Punchline- Stand-Up Comedy Show

The Foundation of Goodness’ annual Essential School Supplies Programme often elicits loyal fundraising efforts, year after year, by some of our supporters because it is an effort to help talented young  students with financial difficulties to stay  in school and excel at their studies, cementing a firm foundation upon which they can build future success.

In 2015, Sanjay Pathmanathan who was working with FoG during his fellowship at The Asia Foundation organised a jazz concert, ‘Hopesong’, which became his first fundraising effort in aid of the ESSP programme.

Following its success, Sanjay returned in 2016 to organise yet another fundraiser for FoG to benefit the ESSP programme, this time a stand-up comedy show titled ‘Punchline’.

Punchline took place at the Ananda College Kularathna Auditorium on the 25th of November, featuring amateur comedians from Colombo. The performers Garwin Murray, Sabreen Reffai, Sacha Seneviratne, Kaishika Rodrigo, Jeromy Jayathilake and Shuhaib Ali together with MCs Danu Innasithamby, Shanuki De Alwis and Larry T Hill had the audience in stitches all night, showcasing the rich talent base of up and coming comedians in Sri Lanka.

Partnering with Sanjay to ensure the success of the event were the Rotaract Clubs of Colombo, Colombo Regent, Excellence College of Management and Colombo North as well as the sponsors Lite FM, Yamu, Asia Leisure and Herman Miller.

The event raised Rs. 75,500/- in aid of the ESSP programme which will help us to deliver school packs containing all educational necessities for a whole year including a school bag, books, stationery, lunch box, reusable water bottle, uniform material and  school shoes to young students in rural Sri Lanka.

We at FoG would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Sanjay for this contribution, as well as all the performers, sponsors, the Rotarians and the audience who came out to support us and make this event a success!

24th January 2017