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January 12, 2016
The AGBU Young Professionals, Northern California (YPNC) First Annual Comedy Show Launches Fundraising Campaign for Syrian Armenian Relief
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On November 20, AGBU YP Northern California hosted its first comedy night for a sold-out crowd of young professionals and friends in downtown Oakland. -
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Los Angeles-based comic Mary Basmadjian; Comedy Night event chair and AGBU-YP co-marketing director Apik Zorian; Los Anegles-based rapper Nazo Bravo and Bay Area-based comic Greg Asdourian.
On November 20, AGBU YP Northern California hosted its first comedy night for a sold-out crowd of young professionals and friends in downtown Oakland. The event launched the group’s fundraising efforts to benefit the Syrian Armenian community. Featuring four renowned stand-up comics from the Bay Area and Los Angeles, attendees enjoyed sets by comics of Armenian and non-Armenian origin, all of whom volunteered their talents for the cause.
Marked by surprises, including an impromptu stand-up set by event chair and YP Northern California co-marketing director Apik Zorian and a special performance by Los Angeles Armenian rapper Nazo Bravo, the evening was a great success and brought the community together in support of Syrian Armenian relief.
“We were overwhelmed by the support and success of the comedy show. From the comedians who volunteered their time and skill to perform, to selling out in less than two weeks of announcing the date, to the generous amount of donations we were able to gather at the show, it was a spectacular night all around and we look forward to more such events in the near future,” said the event’s chair and co-marketing director Apik Zorian.
Local non-Armenian comics Michael Brandon and Ben Feldman joined the cause, performing comedy routines and participating in the I Care I Can viral photo campaign. Later in the evening, making her first appearance in the Bay Area, Los Angeles based comic Mary Basmadjian entertained the crowd with references to what it is like to be Armenian in everyday situations. Capping off the evening was local Armenian comic Greg Asdourian, who performed sets on a broad range of topics. During his set, Greg announced that all sales of his albums on iTunes during the week following the show would be donated to the AGBU Humanitarian Emergency Relief Fund for Syrian Armenians.
YP Northern California is now turning its attention to hosting the 16th annual AGBU SF Winter Gala on February 12-14, 2016 in San Francisco and the Bay Area wine country. The weekend will also raise funds for the AGBU Syrian Armenian relief efforts.
For more information about AGBU-YPNC events and projects, and to donate please visit norcal.agbuyp.org. Visit www.agbusfwintergala.org for tickets and info on Winter Gala 2016. For additional questions, please email norcal@agbuyp.org.
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