ORANGE, NJ — Nadine Wright-Arbubakrr and the Nassan’s Place autism nonprofit organization she founded will host the Comedy for a Cause fundraiser, featuring comedian Talent and Friends, at the Elks Lodge on Main Street in Orange on Thursday, March 31, at 6:30 p.m.
“Autism awareness is every day,” said Wright-Arbubakrr on Tuesday, March 29. “However, just in time for Autism Awareness Month, we are happy to kick off this awesome time of the year by hosting our second annual Comedy for a Cause with Talent and Friends.”
Wright-Arbubakrr said all proceeds from the comedy show will be used to fund and further her foundation’s goal of raising awareness about autism in urban communities and providing social and educational programming and support for children and families in traditionally underserved areas.
According to Wright-Arbubakrr, she formed Nassan’s Place so families in urban areas could pull together for their autistic members, as happens in suburban communities. She said the Orange Elks and Susan Rinehart are a perfect example of this.
Rhinehart said any support from the lodge comes naturally, since the Elks are concerned with helping children with special needs and developmental challenges, as Nassan’s Place does.
“We’re very grateful that we’re able to host Nassan’s Place with their fundraiser to help children with autism,” said Rhinehart, who chairs the Orange Elks People With Challenges charity, at the last year’s Comedy for a Cause event in March 2015. “And we’re grateful that we’re able to give the place to them and assist them in a great cause.
“I was delighted when I met Nadine at an event that we had here with different people from the department of disabilities to help the local people get services that they are entitled to and it just grew from there. And obviously, since our services (benefit) challenged children, it was a perfect fit.”
Both Wright-Arbubakrr and Rinehart said they would be counting on that perfect fit again this year’s Comedy for a Cause fundraiser. For tickets toto the show, visit www.nassansplace.org or call Elks Lodge 135 at 973-424-7781.