Have you ever contemplated the transformative power of a good laugh? Today, we have the pleasure of welcoming Jerry Caruso, a renowned stand-up comedian who has been bringing laughter into the lives of those going through difficult times since 1993. Jerry's story began with a dare from co-workers and has since evolved into a life mission fueled by the belief that humor is the best form of therapy. He shares with us his journey into comedy, a favorite joke from a cancer patient, and the inspiration behind his organization, Comics for a Cure.
As we chat, Jerry imparts how he uses his comedic talents as a source of comfort to those facing heartbreaking realities, such as cancer and other circumstances. He paints a vivid picture of how a well-timed joke or a simple hand gesture can create a ripple of laughter, momentarily pushing away the worries that cloud the mind. Through his anecdotes, you'll gain insight into the profound impact of his work. Often, the gratitude of his audience isn’t merely for the laughter he provides, but for the warmth and support that accompany it.
Wrapping up, we delve into the remarkable difference that small acts of kindness can make, a concept Jerry beautifully embodies through his comedy. He shares his experiences of spreading joy in local hospitals, support groups, nursing homes, and senior centers. You’ll gain insight into the nonprofits Jerry supports like American Kids Society, Hope Lodge, and Veterans Incorporated. Join us and be inspired by this heartwarming conversation about the extraordinary power of laughter and kindness.
Have you ever contemplated the transformative power of a good laugh? Today, we have the pleasure of welcoming Jerry Caruso, a renowned stand-up comedian who has been bringing laughter into the lives of those going through difficult times since 1993. Jerry's story began with a dare from co-workers and has since evolved into a life mission fueled by the belief that humor is the best form of therapy. He shares with us his journey into comedy, a favorite joke from a cancer patient, and the inspiration behind his organization, Comics for a Cure.
As we chat, Jerry imparts how he uses his comedic talents as a source of comfort to those facing heartbreaking realities, such as cancer and other circumstances. He paints a vivid picture of how a well-timed joke or a simple hand gesture can create a ripple of laughter, momentarily pushing away the worries that cloud the mind. Through his anecdotes, you'll gain insight into the profound impact of his work. Often, the gratitude of his audience isn’t merely for the laughter he provides, but for the warmth and support that accompany it.
Wrapping up, we delve into the remarkable difference that small acts of kindness can make, a concept Jerry beautifully embodies through his comedy. He shares his experiences of spreading joy in local hospitals, support groups, nursing homes, and senior centers. You’ll gain insight into the nonprofits Jerry supports like American Kids Society, Hope Lodge, and Veterans Incorporated. Join us and be inspired by this heartwarming conversation about the extraordinary power of laughter and kindness.
Hello everyone and welcome to another episode of the Little Gift. Meet our guest. Go ahead, tell us who you are, where you're from and what you're all about.
Speaker 2:
My name is Jerry Caruso. I'm a stand-up comedian since 1993. Then I run an organization called Comics for a Cure and then I went into teaching comedy workshops and then I went into acting for Myrta Mystery USA and then a lot of radio and now I'm also doing motivational speaking on laughter as a best medicine. It's a lot to swallow, but that's me.
Speaker 1:
That's awesome that you're doing all of that. Tell us how you got started.
Speaker 2:
I got started back in 1993 on a dare. I wound up doing a show for a co-worker and they said Jerry, we need entertainment for this girl who's retiring. I go, who is she? They said, just tell jokes, we need some entertainment. I go, okay. And I went and did it and it was a success. And a director of IT, which I belong to the IT group, said if you go to Nick's Comedy Stop in Boston, we'll follow you there. And lo and behold, I set up the date. September 13th 1993 was my first show and looking out the window, like at Nick's Comedy Stop, they said you're going to bring guests. I go, they're coming. Where are they? I go and I see a school bus pulling. I said, right there, the Partridge family those are my peeps, and it was 13 of them struggled to get out of the bus because I think they had alcoholic beverages, except for the bus driver, and did my show. And from there I didn't stop and it's been a great ride.
Speaker 1:
So what's your favorite part of being a comedian?
Speaker 2:
Just making people laugh nonstop, seeing them smile, seeing them react to jokes which I do nothing really questionable, I just talk about me and my life and and I get into different topics and just to see them smile. And one of my favorite moments was when I did a show for a guy battling ALS and he was really in the beginning stages. He was in a wheelchair and just to see him laughing and smiling made me feel so good. The family was so excited I was able to do that. So getting that effect out of people but it's nonstop laughter.
Speaker 2:
That's great. But you know you can't ask for miracles. You know you just do what you can.
Speaker 1:
So yeah, exactly so. So you started doing comedy shows and telling jokes and making people laugh. So how did it develop into comics for a cure?
Speaker 2:
Well, one year is back in 1994. In October I did a show for AIDS research. It was called a group, was called Common Sensitivity, Barry Hansen, and we did the show and it went very well. And so this guy met after show, Tony Marcus he's. Tony said to me Jerry, I gotta come over to the house, we have to talk, Okay. So he came over to the house and make coffee and I said, hey, he goes, we're gonna start a group just to does benefits and fundraisers. I go, really, yeah, comics, but something I go comics for a cure. He goes oh my God, that's brilliant.
Speaker 2:
And from that point on we advertised on it through different social media and people picked us up and we started doing shows left and right, sometimes once, twice, three or four times a month. It was just insane. Then it developed into doing shows for support groups like the Kansas Society, MS Brain Injury Association and we just it just blew up in a really good way and it was like it was like a gift from God and go Wow, this is wonderful. Not not that I didn't want to work with comedy groups, but I worked for my like favorite kind of audience, like a nonprofit audience either, not going to heck with you. They don't want to ruin a show and be. They're very attentive and see they're supporting a cause or a person, so you make them laugh. It's, you did your thing so awesome. So what's?
Speaker 1:
your favorite joke.
Speaker 2:
My favorite joke was actually I have my own, but my favorite two of them. The first one is a true joke because in the 29 years plus I've been doing comedy, my mother, my Italian mother, has never seen me do comedy. So I always say it's been 29 years. I go to my mother, come see my comedy show. She goes no, I'm not coming to see your stupid comedy show. I go. Why, mom? She says because of my laugh for you. But it's true, and everybody goes. That's a great joke. I can know, it's the truth. She said that. And the other one was given to me by a cancer patient.
Speaker 2:
Guys driving a cab. He picks up a beautiful nun. He keeps looking in the backseat. The nun goes why do you keep pairing at me? Is there a problem? He goes no, sister, just had a fantasy to kiss a beautiful nun. And you're a beautiful nun, I'm so sorry. She goes removing hands from your face. This could happen if you meet two of the qualifications you must be single and you must be Catholic. He goes oh, my God, I'm both. He stopped the cab, hopped in the backseat, he got the most long, essential five minute kiss. He was in heaven. He couldn't believe it. Finally he's driving her to a destination. She starts crying his eyes out. The nun goes to ride to the tech tears. He goes yes, sister, I'm sorry, I lied to you. I'm not single in Catholic, I'm married and I'm Jewish. She goes that's okay, my name is Kevin. I'm going to a costume party, so oh, wow.
Speaker 2:
And when everybody hears that thing they kind of half laugh like hey, that's from a cancer patient. And it really was true. When I started doing shows at the Hope Lodge in Boston, cancer patient goes. Can I come and tell you a joke? I go, yeah, he goes, you use it in my honor? I said, of course I do. You know, and I always do. It's in the beginning of my set I say I'm gonna do this in honor of Oscar, who's a cancer patient. He told me this joke. It's fun, like I usually don't share jokes, but I'll do that because I think it's a great tribute to someone who's battling despicable disease and he's doing it well, so it's really cool.
Speaker 1:
Absolutely okay. So you just end up, you know, doing all of these comedy shows. So where has been your favorite place to do these shows?
Speaker 2:
You know it's one of my favorite places, this Hope Lodge in Boston, which I do monthly with my friend Paul Durant, and sometimes other guest comedians, but Paul's in most of the time. But it's so good because they come in and they have a dinner sponsored by major companies, biotech companies, and then after that's done they're sitting there, they're waiting and you know I make sure I time it at seven o'clock by the time that they're done. That's one of my favorite audiences. But then I had one up in Maine, in the middle of oh boy, just above Portland, maine. It was a place called I can't think of it at the end, but it was for the Robbie Foundation.
Speaker 2:
That does a lot of good things for families with children, with debilitating diseases and stuff, and they do wonderful things and I had a show there Nice Stage, red Curtains. It was like Hollywood, it was just amazing and the crowd was always electric there. So it was a lot of fun. I did that three years in a row and that was one of my favorite. There are tons of others, like tonight I'm going to a show with after I get done here, doing it with one of the Sopranos If anybody watches Sopranos Georgie de Barton, but his real name is Frank Cinelli and me and Frank are doing a show with John Prada and a whole bunch of other comics. It should be a lot of fun. I look forward to that.
Speaker 3:
Hi, my name is Justin Clark and I'm the president of the board of directors for Driving Single Parents, a 501C3 nonprofit serving the citizens of San Antonio and Bear County, texas. I'm here today to tell you a little bit about the great work that our organization is doing for the citizens of San Antonio. What you're about to see is just a few photos and videos of the way that we're changing lives for single parents in and around San Antonio, texas. Our first giveaway took place in April of 2017, just one short month after the formation of our organization. John, a Bear County resident, was the victim of a horrible drunk driver incident. He and his daughter survived the crash and we were so proud to give our first car to this deserving family. Fast forward to 2020, a very difficult year for nonprofits, we were able to secure four vehicles for single parents in need. Our organization, including our board of directors, list of partners and portfolio of people we've been able to help in San Antonio, continues to grow, and it's all thanks to donors and local community organizations that have helped us along the way. This giveaway took place in 2021 and shows that we continue to help single parents even after the struggles brought about by COVID-19. Because of limited funds and the overwhelming need.
Speaker 3:
We at Driving Single Parents are incredibly selective with the people we help. Some are victims of domestic violence. Others had a spouse pass away tragically or otherwise fell on hard times. These single parents show adversity in the face of challenge and aren't looking for a handout. We offer a hand up and help get them back in the driver seat. Many of the single parents we help go on to graduate college, get promotions, get married, mentor others and some have even been so touched by the gift we gave them that they have decided to join our board of directors to pay it forward and ensure the continued growth of our organization. If you would like to help our organization continue to grow and continue to help single parents in need in San Antonio, texas, and Bear County, texas, we would really appreciate your support. Please visit us online at wwwdrivingsingleparentsorg. Thank you. Now it's time for.
Speaker 1:
Little Gift Kindness Clips. Hello everyone, I wanted to chat with you about our kindness clip segment, so I need a little help from my audience. So what I'm looking for are short little videos of you talking about a time that someone was kind to you, or maybe there's a time that you were kind to someone else. Share those stories with us. You can email that to me at Cindy at littlegiftcom. You can also hashtag Little Gift online or you can just find me on any social media platform and tag me under Cindy Whitman. My name is spelled C-I-N-D-Y-W-I-T-T-E-M-A-N. Thank you all so much for participating and spreading that kindness and I can't wait to feature your clip on a future episode Of all of the. You know, of course. You know talking to cancer patients and you know being a comedian can be a little bit I'm sorry, but maybe a little sad. So how is it that you get that room from a sad situation where these people are really struggling to make them feel like Everything's okay and they can kind of forget about their their situation at the moment?
Speaker 2:
Well, what I normally do when I talk to people get some Italian, I use my hands. If I don't use my hands on my mute I can't talk. So when I go to like the Hope Lodge is a perfect example I start to show off. Even if Paul's with me, I'll warm up the audience. I said I just want to let you people know. I want you people to have fun and laugh and Please know that me and Paul and everybody I know are praying for you because you guys and girls are the real heroes out there, besides veterans and police and fire.
Speaker 2:
Because you're doing so much battle, a debilitating disease in some sorts, and you hear with a smile in your face, so hopefully you forget about what you're going through.
Speaker 2:
And then I open up and try to hit them hard right away and make them laugh and and they love it and they're with me. And then afterwards, when I'm done, I look at the crowd and I say, if you guys or girls want to talk after the show, me and Paula hang around, they come right straight to me and and they talk about either what they're going through or geez, that was really funny or I got a joke for you and I tell them I don't need any jokes, no, I don't mind, I just I love it. But they, so, they, they calm down right away. And and this is what somebody told me once, one woman Was smiling on that a lot and not laughing back in 2019 and she says me, jerry, I want to let you know, we all appreciate what you do, because I had to do that show alone because Paul could make it.
Speaker 2:
She says but know that we're laughing inside, but sometimes it's hard to laugh on the outside because of what we went through for today. But please don't think this, this doesn't affect us, because it does. So.
Speaker 1:
It's really a cool feeling and I'll never forget those words, you know oh, absolutely, and you get these people that really appreciate you and they, you know, can see that you're there, you know, being sincere and trying to help them, you know kind of give a little bit of laughter and fun, you know in the midst of all their you know terrible trials and things that they're going through. So, as far as everyday life, what makes Jerry like? What makes you?
Speaker 2:
It's always the family for us, because I love my family, I love my wife, I love my two kids, love my five grandkids and I love working. Because within all those aspects of my life I make people laugh, or I try to make people laugh. Not all the time. Everybody goes to my wife must be non-stop. Which are you non-stop jokes? Now, it's not.
Speaker 2:
I could be serious too, but that helps to make me, because sometimes I bring funny stories that are not derogatory To the audience. So like it, like if I go through things during a day, I just bring that out to audiences and and it's relatable. And people look me like oh my god, you have a family too. Oh my god, you have grandkids too. You do that, you know. So they all look at those things and it's it makes it relatable. So I could bring my life into Humor like a famous comedian, larry Lewis, we just lost, he just passed. He was a good friend of mine.
Speaker 2:
He gives you know, I like about your acting, goes, you take everybody. Like if I do anywhere between 45 minutes and an hour or an hour and 15 as a headliner, he goes. You take him on the Jerry Caruso ride. I go. What are you talking about. You take him on that Jerry Cruiser bus ride. You go through your, your life about what you're going through, and then you hit him hard in the end. When you do voices or you do song parodies and then you get everybody Participating in the end to one song and you leave them laughing. He goes. That's an amazing talent because everybody does. Oh, you know, I broke up with my girlfriend or GM divorce, or I'm living with my parents it's the same old thing. Whereas he goes, you're selling tickets for that ride and I'll never forget him saying that I worked with him a lot and he said oh, it's so good to work with you. He goes because I know that you're gonna hit home and I, I take that with me everywhere.
Speaker 3:
I go I go out God.
Speaker 2:
That's so nice to be said that and I own 20 bucks but.
Speaker 1:
That's incredible. So Is this something you thought you were gonna do when you're a kid? Is this like okay, when I grow up, I'm gonna be a comedian?
Speaker 2:
Well, when I was a kid I saw always watch Different comedy shows. Or I'd watch like Johnny Carson late-night show, or I'd watch you, you know any show on TV that made me laugh. And, believe it or not, it's hard to make me laugh. I like to laugh, but I'd like to make people laugh more than than that. So if I watch shows, so I used to take it in the seventh and eighth grade believe it or not, you're talking 68, 69 and I went to tell jokes in the school.
Speaker 2:
Yet at a Catholic school the nuns never got mad at me because they said, hey, he's keeping the kids out of trouble. So I'd make him laugh and do voices. And then I continued that in high school, junior and senior year. So I always had it in the back of my mind and my dad guard rests a soul. He's always said you gotta be a comedian, you gotta be a comedian one day. You're gonna be a comedian, do all these voices. You're gonna impersonate people and ironically I do very little of voices like I used to.
Speaker 2:
But I always thought about it and I tried it again in 1980 and did good, but nobody came to my show. So I'm like nobody's coming, I'm gonna stop. It did four shows then finally in 1993 I got it all together. But yeah, it's been always on my mind to do comedy and I tried to do it all throughout my life. Whatever I was doing, whether I was at work or whether I was President of my running club, I always did meetings and did jokes and stuff or spoke at different occasions and make sure I left them laughing, you know.
Speaker 1:
Yeah typical comedian, you know yeah, our audience, an example of one of your favorite voices that you do.
Speaker 2:
What One of my favorite voices and everybody always knows this voice One of my favorite voices is ex president Bill Clinton. It's just so universal and everybody knows him and so I always do like I'm trying to think Bill Clinton. I said picture Bill Clinton and the Wizard of Oz. And he, the wizard, goes. What would you like Bill Clinton? He goes frankly, I'd like Dorothy. So I just do that.
Speaker 2:
If people relate to it, they all know it, they know the Godfather, you know. Like if I do an Italian show, I say I'm going to give you an offer you can't refuse, you know. And people like oh my God, oh my God, that is him. And so so I do selected voices now. But if I have a long set to do like they want me to do an hour, Like I did an hour at a church two weeks ago, and people saying you're not going to pull off clean comedy, I go yes, I can. It's just people don't want to, or that they think they have to throw four letter words into it. Like you don't have to. And I did an hour and five, hour and 10, completely clean, through all kinds of voices, and because I had a lot of time and it didn't bother me, because my second go like is at 45 to an hour, to an hour and 15. And just you know, God gave me that ability to just be able to capture an audience or capture people when I talk to them. It's no special ability but somehow I haven't. People want to listen.
Speaker 2:
You know, not making money. I mean, I make money, Please don't get me wrong, but I'm not knocking down the world. People say, just quit your job, do comedy full time ago. Oh, it's such a big business, it's so hard to do. But I get busy, I get a lot of work and I get paid for a lot of stuff. But when I do charities I always tell them I'm not going to charge you what I normally charge because I want you to raise money for your cause or if it's for a family or someone needing surgery. I feel guilty if I walk away making what I usually make and say like, yeah, yeah, good luck, have a great time. And I don't do that. I just figure why can't I give my time somehow, even if it's not what I should be making? But I know I'm going to make an impact somehow.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, like you said, with comics for a cure or how you're like helping people, tell us why it is that you think that laughter is the best medicine.
Speaker 2:
Because I've seen it work. Like I know the health benefits, how it helps the brain, the heart, the bloodstream, your lungs as primary components. But what it is is that it really does work because, like, if you think about it, if someone's in a bad mood or someone just going through something traumatic, or you know a cancer patient or someone just brain injury like one time in 2018, I did a show at a rehabilitation center a spaulding rehab up here in Boston, and it was really cool, like I did it for brain-injured patients and there was a ton of them.
Speaker 2:
There was like the room was filled and it's like I, just I, somehow there was a woman that connected me afterwards and she says I have to tell you, you did very well, you were very funny, but she almost put me in tears. She goes. My son had a traumatic brain injury seven months ago. This is the first time I've seen him smile and laugh and I'm like, oh my God. You know just, and I've been friends with this kid, john Burdette, ever since. I always talked to him online, see how he's doing. And you know, it's really cool because I did a lot of work with brain-injured patients and they're a very different type of people who can't process things like they normally do, but they like to laugh, they like to make fun of themselves. I taught them to be comedians. Once I taught a course and eight out of 15 who took my class for 10 weeks did it and they were actually funny. I kind of got angry. They were funny to me at certain points, you know.
Speaker 1:
Hi, my name is.
Speaker 2:
Andrew Fraley, and I believe that sometimes we all need a little bit of help If you're in the San Antonio community and you need some legal help call me at 210-725-465-8.
Speaker 1:
Now it's time for Little Give Clip Quest. Welcome to this week's Clip Quest Challenge. So what I want you to do is go back and watch episode 10. I want you to tell me what his Little Give was. So, as you all know, at the end of every episode I always ask the guest to give the audience an example of a little thing they can do in their community. That might be a little give on their end, but might make a big impact on the other side. Go ahead and email me at Cindy at LittleGivecom and let me know what his answer was. If you get that answer correct, then I will feature you on a future episode. Thank you all so much for watching. My name's Cindy, my name's Kimberly, my name is Caitlin.
Speaker 3:
And this is our beautiful mom.
Speaker 1:
We're from San Antonio, texas, and we wrote a book together and the title is Is Manifesting Bullshit? My name is Cindy Whitman. I am the founder and CEO of Driving Single Parents. I'm also a bestselling author and the host of Little Give TV show. I have six kiddos and three gorgeous grandkids. My section in this book is all about creating a life beyond limits. I hope you enjoy it. Hi, my name is Caitlin Chavez. I am 25 years old and the mother of a beautiful baby girl. The title of my chapter is going to be how Manifesting Changed my Life.
Speaker 1:
I hope you enjoy my name is Kimberly Whitman and I'm a mom of two beautiful children and the name of my chapter is Find Over Matter. I hope you enjoy. Why don't you give the audience an example of a little thing they can do in their community? That might be a small thing to them but might make a big impact to the other person.
Speaker 2:
Well, I mean, typical examples are, like local hospitals have support groups. So whatever you do, whatever your talent is, whether it's comedy, whether you play music, whether you sing and play music, I mean they'll open the doors for you because there are veteran groups that will do it. Like I said, hospitals, support groups and like I'm blessed because I found Hope Lodge and when I went to Worcester and did it, then they connected me with Boston and I've been in Boston ever since and it's just like you can do a little thing like that, or even a nursing home or a senior center. I'm sure they'd welcome it because they don't get that entertainment and sometimes these people like a nursing home is a perfect example they're lonely unless they get people come and see them. So if they get a chance to laugh or to hear some music whether it's someone just playing the guitar and even singing it opens the doors and it makes them smile and it gives them something to look forward to. And then, after you're done, do you either sing the songs or they're telling the jokes or they're coming up to you afterwards. So it's like a great thing and if I come back, I come back Like I go to a group in Ashburnham.
Speaker 2:
I know I'm really big. No, that's a little town near me and they have a group of elderly people two years in a row. They want me back for the third row. I go hope they forgot all my stuff. They go, don't worry about it. They love you and it's like it's such a nice thing because it makes me feel good from your heart just walking out. So anybody can do that. Just find organizations where they look for volunteers to help out and you never know, people just don't want to do it. They go. Oh, I'm afraid to ask hey, the worst I could say is no, that's the way I look at it. But I don't give up. I'll still go after them and say hey.
Speaker 2:
Mabry talk to you a year or two ago, do you want it? And then finally they go OK, let's just try it. So that's what people have to do Reach out and you'll be surprised what groups are around you.
Speaker 1:
Yes, that's a terrific little give, absolutely so. Can you give the audience an example of a time in your life where maybe somebody did something for you that was a little thing on their end but really made an impact on you and your life?
Speaker 2:
Well, it's funny you say that because there's a woman that I had as an instructor in college and she was my English instructor. I don't want to need an English in college, but she was really good. She motivated the class. You talked about novels or you talked about Shakespeare or anything, and she tried to make it with regular life. Her name was Helen Peters. She passed. She died of cancer years later, but I remember what she said to me.
Speaker 2:
She goes, jerry Caruso, what's your major here at the college, accounting? She goes accounting. What are you kidding me? I said no, what are you going to do with that? I go, I'll make money. The heck with making money.
Speaker 2:
You belong on a stage, whether it's acting or whether it's comedy. I'll be angry at you if you don't go into that soon. And that was back in mid to late 70s. But I eventually did it and I'm sure she's looking down from heaven, just like my dad, just proud of me doing it and how I'm doing it as a vehicle, not only to make people laugh but to raise money. That's why I do online shows. A lot of comics don't like online shows. I mean I do because I interact with people. I'll say leave the mics on. I want to hear you laugh. You want to say something, say it to me. But it's fun and it's also a good vehicle to raise money too, because people will do that. But Helen Peters was her name and she impacted me big time, made me feel good walking out of there. Yes, it took me years to do it, but I eventually did it.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, but that's so great whenever somebody sees you before you see you. That's awesome.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, that's right, that's right. And she was big into public broadcasting, public TV like out here as a channel too. It could be something different out there, but it's like PBS. But she directed shows for Fred Rogers and Mr Rogers and different characters that they were on the programs and just someone to recognize. It was just a cool thing. My mother didn't, but that's OK, I forgive her. It's my highlight.
Speaker 1:
That's OK. Yeah, so this show is obviously all about Little Give and you obviously do a lot to give that Little Give every day of your life. So do you have any nonprofits that you're excited about you want to share with our audience.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, like American Kids Society, I do a lot for them, whether it's the Relay for Life of Pence, but especially the Hope Lodge in Boston. Unfortunately, hope Lodge and Worcester shut down, so it's kind of sad, but then again too, I look forward to Veterans Incorporated, which I started up again with my friend Paul Durant. We do comedy shows from veterans and staff there and they love it. They think it's the greatest thing in the world and we did it for years, straight before the pandemic came. Then we had a halt, but then I talked to a girl, susan Dunche, there and she goes yeah, let's bring you back Since I did the first show. She goes, you're definitely coming back, she goes. The people are so receptive and they said Jerry's going to come back. Yeah, but I bring other people Because I think it's fun to get to different aspects and views of different people. So those are two of them. And I like to get back into the Brain Injury Association because I spoke to a lot of support groups about laughter as the best medicine, which I incorporate clean humor with the health benefits of laughter. So it's kind of cool to share that. So those are three. I mean there are many more.
Speaker 2:
Trust me, MS. I did stuff for it, multiple sclerosis. My friend Tom Lecoyer he'll kill me if I said it wrong French guy, he has MS but he deals with it. And we do shows to raise money for MS and we've done comedy shows. We've done a beauty pageant. Yes, I was in a beauty pageant. I don't believe in dressing as a woman and make an ugly woman, but it was fun. We raised a ton of money. We do it every year.
Speaker 2:
My mother would kill me too, by the way.
Speaker 1:
Well, that's awesome. Sounds like you're doing so much to give back. Why don't you tell our audience where they can find you if they want to maybe hire you to be their comedian for an upcoming nonprofit or?
Speaker 2:
event. You can always go to my website, gerrygcarusocomicwebscom. My email is gerry underscore caruso at hotmailcom. Find me on Facebook. I'm always on there. People say yeah, you're 67. What are you doing on Facebook?
Speaker 2:
I go getting business and making contacts with people. So I do that a lot. Those are three of the ways and I always taught this to my boss, bob Nerker, a long time ago. You ever get an email, answer it, no matter what, even if you don't have time. Say look, I got your email, I'll get back to you shortly. That way they know you're interested.
Speaker 2:
So anybody who sends me anything or messages me or friends me online, I get back to them right away or when I can Like. If they do it in the next three hours, I won't be able to answer them later, but I do because I think it's always prettiest to do that. But those are ways to get a hold of me and probably Facebook is the best place. A lot of people say do you mind if I friend you, I go. No, I don't care. Or they just send me a message. So any way that I can help out, I'd love to, and I get many people working behind me that do it. Bob Sheehy, greg Bogus, kennedy, Richard, dave Decker, krista Brennan, jenny Freeman, just to name a few. Paul Durant, brian Holland they'll always help me out, so it's really an unbelievable thing that they don't mind helping me. They know the shows are going to be great and they're all for a good cause. So thank you so much for watching.
Speaker 2:
Like I said, people that are a benefit or fundraiser, they can't heckle you or else they're going to ruin the entire show or I'll heckle back at them, but I'll do it in a nice way. But it's fun and I thank God for that gift that I have. And if I could impose people to do the same thing. So when I post up, people say, oh, you post up, just let people know what you're doing. I go no, I don't want to let people know as little as you think is what this show that I did for like a group of 10 people. It doesn't matter, because you can do the same thing and have the same impact. It doesn't matter. And you don't have to be famous to do it. You need to just be able to say I'll do it. If there's 20 people, that I don't care. Look, 2200, 2000,. I don't care about the audience. You know, no matter how, and online I don't care, and the other people go you mind it, I go.
Speaker 2:
No, I love it. I think it's a great thing.
Speaker 1:
So Absolutely Well. Thank you so much for being on today and sharing your message with us. I mean, I agree with you Like laughter is the best medicine and it's so much fun. Even if you're having the worst day, something funny comes up on your you know Facebook feed or a show, or someone calls you and tells you a silly story. It can really really make your day better. So I appreciate you being on today. If anybody was super passionate about Jerry's nonprofit that he featured, please do go visit that website. Make a donation a dollar, five dollars, anything makes an impact. Also, visit him at all the sites he recommended and we look forward to seeing you soon, jerry, and watching what comes next.
Speaker 2:
Thank you very much. It was a pleasure being on, cindy, and thank you for all that you do as well, but we can't let that go unnoticed. When I met you, you told me all you do and I'm I'm I'm honored to have you as a friend and just to be able to do this, because many people can do these little things and they don't think it is, but it makes an impact.
Speaker 2:
It makes someone's day you know, thank a veteran to, to you know, hold the door for someone. If people like wow, or, I'll tell them don't run, just take your time. And I got time to you know, so it's just a cool time so that's how I've been helping others is really a big, a big give.
Speaker 1:
I know the show's all about little give, but that really can be a day changer for someone. Just being kind, thank you.
Speaker 2:
I just use the tools God gives me and bring them to people and if they like. Someone asked me when are you ever going to retire from comedy? I go well, I'm not funny anymore. You know, people still think I am going on 30 years, thank God. But it's like, hey, they think I'm funny, fine, but I just try to like, I try to work with the audience and do give them whatever they want, and that's such a cool thing, you know, just that they have that microphone is just so powerful to be on stage and people listen to you.
Speaker 2:
Look, I've done churches where I did sermons and they're like whoa really. And one guy goes to me once and I'll leave you with this, it was in Fitchburg. He goes, the biggest attendant type ever had a go. Apparently, you're not as funny.
Speaker 1:
Thank you so much for watching this episode of little give.
Speaker 1:
If you would like to learn more about how I highlight ordinary people doing extraordinary things to help others, or maybe you'd like to be a guest, or maybe you know a nonprofit that you would like to see featured on a future episode, you can find all the information on our website at littlegivecom.
Speaker 1:
If you'd like to get involved with our kindness clip segment, please do send in those videos. Send them via email to Cindy at littlegivecom, or you can tag us on any social media under Cindy Whitman or hashtag littlegive. If you'd like to know more about our podcast, you can send us a message on our website at littlegivecom, or you can tag us on any social media under Cindy Whitman or hashtag littlegive. If you'd like to know more about our podcast. You can also find us on all major streaming platforms under littlegive podcast. Please do find our Facebook group under littlegivetv show and join it. We'd love to keep you up to date with future episodes. Thank you all so much for watching and I can't wait to highlight the next ordinary person doing extraordinary things to help others. See you next time.