlin Comedy Festival & San Diego Comedy Festival.
In addition to his training at the renowned Second City, Jones has had numerous television appearances including TBS-The Very Funny Show, NBC-Last Comic Standing Season Six, Fox-30 seconds to Fame and The Comedy Network in Canada. He also was in the 2003 MGM movie "Out of Time" with Denzel Washington.
In 2017 he was invited to perform on two episodes of "The Comedy All Stars" for Pureflix which led to an acting role on the tv series "Malibu Dan the Family Man."
"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 four years, which was just great. We raised about $20,000 for charity in past four years."
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 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, Intergenerational 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.