Fundraising comedy show benefits Heart Association

Canyon Lake resident Ilyssa DeCasperis has been nominated as one of six “Women of Impact” by the American Heart Association of Southern California and is promoting the association’s issues as well as raising funds for it. Her first course of fundraising is a Comedy Show at PZA Restaurant on April 2 in the Canyon Lake Town Center.

“I am speaking with women‘s groups on the differences in signs and symptoms of cardiac issues between men and women as well as fundraising for the AHA,” Ilyssa said. “Cardiac disease is the number one killer of women today.”

Tickets for the show are $20 each and can be purchased at iheartcomedy.eventbrite.com.

Tony Calabrese

The headliner at the show will be Tony Calabrese, known for his exuberant body language and facial expressions combined with his over-the-top takes on life’s events. A native San Diegan, Tony has been performing comedy since 1995, specializing in corporate events and as a master of ceremonies and auctioneer for charity benefits.

At 59, Tony has been married for 38 years and has two grown sons and three grandchildren. He talks about life, world events, marriage, kids, grandkids, the corporate world, and the trials and tribulations of not staying in top physical condition.

Tony performs regularly at The Comedy Store, The Comedy Palace, The Madhouse Comedy Club and other San Diego and L.A. clubs and venues. Tony also teaches standup comedy at the Point Loma Actors Studio and the National Comedy Theater.

In March of 2013, Tony won the “Ultimate Laff-Down” at Flappers Comedy Club, chosen from a field of 160 comedians and in 2014 was a finalist in the World Series of Comedy. He recently released his very popular Dry Bar Comedy Special.

The show is limited to those 18-years-old and older.

Ilyssa DeCasperis

Proceeds from the show will go directly to the American Heart Association and although Ilyssa was recently accepted into the Scripp‘s Heart Transplant Department, none of the funds earned pay for any of her medical care.

“I’m not in imminent danger,” Ilyssa said. “But, it‘s better to be in the program now rather than on an emergency basis in the future.”

Ilyssa said she joined the campaign to raise funds and awareness regarding cardiovascular disease and women’s heart health.

“My goal, with the help of my friends, family, professional colleagues and anyone else I can find, is to raise over $25,000 by April 7th for this important matter,” she said. “I’m confident that with all of you, creating ‘Teams’ from various groups, holding events and getting corporate sponsors, I will meet and exceed this goal. You know me…I have done national presentations with the title ‘Did You Just Say NO to Me?’ ”