On the evening of Friday, May 16, St. Jude House hosted its annual Stand Up for St. Jude House Comedy Night event at County Line Orchard. For the past 30 years, St. Jude House has supported domestic abuse survivors and their children with resources like shelter, counseling, employment assistance, and educational programming. Over 400 guests came from all over the Region to help support St. Jude House at the Stand Up for St. Jude House event. Apple Blossom Trails, Ameriprise Financial, Centier Bank, Ozinga, and Wintrust Indiana were among the event sponsors.
During the event, clips of interviews with St. Jude House survivors and staff shared some insight into their experiences with the organization. The program also featured remarks from Amy McCarthy, chair of St. Jude House’s Survivor Council, who shared how she learned how to find her strength and how to use her voice to help uplift others. While not a resident of St. Jude House, McCarthy applauded her fellow council members for taking their pain and turning it into purpose by mentoring, guiding, and supporting other survivors. She also noted that anyone - residents and non residents alike - can always receive help and support from St. Jude House.
This was Anna Schoon’s, executive director of St. Jude House, first time attending the Stand Up for St. Jude House Comedy Night. She looked forward to participating in an event that has been a tradition for over 15 years.
"St. Jude House is committed to ending domestic violence in Northwest Indiana," Schoon said. "We cannot do that without the support of the whole community. While tonight's event enables the guests to support St. Jude House financially, it also allows them to join the effort to end domestic violence in Northwest Indiana. This will be a great event and it's going to raise a lot of support for our mission."
There were several fundraising opportunities available at the event, including a digital paddle raise and a raffle, which offered attendees the chance to win a four pack of tickets to one of four upcoming comedy performances at the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana. For $30 – an amount that reflected St. Jude House’s anniversary – the winners had their choice of seeing comedy greats like The Second City, Wanda Sykes, Ron White, or Dane Cook perform live.
Prizes for the event’s silent auction were donated by Lerner & Rowe Gives Back, The Albanese Candy Factory, Pink Flamingo Cotton Candy, Cold Stone Creamery, Tavern on Main, and many more. This was the first year that the Stand Up for St. Jude House event featured a live auction. Prizes like a getaway to Mexico’s Mayakoba resort, Chicago Cubs tickets, and a hotel stay package were auctioned off.
Schoon considered the County Line Orchard to be an excellent place to hold unique events like the Stand Up for St. Jude House event.
"We love it here," Schoon said. "It’s so warm and cozy. I love that we’re putting on a comedy night, too. No other nonprofit is doing something like this. People can come for some entertainment, good food, and some drinks. No one has to get dressed up; it’s a casual event. This is a nonprofit fundraising event they could wear their blue jeans to, which is not something you’ll see at other organizations’ fundraisers."
The evening's musical entertainment was provided by Frank Ruvoli, a Northwest Indiana native who played toe-tapping acoustic covers of popular songs like “Take the Money and Run” and “Brown Eyed Girl.” Comedian Jeanie Dougan warmed up the crowd with a hilarious set before handing things off to Mike Toomey, the evening's headline comedy act. Toomey’s witticisms and gut-busting delivery had the attendees howling with laughter.
This year, St. Jude House presented Centier Bank with the Don Burrell Corporate Responsibility Award. This prize, named after the founder of St. Jude House, honors an organization that goes above and beyond in supporting St. Jude House’s mission. Over the past year, Centier Bank employees have been volunteering their time at St. Jude House, working with survivors on vital money management skills.
Schoon is very optimistic that the Stand Up for St. Jude House event will have a positive impact on the community.
"My hope is that everybody leaves feeling motivated to connect to the effort to end domestic violence," Schoon said. "Support us with your resources, but also with your time and talents. We need everybody's gifts and skills if we're gonna make a difference.”
Please visit stjudehouse.org if you are interested in learning more about St. Jude House’s services and how to help support the organization.