Photos by Olivia Forrester
Two weeks after our comedy show benefit, we’re still smiling — from the laughs AND from the warmth and joy of our OMM community. So many friends and supporters came out on February 21 to enjoy an evening of stand-up comedy at Arlington Drafthouse. The show was sold out!! And together, we raised more than $12,000 for this teen-led movement for mental health.
Here’s a short video, made by OMM’s Program Coordinator Ramona Plummer, showing some of the many smiles from that night:
The idea for a comedy show started with our board member, Diane Ross, a former OMM club sponsor, retired school psychologist, and talented comedian. We’re so grateful to Diane for doing a hilarious job as emcee and curating a show with four local stand-up stars: Gigi, Rich Ev, Prince Arora, and Tommy Taylor Jr. And we are hugely thankful to these comedians for sharing their talents with our community!
We also envisioned this comedy show as a way to show appreciation for the school counselors, psychologists, social workers, teachers, community center staff, and others who serve as OMM club sponsors. We were able to invite thirty-five club sponsors and district partners to attend for free. We also hosted an invite-only “Staff Appreciation Happy Hour” before the event to recognize these invaluable partners, express our gratitude, and spend a little time relaxing together outside of work.
We want to offer another special word of thanks to our dedicated club sponsors, school staff, and teen center leads — the backbone of the OMM program! On top of their incredibly important jobs, they find the energy and time to encourage and support students as their whole selves; their tireless and genuine care inspires our team every day.
We were also so grateful to our partners from the Washington, DC; Fairfax County; and Montgomery County public school districts, as well as Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services, who support our teen center program. Their collaboration and support has been instrumental in expanding and deepening OMM’s impact, enabling us to synchronize with district-wide initiatives and reach more schools in resonant ways. Thank you for trusting us as a partner for student-led programming!
Finally, a huge thank you to Arlington Drafthouse — a beloved historic local venue – for donating the space for the evening. And thank you to the local businesses, raffle donors, and event sponsors who made this all possible. Your support is going directly to help change lives and empower teens all year long.
