Proceeds support research at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine; headlined by comedian Randy Rainbow
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine will host “Shaking with Laughter,” a benefit to help fund Parkinson’s disease research, on Saturday, April 24, at 8 p.m. The event will be presented virtually and emceed by Marc Jaffe, “Shaking with Laughter” founder and Seinfeld writer.
“Shaking with Laughter” will showcase a lineup of comedians and musicians, headlined by two-time Emmy nominee Randy Rainbow, an American comedian, actor, singer, writer and satirist best known for his popular series of musical parodies and political spoofs, which have gained international acclaim.
Rainbow’s viral comedy videos receive millions of views across all social media and digital platforms.
Guests also will enjoy performances by John Pizzarelli, Wayne Cotter, Carmen Lynch, Moody McCarthy and Tim Cavanagh, and a limited-ticket raffle for a chance to win Cleveland Browns tickets and tickets to choice of a select regular season MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL or PGA event with a two-night weekend stay for two. For tickets and more information, visit case.edu/medicine/giving/strategic-events/shaking-with-laughter.
Proceeds will support Parkinson’s disease research at the School of Medicine, which, in 2016, established the community-wide Cleveland Brain Health Initiative (CBHI), a consortium of partner institutions devoted to discovering cures and ways to care for people suffering from brain-related diseases and disorders.
The event will fund CBHI through established partnerships with the Jaffe Armsden Butler Endowed Fund for Parkinson’s Disease, established by Catherine Armsden and the late Lewis Butler, in honor of Karen Jaffe and her relentless pursuit of a cure for Parkinson’s disease.
Proceeds also will support the Meisel Family Foundation Fund in Parkinson’s Disease Research, which was established to support a community-based collaboration between Case Western Reserve and InMotion, a local organization that “helps people with Parkinson’s disease feel better every day.”
“Here at the School of Medicine, we are doing what we can to address the effects of Parkinson’s disease,” said Interim Dean Stanton Gerson. “Events like ‘Shaking with Laughter’ directly impact our ability to broaden our research efforts and work with our partners by raising not only funds that support our work, but awareness throughout our community about the pressing need for more research. Doing so will lead to new discoveries that will change how we care for our friends and family suffering from this disease.”
“Shaking with Laughter” was founded in 2011 by Karen Jaffe, a prominent local OB/GYN, and her husband Marc, a well-known comedian and writer, after Karen was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. The Jaffes’ goal was simple: support research focused on a cure for Parkinson’s disease by putting on one show and raising $20,000. That goal was wildly surpassed, and the annual “Shaking with Laughter” event took on a life of its own.
In eight years, under the Jaffes’ management, “Shaking with Laughter” raised nearly $1.2 million for Parkinson’s research. As the event grew, the Jaffes realized they needed a larger entity that shared their mission to manage it. In 2019, the Jaffes handed off the event to the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine.
For more information, contact Bill Lubinger at william.lubinger@case.edu.