Jo Koy, Dan Lin Close Inaugural Rise for Comedy Festival With $75,000 Donation to Filipino Nonprofit
variety.comJazz Tangcay Artisans EditorComedian Jo Koy and film producer Dan Lin wrapped the inaugural Rise for Comedy festival on Thursday with a $75,000 donation to the nonprofit Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA).Koy hosted the event, in support of his upcoming film “Easter Sunday,” spread over two nights at Historic Filipinotown’s Rideback Ranch.The shenanigans kicked off with a panel on representation moderated by Kathy K.
Im, director of journalism and media at the MacArthur Foundation. Among the panelists were Los Angeles Times TV critic Lorraine Ali, CNN reporter Lisa Ling, Panda Express Chief Brand Officer Andrea Cherng and UTA’s Jacqueline Kim.Discussing representation in broadcast journalism, Ling told the 200-person crowd that she would not have pursued a career in journalism had it not been for news anchor Connie Chung. “When I was growing up, Connie was the only Asian person on a national stage delivering the news.
She allowed me to know what was possible.” Following the panel, Koy returned to the stage with Lin to present a $25,000 check to SIPA board officers Edward Malicdem, Jennifer Taylor, Rachel Buenviaje and Rita Garcia.
During the presentation, Koy matched the donation then turned to Lin and encouraged the CEO of production company Rideback to donate an additional $25,000, raising the total to $75,000.
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