2020 Booster Club Auction Party Gala to Feature Stand-Up Comedians
By JENNIKA INGRAM | Reporter
The Palisades Charter High School Booster Club is gearing up for its annual fundraising gala—and this year, the event has taken on a funny twist by adding stand-up comedians.
“Stand Up for Pali,” originally scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 14, has been tentatively rescheduled for Sunday, May 31, “due to evolving developments and concerns regarding COVID-19, as well as recommendations from the state, local and LAUSD officials to cancel or defer non-essential gatherings of more than 250 people and events where recommended social distancing is not feasible.”
The auction committee shared that they are looking forward to having community members join at the party and will honor previously purchased tickets for the reschedule event. Those who are unable to attend will be provided a donation acknowledgement for their tax deductible support of the Booster Club.
The delayed fundraiser will feature “The Hot Tamales,” an award-winning female comedy show founded by Marquez Knolls resident Kiki Melendez and Eva Longoria in 2002.
“We have surpassed last year’s ticket sales, so the comedy is working,” Melendez shared with the Palisadian-Post. “We’ve almost doubled our tickets. The Palisades does love comedy.”
Melendez added that the club wanted to do something different to see if they could get more families involved—and it worked.
Gala Chair Melendez is the mother of twin girls who attend Pali High. She told the Post she always tries to help whatever school they’re attending.
“I really feel that our kids are enriched when the parents are involved in their community and their school,” Melendez added. “I know my girls feel proud when I get involved.”
The flyer boasts “an exciting Vegas-style samba show,” dinner, complimentary wine, beer and signature cocktails, dancing, stand-up comedy, silent and live auctions, on-site salsa lessons, and fun all night.
Female performers include “America’s Got Talent” finalist Vicki Barbolak, Bravo’s “Below Deck” Nadine Rajabi, “Silicon Valley’s” Helen Hong, NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” Shawn Pelofsky, and BET and Comedy Central’s Retha Jones.
There’s one male comic in the mix, Mark Viera, who has an upcoming comedy show streaming on HBO.
“We are grateful to the cast of ‘The Hot Tamales Live’ for donating their time to support Pali High students,” Booster Club President Dick Held shared in a statement. “The entire booster club is working hard to get the community involved and spread the word so that everyone can come out and enjoy a great night of comedy.”
Funds generated will “sustain and advance vital student services” such as their “nationally recognized college center, classroom technology, athletics, student clubs, journalism and visual and performing arts programs,” according to the event’s website.
“We want everyone to have what they need to have when they go to school,” Melendez shared. “We don’t want anyone to feel in need and we want every student to have all of their materials. That’s why we do this.”
The program will take place at the Santa Monica Bay Woman’s Club, located at 1210 4th Street in Santa Monica. Donations for the auction are welcome up until the doors open and tickets will be available at the door.
For more information or tickets, go to go.palihigh.org/auction.
Editor’s note: This story has been changed to reflect the new date for the Annual Gala and Auction due to a postponement.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.
