Click here to read the full article.
The nonprofit organization Comic Relief is launching its inaugural “Neighborhood Festivals” initiative, with events slated in Los Angeles and Philadelphia. The festivals will bring people together through comedy and connect
them with local nonprofits working to end childhood poverty.
The first event will be held at the Paramount Pictures Studio Lot in L.A. on Sat., Sept. 19, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Philadelphia fest will take place on Oct. 24, with the location and time to be announced at a later date. Admission is free, but advanced registration is required here.
The L.A. festival will feature performances from comedy groups the Groundlings, Upright Citizens Brigade’s “Wildly Appropriate,” Story Pirates and YADA’s “Rockin’ Awesome Improv Show,” as well as local DJs. The lineup in Philadelphia has yet to be announced.
“One in six kids in America lives in poverty. That means it’s not some distant, abstract problem; it’s in nearly every neighborhood, often just around the corner,” said Michele Ganeless, CEO of Comic Relief. “It’s a national issue, and at the same time, a deeply local one, but it is a problem we can solve. Neighborhood Festivals give people an accessible way to get involved, using comedy to bring communities together to have fun, connect with their neighbors, and see exactly how they can support local kids and families.”
Comic Relief has also launched a national campaign tied to a satirical PSA advertising a fictional nonprofit called “Not Our Problem.” The ad, directed by Brad Morris, includes testimonials from people who confidently explain why childhood poverty is not their concern. “I’m taking a stand,” says one person, and another finishes the sentence: “Then I’m sitting back down.” The campaign directs viewers to NotOurProblem.org, which leads to Comic Relief’s website with information and resources related to helping impoverished children around the world.
Watch the comedic “Not Our Problem” PSA below.
