AMBER J LAWSON
 

Co-founders Zoe Friedman, Amber J Lawson, and Jodi Lieberman have been working in comedy for decades. Each founder has produced, booked, and discovered comedians and has meaningful relationships in the comedy community.

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Three comedy chicks walked into the Hollywood Improv and asked, “Can we change the world through comedy?”

Turns out, the answer was yes.

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As veterans of the comedy industry, we saw a glaring gap. Musicians had MusiCares. Actors had the Entertainment Community Fund. But stand-up comedians? They had no safety net. No organization looking out for their mental health, their sobriety, or their ability to survive a financial crisis — even though they’re the ones helping the world laugh through its darkest moments.

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In 2010, we founded Comedy Gives Back — the only nonprofit dedicated solely to the financial, emotional, and recovery needs of the stand-up comedy community.

We built Comedy Gives Back around three core pillars:

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• Financial Crisis Relief – grants to help comedians stay afloat during hard times
   

• Mental Health Support – access to therapy, counseling, and tools for emotional wellness
   

• Chemical Dependency & Recovery – treatment resources for those struggling with substance abuse
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We didn’t start as a nonprofit. Our original vision was a bold blend of comedy, charity, and tech — a for-profit B corp using livestreaming to raise money for causes. In 2013, we produced a 24-hour global digital telethon with live stand-up shows from Australia, London, NYC, and LA. It had never been done before.

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But over time, our mission became crystal clear: comedians needed more than just a spotlight. They needed real support. So in 2018, we pivoted into a full-fledged nonprofit — and by 2021, we became the go-to institution for helping comedians in crisis.

We’re proud to be the safety net of the comedy community.