By Carly Newton Press-Republic
The Autism Alliance of Northeastern NY is hosting its third annual benefit this weekend with popular comedian Hari Kondabolu as the headliner.
Kondabolu, a comedian, writer and podcaster based in Brooklyn, has made a name for himself with his 2018 Netflix special “Warn Your Relatives,” 2017 truTV documentary “The Problem with Apu,” and two comedy albums, “Waiting for 2042” and “Mainstream American Comic.”
Kondabolu has performed on Conan, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and The Late Show with David Letterman as well. He is also a former writer & correspondent on the much loved, Chris Rock produced FX show Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell.
Those interested in catching Kondabolu in action can do so at the Strand Center for the Arts in Plattsburgh on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $29 and can be bought here: https://www.strandcenter.org/theatre-events.
All proceeds will benefit The Autism Alliance of Northeastern NY and will help provide grants and college scholarships to individuals with autism in the North Country.
Executive Director Laura Carmichael said that in recent years, the organization has been receiving more and more applications for their grant program, which has increased their need to fundraise.
“Just the way inflation is now … we have to keep raising money or we’ll probably have to start turning people away, which, luckily, we haven’t had to do yet,” Carmichael said. “This (benefit) will allow us to keep helping local families and keep awarding the grants.”
Through the grant program, which can be applied for here: https://www.aaneny.org/scholarships-grant-applications, Carmichael said The Autism Alliance of Northeastern NY typically gives away communication devices or other items that enhance the lives of people with autism — “iPads, swings, things like that,” she said.
“It’s a needs-based grant, so it is based on income, and of course, they have to have an autism diagnosis,” Carmichael said about the qualifications.
The organization’s college scholarships are also in high demand. She said right now, volunteer reviewers are looking over six applications.
“Which is the most, actually, we received so far since we’ve been doing this, so it’s exciting.”
In addition to Saturday’s benefit, the Autism Alliance of Northeastern NY hosts monthly meetups to connect people with resources available and a main annual event — a walk geared toward families and children — in the spring.
She said she hopes Kondabolu will bring in a bigger crowd than the past two years.
“We’re trying to bring in bigger acts and people that typically wouldn’t … perform around here,” she said. “I hope we get a good turnout. Since COVID, so many of us are — I know myself — I’m tired of Zoom, and I really love connecting in person. I think, sometimes, it’s easy to be like, ‘Oh, I just want to stay home tonight,’ but it’s going to be a really fun night. I might be biased, but it’s for a great cause, so I’m hoping people will come out and join us.”
