5th Annual ‘Laughter is the Best Medicine’ event raises over $166,000
More than 370 people attended the 5th Annual “Laughter is the Best Medicine” event held at Broadway Palm on Aug. 17, raising more than $166,000 in support of behavioral healthcare services in Southwest Florida.
After each celebrity comic performed, audience members voted with their dollars. In the end, Scott Kashman, chief officer of Hospital Operations at Lee Health, raised the most money. Liz Abbott, an advisory board member with the Florida Repertory Theatre, was voted the funniest comic by audience members. Other amateurs performing for votes were Lydia Black, executive director of the Alliance for the Arts, and Dr. John Meyer, president of Hodges University.
Back by popular demand at this year’s event was Dr. Mike Martin, the 2018 winner of both awards, who reprised his stand up comedy act for audience members.
Professional comic Lisa Curry performed the grand finale, and comic Michael Palascak performed and co-emceed the event with ABC-7 anchor Krista Fogelsong. The Lee County Bar Association and #KindLee held a silent auction in the lobby of the Broadway Palm, raising $11,000 for SalusCare.
“We are so appreciative of the support shown to SalusCare and those patients we care for each and every year,” said Stacey Cook, SalusCare president and CEO. “This event directly benefits the patients we serve, and has grown over the past five years thanks to the commitment of our event sponsors and others in the community, all of whom have stepped up and made behavioral healthcare a priority.”