EAST LONGMEADOW — A comedy show will be hosted to fundraise for the East Longmeadow Scholarship Foundation on March 1 from 8-10 p.m., the host organization recently announced.
The event will take place at Springfield Elks Club, located on 440 Tiffany St., and include performances by comedians Kareem Blue, Emily Walsh and Stephanie Peters. Raffles, including a 50/50 raffle, and a cash bar will also be available, according to host organization Jess Miller Comedy.
The show is open to adults aged 21 and older and “rated R for adult content and language.” Tickets are $25 and attendees can enter as early as 6:30 p.m., the announcement states. Outside food is welcome, but outside drinks are not allowed.
The East Longmeadow Scholarship Foundation has provided financial support to East Longmeadow students since 1961, Foundation Secretary Kim Oliveri told Reminder Publishing.
While this is the organization’s first comedy show fundraiser, the foundation “depend[s] on community support to give these scholarships,” Oliveri said. She highlighted selling snacks during East Longmeadow football games as another way the organization raises money. The foundation also used to go door to door before the coronavirus pandemic, she said. In 2023, the organization awarded scholarships to 27 students.
In 2024, East Longmeadow Scholarship Foundation is offering four scholarships, which are available to high school seniors as well as freshmen, sophomores and juniors in college. Three scholarships target specific groups while the fourth is intended for reapplying students, Oliveri stated. To be eligible, a student must live in East Longmeadow.
The Howard Moffat Fund offers financial support to seniors graduating high school. This scholarship is targeted toward first time applicants and varies each year. The Christopher V. Danos Memorial Scholarship supports high school seniors pursuing music and offers $800. Similarly, the Kelly-Fradet Lumber Scholarship awards $1,000 to a high school senior pursuing fields such as carpentry, architecture or forestry, the foundation stated.
The fourth scholarship available is the East Longmeadow Scholarship Foundation. It is awarded to college freshmen, sophomores and juniors who are reapplying to receive funds. All three of the other scholarships are eligible to be renewed through this scholarship. This year, scholarship applications were due Feb. 15, with in-person interviews anticipated in March, according to the application letter.
Anyone interested in purchasing tickets for the comedy night fundraiser should visit www.jessmillercomedy.com/event/elsf2024/. Tickets are available to purchase at the bottom of the web page.
For more information about the East Longmeadow Scholarship Foundation or the comedy show fundraiser, visit the foundation’s Facebook page, Oliveri said. She also encouraged residents to join the organization, stating, “We have six trustees and three general committee members. We are looking to grow our membership, so if anyone in the community would be interested in joining, please email us at elscholarshipfoundation@gmail.com.”
