MARCH 10 – 20, 2016 TYPES OF EVENTS HELD WHAT? Gilda’s LaughFest has quickly become one of the nation’s “must attend” festivals, celebrating laughter for the health of it! This major 10-day Midwest festival is based LaughFest is designed to reach across all ages and in Grand Rapids and has events throughout West Michigan. demographics, and features a variety of definitions of what makes us laugh. Part of the Festival will The festival was launched in March 2011 and has featured Mike Birbiglia, Lewis Black, Wayne showcase national and regional talent and acts. Brady, Jim Breuer, Hannibal Buress, Bo Burnham, Bill Burr, Margaret Cho, Mike Epps, Jim Another key element of the Festival is driven by Gaffigan, Billy Gardell, Whoopi Goldberg, Kevin Hart, Pete Holmes, Gabriel Iglesias, Anthony community participation and voting. Events are Jeselnik, Jay Leno, George Lopez, Marc Maron, Joel McHale, Kevin Nealon, Patton Oswalt, offered during the daytime, evening, and late night Brian Regan, Amy Schumer, Martin Short, Sinbad, Wanda Sykes, Lily Tomlin, Chris Tucker, Betty and are both ticketed and free. Types of events to White, Justin Willman and many, many more nationally touring artists and acts. be held in 2016 include: Stand-up LaughFest features laughter in all its forms from comedy, performance, and improv to film, Improv dance, and a variety of seriously funny stuff. Each year has drawn an average of 50,000 Films – short and long attendees to Grand Rapids and West Michigan for free and ticketed events. Clean Comedy Dance Showcases WHEN? March 10-20, 2016 Authors/Writers Lectures/Workshops WHERE? LaughFest 2016 will include the Greater West Michigan region, with People and Pets the hub of the festival centered in a variety of venues in downtown Grand Rapids. In Musical Acts/Shows previous festival years, over 65 venues have been featured ranging in size from 50 seats to Stage Acts 3,300 seats. Family Friendly Events Middle/High School Events A FESTIVAL FOR LAUGHS AND FOR A PURPOSE! We are serious about our funny here in West Michigan. LaughFest brings together a diverse audience of children and adults once a year to honor laughter as an essential part of 2015 STATS emotional health and well-being. And what better time for a laughter festival than when it’s cold, icy, and distinctly un-funny outside! TOTAL EVENTS HOSTED Ticketed..................................73 LaughFest is more than just a barrel of laughs. It also raises awareness for a very important Free ....................................199 cause – supporting children, adults, families, and friends in finding their smile and laughter in Total Events Scheduled ....................272 the midst of a cancer or grief journey. All proceeds of LaughFest benefit the free emotional healthcare programs offered through # OF ARTISTS/TALENT Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids and 100% of those funds stay in West Michigan. Gilda’s Club Talent - Ticketed Events ....................144 Grand Rapids is named for Gilda Radner, an original cast member of Saturday Night Live, Talent - Free Events . 608 who passed away from ovarian cancer in 1989. In her book, It’s Always Something, Gilda said, Total Artists Involved . 752 “My job was to find what was funny about whatever was going on. So I began to think that I should do the same thing with cancer.” Through her own personal journey, Gilda reminded EVENT TYPES individuals impacted by cancer that it is alright to laugh and smile, even when dealing with Laughter Related Events ...................166 life’s tough stuff. Through Gilda’s LaughFest, our desire is to help share the gift of laughter Stand-up Comedy Related Events ............82 with everyone. Films ......................................8 LaughteRx Series ..........................18 Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids provides a comprehensive program delivered by licensed healthcare professionals, including education, structured sharing times, networking, lectures, workshops, and social activities. We provide emotional health support to individuals and families that are on a cancer or grief journey of any kind. Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids is one of the largest and busiest of the 50+ affiliates worldwide. The organization runs entirely on charitable donations and currently serves more than 10,000 individuals each year through our clubhouses in Grand Rapids and Lowell, Michigan, as well as in various schools and in five community centers. Website: www.laughfestgr.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/laughfest Twitter: www.twitter.com/laughfest Instagram: www.instagram.com/laughfestgr Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/laughfest WHY DO WE DO WHAT WE DO? It’s simple, really. LaughFest is a festival that is seriously designed to: CREATE a dialogue about emotional health and an opportunity to learn, share, and laugh together. CULTIVATE a shared community experience where everyone is welcome. While we may not laugh at all the same things, we all do laugh! CELEBRATE laughter’s important role in overall health and its contribution to well-being. COLLABORATE with you, our sponsor partners, to boost our economy and enhance the festival. CONTRIBUTE to our mission and passion – passing along the legacy of laughter that Gilda Radner gave to all of us. BENEFITING CHILDREN, ADULTS, AND FAMILIES IN WEST MICHIGAN 100% LOCALLY BASED AND INDEPENDENT LaughFest proceeds provide funding for the FREE cancer, grief, and emotional health programs offered through Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids. 100% of these proceeds stay in West Michigan. Our Grand Rapids Club is an independently owned and operated 501(c)(3) governed by a locally-based Board of Directors. Gilda’s Club is affiliated with a national network of 52 cancer support organizations across North America. SUPPORTED 100% THROUGH CHARITABLE GIFTS & CORPORATE SPONSOR PARTNERSHIPS Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids’ growth, sustainability, and program excellence remains funded entirely through cash donations, individual gifts, foundation grants, fundraising events, and proceeds from LaughFest. Our free programs would not be free without this support. SUSTAINED BY VOLUNTEER POWER Even though Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids employs a core administrative and licensed professional staff, part of how we are able to offer our program free of charge is through the incredible efforts of our more than 3,000 volunteers. They are the grassroots “heart and soul” who donate their time and energy to ensure the weekly programs, Clubhouses, and LaughFest thrive. SKILLFULLY LED WITH A FOCUS ON PEOPLE We are proud to say that for 15 years, we have welcomed all that are on a cancer or grief journey who have come through the Red Door at Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids. Our programs equip people with knowledge, connections, and laughter. We strive to improve the emotional health of our community, based on the legacy of laughter that Gilda Radner, our namesake, gave to all of us. SPONSORSHIP BENEFITS THE LAUGH PREMIER TOO FUNNY THE BELLY THE THE BENEFITS GOLD OUT LOUD LEADERSHIP FOR WORDS LAUGHERS CHUCKLERS GIGGLERS CROWD Logo in full color on festival X X poster Logo and hyperlink on homepage X X of LaughFest website Co-branding opportunities X X X available* Opportunity to welcome X X X X X audience to event(s)** Listing on the Festival Sponsor page of the LaughFest website in logo logo logo X X X X alphabetical order Listing in the LaughFest guide/ schedule (minimum print run of logo logo X X X X X 175,000) in alphabetical order Tickets to the LaughFest opening night party 100 50 24 20 16 8 4 Tickets to events of your choice*** 100 50 24 20 16 8 4 Headliner’s Club passes 100 50 24 20 16 8 4 Tickets to Signature Event 10 10 6 4 Access to Signature Event meet X X X & greet Option to purchase sponsor X X X X X X X exclusive ticket packages Option to purchase sponsor exclusive LaughFest experiences, X X X X X X X shows, and receptions First right of refusal to artist meet and greet opportunities as X X X available/desired * in collaboration with, and with approval by, LaughFest ** as approved by artist, script provided by LaughFest *** ticket selections and quantity of tickets available per show are subject to availability and sponsorship level. INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES GOLD LEADERSHIP ($100,000+) TOO FUNNY FOR WORDS ($25,000-$49,999) A number of high visibility, customizable opportunities are available at the LAUGHTERx SERIES $100,000, $250,000, and $500,000 levels. We would be happy to discuss Sometimes laughter is the best medicine. This series includes laughter yoga, these Gold Leadership options with you in person. inspirational and humorous performances, and speakers who highlight the health benefits of laughter and its importance in overall emotional health. PREMIER LEADERSHIP ($50,000-$99,999) COMMUNITY SHOWCASE SERIES Community Showcases are at the heart of LaughFest. Local, regional, and LATE NIGHT COMEDY SERIES national talent submit applications for a spot on our community showcases The Late Night Comedy Series features a minimum of three late-night – highlighting first time performers, seasoned veterans, and more. shows at a variety of venues in downtown Grand Rapids. Not for the faint Approximately 20 showcases take place throughout the festival, are free of heart; expect some risky language and risky subject matter. But hey, events, and range from stand-up comedy to dance, music, and everything it’s all seriously funny stuff! Past talent has included Amy Schumer, Judah in between! Friedlander, and Loni Love. LAUGHFEST CENTRAL SPONSOR FESTIVAL ACCOMMODATIONS SPONSOR LaughFest Central is the headquarters for all things LaughFest before and Top notch talent requires top notch accommodations! As official festival during the festival. Starting mid-February located in downtown Grand accommodations sponsor, all LaughFest talent will be housed at your hotel Rapids, you can stop in to get information, merchandise, festival tickets, and properties, and the space(s) will be engaged in a variety of ways as hub(s) Fast Passes to free shows.