Humor Therapy Fund

07/09/2024

Gab Bonesso was in Scranton today to perform with Josh and Gab Show for the kids at the Boys and Girls Clubs so I had a little bit of time to catch up with my friend. While she was here, she generously donated $100 to the Humor Therapy Fund from a portion of the proceeds of her latest comedy album Tragicomedian.

Gab has benefited from the Humor Therapy Fund and is now giving back so I, along with the Scranton Area Community Foundation may continue to spread positivity and healing humor and laughter!! 🥸😁😄😆

Thank you Gab! 🧡

Tune in to Eyewitness News WBRE WYOU at 5PM tonight to see highlights from Josh and Gab’s visit! 

05/22/2024

Thank you to Luminosa Designs for always generously supporting other small businesses and community initiatives.
I’m grateful to Lisa Damiano Burke and to those handful of folks who bought a 🕯️ from Luminosa to raise funds for the Humor Therapy Fund recently 🙏🏻

And thank you to Gab Bonesso who is graciously donating a portion of her new comedy album sales to the Humor Therapy Fund!

Your support means the world to me!! 🧡

05/04/2024

Just about ready!!

Visit John Malvizzi Foundation NAMI Northeast Region PA and Laugh to Live!!!

04/16/2024

Want to light-en up this month?

Help spread some positive vibes by supporting a candle fundraiser for the Humor Therapy Fund of the Scranton Area Community Foundation.

Thanks to the generosity and good scents of Luminosa Designs, when you buy one of five scented candles or wax melts, the Humor Therapy Fund will benefit from a percentage of the purchase.

Order your candle now and when it is ready in May, it will be shipped to your door, or if you are in the Scranton area, Luminosa will deliver. Order here: https://luminosadesigns.com/products/humor-therapy-fund-candle-fundraiser-1

And if you're wondering, what does the Humor Therapy Fund do?

Let me tell you! This year the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeastern Pennsylvania is benefitting from grant money to bring in entertainers Josh and Gab from Pittsburgh who will perform comedic original songs that spread positive messages of kindness to one's self and to others around us. Kids like Angel and Willow (pictured below) will be able to rock out to positive vibes this July!

Previous recipients of grants include: NAMI Northeast Region PA, VNA Hospice, Goodwill Industries, Laughing At My Nightmare, Inc. and Volunteers in Medicine.

03/30/2024

The Boys and Girls Clubs of NEPA Received A Grant from the Humor Therapy Fund this year to promote kindness through the Josh and Gab Show, a musical comedy duo from Pittsburgh.

Spreading kindness is no joke but the message can be delivered with humor to make it memorable. Young people who attend the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeastern Pennsylvania will benefit from such a program thanks to a grant from the nonprofit Humor Therapy Fund of the Scranton Area Foundation.

Pittsburgh-based performers Josh Colmstead and Gab Bonesso will visit this summer with their award-winning "Josh and Gab Show" that is a high-energy mix of original music, standup comedy, dance segments, and interactive lessons about kindness and bullying-awareness.

Pictured from left at the grant check presentation are: Boys and Girls Clubs of NEPA participant Angel B. Baez, Executive Director Tricia Thomas, Humor Therapy Fund Advisor Jeannine Luby and Club participant Willow Roberts.

If you would like to support more programs like these spreading humor in NEPA, watch for fundraising opportunities coming in the month of April. One such fundraiser is the comedy album by comedian Gab Bonesso who is generously donating a portion of proceeds from her latest comedy album to the Humor Therapy Fund and Disability Pride PA. And, the other fundraiser will definitely help you to light-en up with laughter through the sale of scentfully delightful soy candles by local business Luminosa Designs!!

Details coming soon!

03/28/2023

Hey folks, I’m working with Nami Northeast Region PA on some wonderful upcoming events to raise awareness, help break the stigma around mental health, and promote the healing power of humor.

Thanks in part to a grant from the Humor Therapy Fund of the Scranton Area Foundation, NAMI Northeast Region PA is able to bring in the high energy, nationally recognized speaker and comedian Gab Bonesso from Pittsburgh to speak to the public on May 4th for Lifting Hearts, Opening Minds a Night of Community Storytelling in Honesdale; to speak to staff and clients at the scranton counseling center on May 5 and to headline a comedy show fundraiser on the evening of May 5 at The SPACE at Olive.

Humor Heals Lifting Hearts Opening Minds Comedy Fundraiser

 The Comedy Show will benefit NAMI, and there will also be a basket raffle to raise money for the Humor Therapy Fund.
If you would like to donate a basket or a gift certificate for products or services, please message me. 

you can buy tickets to the show from the link in the comments ⬇️

03/23/2022

I am so proud to share information about a free family-friendly comedy show this Sunday in Scranton —sponsored in part by the Humor Therapy Fund of the Scranton Area Community Foundation!!

If you have ever donated through the numerous World Laughter Day Scranton events or any other donations, you helped to make this happen!! Thank you!!

06/04/2021

Today is a wonderful day in Northeast PA! It is time for NEPA Gives. There are so many amazing nonprofits doing incredible work to enhance this region. I've had the pleasure of working with many myself, offering laughter yoga and through service learning projects through the years with my Mass Communications students.

Of course I'd like to promote the nonprofit I worked to create in 2006, the Humor Therapy Fund, but there are also so so many other valuable organizations who could use your help.
Check out https://www.nepagives.org to donate until midnight.

Pictured below: a result of the first grant awarded by the Humor Therapy Fund to the nonprofit: Laughing at My Nightmare. Founder Shane Burcaw, an amazing young man from the Lehigh Valley, inspired a public audience at Marywood University. I had the pleasure of sharing some laughter yoga as well!

04/12/2021

Your support can help light the way to healing through humor and laughter!

Humor Therapy Fund Candle Fundraiser