StandUp For Your Sisters ’09 Event Press Release

Event Press Release

Inaugural comedy event raises more than $7,000 for Gilda’s Club

StandUp For Your Sisters a standout success amid recession, cold weather

Toronto, ON – If laughter is the best medicine, the crowd at Hugh’s Room found the cure for the winter blues on January 27, 2009.

StandUp For Your Sisters, a benefit for Gilda’s Club Greater Toronto, drew more than 200 comedy fans to the Roncesvalles-area bar on a cold Tuesday evening. The sold-out inaugural event raised $7,396.17 from ticket sales, silent auction bids and cash donations.

Hosted by Elvira Kurt and headlined by Dawn Whitwell, StandUp For Your Sisters was created as a showcase for the talents of a group of burgeoning female comedians.

“The evening was a huge success,” says Daniela Saioni, who not only organized the event but also performed. “The biggest lesson learned was that Toronto does welcome new talent and laughter is recession-proof.”

Despite their limited experiences on the comedy stage, the budding comics received an uproarious response from the crowd.

“It’s been way too long since I’ve laughed like that,” said crown criminal lawyer Lisa Joyal, who was in the audience. “Comics make a real difference in our lives and I think that message really hit home for me last night.”

Elana Shapiro, Development Associate of Gilda’s Club, was very impressed with the calibre of the event.

“The comics were talented, the enthusiasm and excitement in the room was incredible and people gave with their hearts,” said Shapiro. “The money raised from this event will help Gilda’s Club accept more families and continue to offer the extensive program of support and networking groups, lectures and workshops and our social activities.”

With the rapturous reviews and huge outpouring of charity, the StandUp Sisters have already started making plans for their second annual event.

“We are pumped to put on an even better show next year,” said Saioni.

About Gilda’s Club

The mission of Gilda’s Club is to provide a meeting place where men, women, teens and children living with cancer, as well as their families and friends, can join with others to build social and emotional support as a supplement to their treatment of choice. Gilda’s Club is a non-profit organization where membership is free. For more information about Gilda’s Club, please visit their website at www.gildasclubtoronto.org.

For more information or to schedule an interview, contact Bonnie Dean at media@thestandupsisters.com or 647-377-4317.