Comedian Mike DeStefano, who overcame addiction and tragedy through comedy and laughter, dedicated his life to helping those in need of support and counseling. His premature death from a massive heart attack at the age of 44 may have silenced the man, but his legacy continues with a tribute that will benefit those suffering from substance abuse problems.
Scheduled for November 9 at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center in New York City, the tribute will benefit the newly formed, Mike DeStefano Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to recovery and wellness.
Comedians Colin Quinn, Robert Kelly, Rich Vos, Bonnie McFarlane, Roy Wood, Jr. and several others are scheduled to perform and pay tribute to the man whose honesty and compassion touched so many lives.
“Mikey helped so many people and was loved by so many. This benefit will help us continue his message of hope for those who don’t have a place to turn,” Mike’s brother Joe DeStefano said.
“After Mikey died, I received a lot of messages from people who said he really helped them get back on track. For Mikey, it wasn’t about the money. It was about the love he received from his fans and helping those in need.”
The burly tattooed comedian who got his start in comedy at a drug treatment center in Florida fought hard to overcome AIDS, an addiction to heroin and the tragic loss of his wife as he continued to make people laugh with a brutally candid account of his life.
DeStefano, a top five finalist on the NBC show Last Comic Standing, was also a regular performer at clubs in New York and around the world and often reached out to those in need while traveling.
“Mikey’s message to those suffering from addiction is that recovery doesn’t have to be miserable. A lot of people who go through recovery are miserable, and it doesn’t have to be that way,” DeStefano said.
In addition to an all-star lineup of comedy, the event will also feature rare footage of Mike DeStefano as well as tributes from friends and family.
For ticket information, please visit Cringehumor.net.
Matt Roberts is a freelance writer who regularly contributes to several online news and entertainment publications. You can follow Matt on twitter @MattRobertsnews.
