2008 Woodie Awards
Who says cops don't have a sense of humor?
Michelle Rydberg
Issue date: 5/27/08 Section: A&E
The Cops Care Cancer Foundation came to the San Jose Improv Comedy Club May 14 for a charity comedy event with comedians Sandy Stec, Jim Panetta and Justin McClure, with Russ Meneve as the headliner.
"The Cops Care Cancer Foundation is a nonprofit foundation that that raises money for families that have children stricken with cancer," said Brian Simuro, president and founder of the Foundation. "They apply to us for monthly assistance for rent, activities for their kids and medicine … 100 percent of the proceeds go to the foundation."
Panetta, from Clownshoe Entertainment, pulled this first-time event together because he wanted to raise cancer awareness.
"My dad actually died of cancer about a year and a half ago," Panetta said. "I wanted to be involved in the foundation, and I thought it would be a great idea to bring Russ Meneve out here also."
With only three and a half weeks' notice, Panetta and Simuro were able to gather over 150 guests to the San Jose Improv and raise an estimated $3,000-$4,000 for the foundation and cancer awareness. Everyone involved with the event, including comedians, directors and police officers, is working strictly on a volunteer basis with all of the proceeds going to the cancer foundation.
It was an evening of fun with a benevolent crowd and many patrons donating to the cause.
The show started off with Sandy Stec warming up the crowd with jokes about the Bay Area.
"During the day, it is geek, and at night, it's ghetto. Laptop during the day and lap dancing at night," she said.
Panetta got the crowd laughing with cop jokes, and apologized for anything he might say to offend an officer, which got the audience laughing as the police took these jokes in stride.
McClure had no shame talking about his personal relationships, how he dates and the female anatomy.
Meneve, a New Yorker, ended the show on high note, capturing everyone's attention with his witty sense of humor and joking with the audience about his personal life.
"One of the things that helped me get through my battle was [the ability] to laugh," said Simuro, a cancer survivor. "I believe humor is a [good way] to forget about your problems, forget about some of the things in your life."
To learn more about Cops Care Cancer Foundation and to make a donation, visit them on the Web at http://www.copscarecancerfoundation.org.
Michelle Rydberg is a staff reporter for La Voz. Contact her at michellerydberg@lavozdeanza.com.
"The Cops Care Cancer Foundation is a nonprofit foundation that that raises money for families that have children stricken with cancer," said Brian Simuro, president and founder of the Foundation. "They apply to us for monthly assistance for rent, activities for their kids and medicine … 100 percent of the proceeds go to the foundation."
Panetta, from Clownshoe Entertainment, pulled this first-time event together because he wanted to raise cancer awareness.
"My dad actually died of cancer about a year and a half ago," Panetta said. "I wanted to be involved in the foundation, and I thought it would be a great idea to bring Russ Meneve out here also."
With only three and a half weeks' notice, Panetta and Simuro were able to gather over 150 guests to the San Jose Improv and raise an estimated $3,000-$4,000 for the foundation and cancer awareness. Everyone involved with the event, including comedians, directors and police officers, is working strictly on a volunteer basis with all of the proceeds going to the cancer foundation.
It was an evening of fun with a benevolent crowd and many patrons donating to the cause.
The show started off with Sandy Stec warming up the crowd with jokes about the Bay Area.
"During the day, it is geek, and at night, it's ghetto. Laptop during the day and lap dancing at night," she said.
Panetta got the crowd laughing with cop jokes, and apologized for anything he might say to offend an officer, which got the audience laughing as the police took these jokes in stride.
McClure had no shame talking about his personal relationships, how he dates and the female anatomy.
Meneve, a New Yorker, ended the show on high note, capturing everyone's attention with his witty sense of humor and joking with the audience about his personal life.
"One of the things that helped me get through my battle was [the ability] to laugh," said Simuro, a cancer survivor. "I believe humor is a [good way] to forget about your problems, forget about some of the things in your life."
To learn more about Cops Care Cancer Foundation and to make a donation, visit them on the Web at http://www.copscarecancerfoundation.org.
Michelle Rydberg is a staff reporter for La Voz. Contact her at michellerydberg@lavozdeanza.com.
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