The kind of ‘funny money’ that helps… charity

Laughter is the best medicine. It can also be a great way to help raise money for charity.

Helping Thru Humor, a non-profit fundraising platform, is recording a live comedy special at Molloy University’s Madison Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 15, which will be broadcast online to help raise money for special needs charities all over the state.

This one-of-a-kind performance was the brainchild of Jason Plawner, who traces the concept’s origins back to his youth. He was a trumpet player in his high school’s competitive marching band, and later transferred that talent to a drum corps.

Pursuing such a path was a very expensive undertaking, Plawner said, which was commonly financed through grants, donations, sales and membership dues.

“It was getting so expensive to take part,” Plawner said. “At one point, it was reaching close to $6,000 a year.”

Looking to not only raise money for one drum corps — but all of them — Plawner created Helping Thru Humor. And instead of limiting such fundraising to just the audience that could physically show up, Plawner teamed up with Michelle Ciardulli — co-chair of the Long Island Motion Picture Arts Center and Museum, and a Molloy graduate — to assemble the charity event, and broadcast it across the state.

“I’m looking forward to putting on a wonderful show,” Plawner said, “and that all of the charities participating will come out raising more money than they ever thought possible.”

The performance will feature the brother-sister duo Derrick and Julie Tennant and comedian Bobby Collins, who will take the stage to help raise money for charities including 14 Sleeves, A Chance to Dance and The Forum School.

Collins is a renowned New York stand-up comic with 40 years of experience under his belt. He has opened for iconic entertainers like Frank Sinatra, Cher and Dolly Parton, as well as  Jerry Seinfeld, Ray Romano and Chris Rock.

Collins is dedicated to the cause as one of the charities the event it supporting, Zeno Mountain Farm, is a nonprofit camp in Vermont where his daughter Madison has trekked to for more than a decade. It’s intended as a place where everyone can enjoy the camp experience, even if they live with disabilities.

Derrick and Julie Tennant, otherwise known as the Love Chromosome, combine their own inspirational stories about overcoming adversity with comedy and an inspirational message.

Julie was born with Down syndrome, which is a condition that can create cognitive disabilities, developmental delays or physical challenges caused by an extra chromosome. Julie’s grandpa used to tell her that the chromosome in question wasn’t “extra,” but instead was missing in everyone else.

It’s where the nickname comes from, “the love chromosome.”

Derrick was a gifted athlete on his way to really making a career in sports. But one night, he laid down, and didn’t wake up for three days. Doctors said he suffered from “random bleeding,” which paralyzed him after brain surgery, making him unable to move his left side.

Thanks to years of therapy, hard work, and love from his family and friends, Derrick found a way to effectively manage and live with it, reshaping his obstacles into opportunities. Together with his sister, they travel all across the country to share inspirational words of wisdom with others.

The event begins at 8 p.m., at the Madison Theatre at Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave.

Tickets are $45 to attend in-person, and are available online at MadisonTheatreNY.org.

Can’t make it in-person? There will be a chance to watch — and give — online by visiting HelpingThruHumor.org.