On Friday, September 26, the Summit Area YMCA hosted its annual Laugh Out Loud (LOL) Charity Auction & Comedy Night at The Albion in Summit. Nearly 200 guests gathered for an evening of laughter, philanthropy, and community spirit, raising an outstanding $366,000 in support of the Y’s Financial Assistance Program and its many community initiatives.
The evening began with a warm welcome from Michael Colon, Vice Chair of the Summit Area YMCA Board of Trustees, who reintroduced Anjali McCormick to the community as the organization’s new President & CEO, ushering in the Y’s next chapter of growth and impact. Returning for his fifth year, crowd favorite Pat Tully once again energized the audience as auctioneer and emcee, leading the live auction and paddle raises that generated record-breaking contributions. Guests also enjoyed a headline performance by world-renowned comedian Pat McGann, whose quick wit and humor filled the venue with nonstop laughter.
“Every bid and every donation represents a life changed,” McCormick added. “Because of this community’s generosity, more children will learn to swim safely, more families will find care they can afford, and more individuals will discover hope and connection through the Y.”
As a leading community cause-driven organization, the Summit Area YMCA is committed to nurturing the potential of youth, promoting healthy living, and inspiring social responsibility. Funds raised through the Laugh Out Loud event directly support vital programs such as childcare and camp scholarships for working families, college and career preparation for teens, and health and wellness initiatives that ensure all community members can access the Y, regardless of financial circumstance. These funds also sustain free community programs like LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA for cancer survivors, Fridays in Motion for youth with special needs, and local food distribution programs that help fight food insecurity.
The Summit Area YMCA expressed deep gratitude to its corporate sponsors, LOL Event Committee, Y staff, and volunteers for their dedication and generosity in making the event a success.
LOL would not be possible without the tireless support of our dedicated volunteers. Please join us in celebrating our LOL Committee:
Anne Pierce (co-chair), Stacie Powers (co-chair), Tina Baione, Maria Brugg, Bernadette Burge, Kaitlin Casey, Caroline Chick, Jennifer Counihan, Elizabeth Cox, Alicia D’Angelo, Renée Frank, Lisa Grennon, Layne Logigian, Elizabeth Loonam, Robert Radest, Kristen Segal, Tracey Sieg, Katie Wenger, and Allison Zeimann.
