The International Myeloma Foundation presented the 9th Annual Comedy Celebration at The Wilshire Ebell Theatre & Club in Los Angeles. Hosted by Fred Willard, the comedy show featured hilarious sets by Jeff Garlin, Tig Notaro, Heather McDonald, Andy Kindler, and Tony Award-winning ventriloquist Jay Johnson. The evening concluded with a special musical performance by Late Show with David Letterman’s Paul Shaffer. The renowned band leader ended his set with the dance hit he co-wrote, “It’s Raining Men,” featuring Fred Willard, Tig Notaro and Heather McDonald as his background singers.
Attendees included Alex Meneses (NBC’s Hot & Bothered, Everybody Loves Raymond), Edie McClurg (Mike & Molly, Frozen), Howard Hesseman (Mike & Molly, Head of the Class), Izzy Diaz (NBC’s Hot & Bothered), Jadyn Douglas (NBC’s Hot & Bothered), Jay Huguley (Treme, True Detective), John Glover (The Good Wife), Lesley Nicol (Downton Abbey), Maggie Wheeler (Californication, Everybody Loves Raymond), Nikki Moore (Blue Line), Shalita Grant (NCIS: New Orleans), Event Chair Loraine Boyle, Dr. Brian Durie (IMF Chair), Susie Novis (IMF President), and more.
Proceeds from the event benefit the Peter Boyle Research Fund and support the Black Swan Research Initiative™ (BSRI), IMF’s innovative approach to finding a cure for myeloma, the second most common blood cancer. Renowned actor Peter Boyle died in late 2006 after a four year battle with myeloma. Through laughter, this event honors Boyle and raises money for research to find a cure.
ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL MYELOMA FOUNDATION (IMF)
IMF is the global leader in conducting collaborative, results-driven research to find a cure for multiple myeloma, the second most common blood cancer. Founded in 1990, the IMF provides myeloma patients with comprehensive education, support, and advocates on their behalf. The IMF is on the cusp of finding a cure for myeloma through its Black Swan Research Initiative®. The IMF can be reached at (800) 452-CURE (2873). The global website is myeloma.org. Follow the IMF on Twitter @IMFmyeloma.
The International Myeloma Foundation 9th Annual Comedy Celebration was presented by Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, and Takeda Oncology. For more information please visit http://comedy.myeloma.org
ABOUT THE PETER BOYLE RESEARCH FUND
The Peter Boyle Research Fund has supported the IMF’s innovative research program since the Fund’s inception in 2007. The Peter Boyle Research Fund supports IMF’s groundbreaking Black Swan Research Initiative® (BSRI®) – an exciting breakthrough in myeloma research that is truly moving toward achieving a cure for myeloma. Since the 2007, the annual Comedy Celebration has raised over $5 million for the Peter Boyle Research Fund.
ABOUT THE BLACK SWAN RESEARCH INITIATIVE®
The Black Swan Research Initiative® is the IMF’s innovative approach to finding a cure for myeloma. Led by a multi-national consortium of leading myeloma experts, BSRI is, at its core, about developing new curative therapies for the disease by testing multiple treatment approaches simultaneously to eliminate the disease. Learn more at blackswan.myeloma.org.
