Laughs for Literacy
Join us for 2026’s Laughs For Literacy
When: Friday, October 9th @ 6PM
Where: People’s Light
Who: Ophira Eisenberg, Matt Jenkins, and Johnny Lampert
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates @PartnersInOutreach
Meet Our Comedians
Ophira Eisenberg is a stand-up comedian, writer, and host of the award-winning (2024) comedy podcast Parenting Is A Joke with iHeart and Pretty Good Friends. She also hosted NPR’s Ask Me Another. She’s appeared multiple times on CBS’s The Late Late Show, Sherri! with Sherri Sheppard, Comedy Central, HBO, The New York Festival, and is a regular on The Moth Radio Hour. Her memoir, Screw Everyone: Sleeping My Way to Monogamy, was optioned for a TV series, and her recent comedy special, Plant-Based Jokes, is streaming on YouTube. She is a regular at The Comedy Cellar and other New York clubs, and her solo show Leaving A Mark: A Comedy About Scars made its Off-Broadway debut to rave reviews and won the Women in the Arts & Media Award for Solo Show Scripts.
Kyle Mara is a stand-up comedian, writer, and actor based in New York City. He's been honing his punchy conversational style in NYC clubs and is excited to make you laugh! Kyle has been seen on Showtime’s “City on a Hill,” and you can check out his podcast "Kyle Mara gets..." on all platforms. His short film "Vintage Deluxe" most recently won "Best Dark Comedy" at The Austin After Dark Film Festival. His debut half-hour special “Jokes On The Upper East Side” is available on YouTube and SiriusXM. You can catch Kyle at the World-Famous Comic Strip Live in New York City or at comedy festivals around the country. Don't miss the chance to see this rising star!
Johnny Lampert is considered one of the premier comedians in the country. He is a regular at New York City’s and Los Angeles’ best comedy clubs, including Stand Up NY, The Comic Strip, and The Improv. He has also made numerous television appearances on MTV, A&E, NBC, HBO, “Comedy Showcase,” a multitude of shows on Comedy Central, and AXS TV's Gotham Comedy Live! Johnny’s four wildly successful appearances at Montreal’s “Just for Laughs” Festival led to his being named “Best Act” by The Montreal Gazette as well as the signing of a sitcom deal with Walt Disney Television. Johnny was also honored recently with not one, but two of his routines being chosen for inclusion in the soon-to-be-released book, “The Best Comedy Routines, Period” (Rugged Land Books, NY). In casinos, Johnny has appeared at The Mirage, Foxwoods, Caesars Palace, and The Claridge, where he has worked with stars such as Dana Carvey, Michael Bolton, Chicago, and Chris Rock. Johnny has also headlined the main room at Connecticut's Mohegan Sun and Atlantic City's Borgata Hotel & Casino.
Thank You to Our 2025 Sponsors
Our Presenting Platinum Sponsor
Thank you for over 10 years of sponsorship!
Presenting Silver Sponsors
(10 years+ of sponsorship)
(10 years+ of sponsorship)
Leo & Maryanne Parsons
(10+ years of sponsorship)
Presenting Bronze Sponsor
Pete & Beth Hoover
(10+ years of sponsorship)
Title Sponsor
(10+ years of sponsorship)
Nobel Sponsors
Mary Kay & Mike O’Rourke
(5-9 years of sponsorship)
(10+ years of sponsorship)
Christine Bendinelli & Dennis O’Hara
Theresa & Don Ferrari
(10+ years of sponsorship)
Joe & Carol Mustilli
(5-9 years of sponsorship)
Tim & Joan Riddle
(10+ years of sponsorship)
We are deeply grateful to our sponsors, whose continued support sustains our work.
A * next to a sponsor denotes sponsors who have partnered with us for 5-9 years!
** honors those who have have stood with us for 10+ years!
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Pulitzer Sponsors
Beaufort Bonnet Company
John & Mary Jean Dougherty
HUB Family Office Service Group*
Jackson Cross / John & MaryBeth Morrissey
FischerCunnane Associates**
Kaplans Fine Jewelry**
Joe & Maria Lubanski
Brian & Shelby Mackrides**
Frank & Sue Mattei**
Leo M. Parsons
Mark & Katie Parsons
Matt and Megan Parsons
Mike and Mary Swanick**
John and Sue Walsh*
The Ward Family Fund
Doug & Maria Weems
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Newbery Sponsors
Belfor Property Restoration*
MariPeg Bruder
Citizens Bank
Covenant Wealth Strategies, LLC
Dave & Renee DeBoer
Fulton Bank*
Tom and Sharon Higgins**
Harold and Susan Lamb**
Bill & Katelyn Lloyd
Joe & Lisa Lutza
Eric & Donna Miller
Larry & Alison Morgan
Jerry & Eleanor Parsons**
Megan M. Parsons
Mike & Christine Parsons
Rich & Claudia Parsons
Jim & Diana Perella
Kevin & Barb Quinn**
The Duke Schneider Family
Gary & Noreen Vigilante
Mark & Betsy Vergnano
Glenn & Nancy Wenger*
-
Caldecott Sponsors
Mike and Jan Appleby**
Matt & Andrea Corbo
Jim & Kathy Costello
Tim & Jeanne Ernst
Fox Rothschild*
John & Cathy Garvey**
Dan and Trisha Harrer
Duanne & MaryBeth Kelly
Alan Kujawa*
Bruce and Mary-Jo Johnson*
Duane and Maribeth Kelly
Alan Kujawa*
Todd and Courtney Lofgren*
Wally & Betsy Lubanski
Ed and Linda McAssey*
Mike & Becky McBratnie
Carla Messikomer
Sonia and XD Shao
John and Robin Stanzione*
Lou and Joanne Teti*
* 5-9 years of loyal support!-Thank you!
**10+ years of loyal support!-Thank you!
2025 Laughs for Literacy Sponsorship Levels
PRESENTING PLATINUM SPONSOR- $25,000+
Includes 20 tickets with preferred seating, speaking opportunity, sponsor a PIO program of choice, logo & website link in listings, 2 VISTA articles, newsletter spotlight, social media shoutout, premier signage, and VIP Golden Ticket parking.
PRESENTING GOLD SPONSOR- $20,000
Includes 20 tickets, speaking opportunity, sponsor a PIO program of choice, logo & website link in listings, 1 VISTA article, newsletter spotlight, social media shoutout, premier signage, preferred event seating, and VIP Golden Ticket parking.
PRESENTING SILVER SPONSOR- $15,000
Includes 20 tickets, logo & website link in listings, newsletter social media shoutout, prominent signage, newsletter spotlight, and VIP Golden Ticket parking.
PRESENTING BRONZE SPONSOR- $10,000
Includes 20 tickets, newsletter spotlight, logo & website link in listings, social media shoutout, and prominent signage.
TITLE SPONSOR- $5,000
Includes 16 tickets, logo & website link in sponsorship listings or the year following the event.
NOBEL PRIZE SPONSOR- $3,000
Includes 12 tickets, logo & website link in sponsorship listings.
PULITZER SPONSOR- $2,000
Includes 8 tickets, logo listed in sponsorship listings.
NEWBERY SPONSOR- $1,000
Includes 4 tickets, name listed in sponsorship listings.
CALDECOTT SPONSOR-$500
Includes 2 tickets, name listed in sponsorship listings.