WBOA to host 20th annual Women's Night of Comedy

Date: 2/27/2013

HOLYOKE – Three self-made female comediennes will perform their routines to benefit various nonprofit organizations when the Women Business Owners Alliance (WBOA) presents the 20th annual Women's Night of Comedy on March 28 at 5 p.m. at the Log Cabin restaurant.

Headliner Jessica Kirson has appeared on major networks such as Bravo and Showtime as well as on "The Tonight Show." She is known for her crazy antics and loud characters, including the "Jersey Girl." Her jokes reveal the things everyone wants to say about dieting, sex and everyday life.

Home-grown comic Guilia Rozzi was born and raised right here in Massachusetts. After performing for years at The Comedy Club in Boston, Rozzi moved to New York and continued performing as a comic and an actress, as well as writing. Her brutally honest jokes poke fun at the abundance of stereotypes in the country.

Mindi Fay satirizes her own life, marriage and pregnancy. She addresses the annoyances of daily life and finds the humor in them, aiming her jokes at mothers and women with families.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Smart Girls program at the Boys & Girls Club of Westfield, the Homework House of Holyoke and the Holyoke Career Closet.

The Boys & Girls Club of Westfield provides a SMART Girls program for female teenagers ages 14 to 18 to discuss topics about peer pressure, relationships and eating disorders, while aiming to reduce teen pregnancy and high school dropout rates. The program is hoping to expand and purchase new materials to teach girls about these issues with the money they receive from the WBOA.

The Homework House of Holyoke provides free after-school tutoring and mentoring for children who are at-risk for academic failure and dropping out of school. Mentors help with literacy skills and focus on individuals' interests within a loving and caring community.

Holyoke Career Closet is a project out of Holyoke Community College created to provide affordable clothing for scheduled job interviews and work opportunities. This nonprofit organization helps secure work for those in need by educating people in need on how to dress and present themselves in a business setting.

While the Women's Night of Comedy is typically attended by women, men are welcome. The cost for the event is $55 per person. Tickets are available at http://wboa.org/comedy-night.

WBOA members continue to seek sponsors for the event. There are several levels of sponsorship that range from $100 to $1,850. Details are as follows: Gold Sponsors, $1,850, premier seating for 20, multiple opportunities for recognition and visibility; Silver Sponsor, $750, front room

Seating for 10, recognition; Bronze Sponsor, $100, listed in event booklet and on Facebook page; Gift Basket donors; Vendor promotional table, $200; and individual sponsorship donation of $100 each.

To become a sponsor or for more information, please contact Becky Castro at 584-4525 or Becky@ILoveMondayMornings.com. Registration is required by March 14, also at http://wboa.org/comedy-night.

For general information, contact Michelle Murray at 636-3855 or michellemurraylmhc@gmail.com.