Comedy for Peace Raises $5,900 through Virtual Benefit

When Dotan Malach and Julia Ain-Krupa, two long-time customers of Tarallucci e Vino, reached out to organize an interfaith comedy fundraiser, our team at Feed the Frontlines immediately said yes. Malach and Ain-Krupa had heard of Feed the Frontlines NYC through the involvement of Tarallucci e Vino, our founding restaurant, in our work delivering meals to healthcare professionals on the front lines since March. Malach, also known as Erik Angel, founded the Comedy for Peace project in March 2019 bringing interfaith comedians together to prove that, as he says, they “can work together, laugh at themselves and each other, and be friends.” 

The virtual benefit held on July 23 featured six comedians and raised over $5,900 to provide 328 meals through Feed the Frontlines. Doctors and nurses from Mount Sinai West, an early recipient of our deliveries, were invited to attend for free as a thank you for their tireless work. Meals will be prepared by Tarallucci e Vino and delivered to essential workers at Mount Sinai West and residents at the Jericho Project, which serves over 2,500 individuals and operates 8 supportive residence developments in New York City. Prior to the fundraiser, Feed the Frontlines had already delivered over 700 meals to veterans, young adults and essential staff at the Jericho Project’s Walton House in the Bronx. 

Comedians Ashley Morris, Tehran Von Ghasri, Zarna Garg, Michelle Slonim, Gibran Saleem, and Steve Marshall kept us laughing for nearly two hours, reminding us of comedy’s ability to connect us despite unprecedented circumstances. We also raffled off a lunch and dinner at Miriam and 1803, thanks to a generous donation by chef-owner Rafael Hasid.

For more information on creating a targeted fundraiser for a restaurant or recipient, please email info@feedthefrontlinesnyc.org.