Benefits of Laughter 2021
Thursday, October 21, 2021
Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead
3300 Peachtree Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30305
6:15 p.m. - Reception
7:15 p.m. - Dinner and Program
Our signature fundraising event held each fall, Benefits of Laughter celebrates stories of recovery from mental illness and affirms the importance of effective mental treatment for the health of our workforce, schools, and community. A unique feature of the evening is a comedy performance, proving that sometimes laughter really is the best medicine.
Entertainment
Fortune Feimster
You can catch stand-up comedian, writer, and actor, Fortune Feimster, on the radio, on screens big and small, and touring her stand-up across the nation. Fortune Feimster’s first one-hour special, SWEET & SALTY, is currently streaming on Netflix and was nominated for Best Comedy Special for the Critics’ Choice Awards. Prior to her one-hour special, Netflix released Feimster’s half-hour special in 2018 as part of THE STANDUPS, which received rave reviews. She has done late-night TV sets on CONAN and LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS and has another acclaimed half-hour special on Comedy Central.
We continue to closely monitor COVID-19, breakthrough cases, the Delta variant in particular, and will continue to rely on CDC recommendations and local guidelines as it pertains to Benefits of Laughter. Your health and safety is our priority. Because Skyland Trail now requires all clients and staff to be vaccinated, we respectfully request that attendees of our indoor events be vaccinated as well to be consistent in our commitment to the health of the Skyland Trail community. We plan to offer a livestream option for those who do not wish to attend in person, and we have a contingency plan should we need to adjust to a fully virtual event.
Annually the event raises more than $1 million through corporate and individual contributions. Proceeds support financial aid awards that improve access to treatment and important therapeutic programs for adults and teens.
CONTACT: Pam McAdams at 678.686.5905 or pmcadams@skylandtrail.org
2021 Volunteer Leadership
EVENT CHAIRS
Carrie Lanier
Christine Ragland
CORPORATE COMMITTEE
Jim Hannan, Chair
Chowning Aguilera
Kerri Daniels
Jim Kerr
Billy Levine
David Love
Bill Ragland
Ty Smith
Dan Staley
Will Stengel
Angela Woods
PATRON COMMITTEE
Cindy & John Ferguson, Co-Chairs
Andrea & Ned Montag, Co-Chairs
Kit & David Bowlin
Ginny & Charles Brewer
Lisa & William Bridges
Christie & Doug Derrick
Rand & Seth Hagen
Danica Kombol & David Lewis
Mary Gill & Dennis Kruszewski
Kim & David Marks
Beth & David Park
Sharmila & Sreeni Prabhu
Becky & Mark Riley
Carrie & Jim Shelden
Mary Bridget & Greg Thurman
Ally & Todd Wandtke
2021 Event Sponsorship
Mental illness affects individuals, families, businesses and communities. Event sponsorship helps individuals with mental illness access and fully engage in a nationally recognized treatment program.
2021 Sponsors
Diamond Sponsor
Platinum Sponsors
Liz and Frank Blake
The J.B. Fuqua Foundation
Beth and Don Inman
Edwina and Tom Johnson
Betsy and Mark West
Marjorie and Robert Wynne
Gold Sponsors
Betsy and Scott Akers, Jr.
Julie and Jim Balloun
Jennifer and Tom Bell
Lora and Barry Boniface
Kit and David Bowlin
ELK Foundation
Duvall and Rex Fuqua
Lorre and George Gaudiosi
Anne and Berny Gray
Kristin and Jim Howard
Tish and John Inman
Jane and Clay Jackson
Frances and Jim Kerr
Carla Knobloch
Amy and Nevin Kreisler
Carrie and Whit Lanier
Kelly Loeffler and Jeff Sprecher
Karen and Richard Parker
Christine and Bill Ragland
Patty and Doug Reid
Romanoff Renovations
Sartain Lanier Family Foundation
Beth and Jerry Shaifer
Mary Louise and Blanton Winship
Silver Sponsors
BlackRock
Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina
Ginny and Charles Brewer
Nancy and Doug Bryant and Sherlock's Wine Merchant
CBRE
Colliers International
Christie and Doug Derrick
Sylvia and Bruce Dick
Nan and Ed Easterlin
Fulcrum Equity Partners
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Rand and Seth Hagen
Susan and Jim Hannan
Douglas J. Hertz Family Foundation
Houlihan Lokey
Beth and Tommy Holder
Jackson Spalding
Mary and Neil Johnson
Jennifer and David Kahn
Robert C. Loudermilk, Jr. and Family
Snodgrass Foundation
Donna and Stan Sands
Maria and Tim Tassopoulous
Mary Bridget and Greg Thurman
WGM Real Estate
Beth and Julian Williamson
Angela and Billy Woods
Benefits of Laughter 2020
A Seriously Funny Night
For more than 20 years, Benefits of Laughter has been delighting the Atlanta community with good laughter for a great cause. Held each fall as our primary fundraiser, the event is a beautiful and exciting evening that applauds the passion and dedication of all those involved with Skyland Trail. Every year, a different comedic guest entertains more than 600 of Atlanta’s business and corporate, community and philanthropic leaders.
More than $14 million have been raised from Benefits of Laughter to support life-changing therapeutic programs and fund financial aid awards to bring the costs of treatment within reach for more clients and families.
ATLANTA – On Thursday, October 22, 2020, Skyland Trail hosted the first virtual Benefits of Laughter, which raised more than $1 million for mental health treatment services at Skyland Trail. The $1 million will support essential therapeutic programs, family support services, and financial aid to help clients access and complete mental…
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ATLANTA – On Thursday, October 17, 2019, more than 500 guests attended Benefits of Laughter at the St Regis Atlanta, raising more than $1.1 million for mental health treatment services at Skyland Trail. The $1.1 million—the most raised in the history of the signature Skyland Trail fundraising event—will support essential therapeutic…
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