Moe Lietz, of Rochester Hills, is among the comedians who take center stage at the “Heartbreakers X Comedy Night” at the Emerald Theatre in downtown Mount Clemens Feb. 11. Lietz, pictured here at the Jan. 10 Eastpointe-Roseville Chamber of Commerce “coffee hour,” encouraged those in attendance to attend the fundraiser.
By: Maria Allard | Mount Clemens-Clinton-Harrison Journal | Published January 20, 2023
MOUNT CLEMENS — A group of local comedians will serve up laughs Feb. 11 while giving back to the community.
The comics are teaming together for “Heartbreakers X Comedy Night” at the Emerald Theatre in downtown Mount Clemens. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the show begins at 8 p.m.
Get ready for an evening of laughter with skits from comedians Paolo Busignani, of Shelby Township; Amit Jain, of Royal Oak; Bret Hayden, of Ann Arbor; Moe Lietz, of Rochester Hills; and headliner Mike Ball, of Saginaw.
The Heartbreakers X Comedy Night — celebrating its 10th anniversary this year — not only tickles the funny bone, but it raises money for local nonprofit organizations chosen by the comedians.
There are seven charities this year: Compassion Pregnancy Center, the Daisy Project, Faith in Action of Oakland County, A Girl Like Me, Great Lakes Burn Camp for Kids, Save a Soul Sanctuary & Rescue, and Woman’s Life Chapter 911 Macomb Angels.
Heartbreakers X is one of many events coordinated through the nonprofit organization Sparkle Network under Lietz. She created Sparkle Network in an effort to help charities in need. Throughout the year, Lietz and volunteers work with local schools and organizations on various fundraisers.
She promoted the Feb. 11 Heartbreakers X during the Eastpointe-Roseville Chamber of Commerce “coffee hour” held Jan. 10 at the PACE Southeast Michigan on 10 Mile Road.
“Each charity gets a sponsor they are associated with,” Lietz said, adding that Heartbreakers generally raises between $1,500 and $2,00 for each nonprofit group every year. “We’re been here for 10 years. For this to me, it’s like, ‘Wow.’”
Admission at the Emerald Theatre is open to those 18 and older. Lietz, who grew up in Romeo, described the comedy show as “PG-13.”
“We’re not raunchy, but it’s adult conversation. Kids aren’t going to get it, but adults will,” she said. “I call it my favorite circus of the year.”
Maureen Kijek, of the Daisy Project, attended the comedy night last year and will be there again this year.
“I laughed a lot last year,” she said. “I liked it because the comedians are local.”
In 2015, Kijek, of Shelby Township, created the Daisy Project with Kristi Schons, of Lake Orion, and Maggie Woloszyk, of Shelby Township, whose children all have cerebral palsy and are wheelchair-bound. Their families came together with the mission to make fully accessible local recreational spaces for special needs children and adults.
“We’re trying to make recreational space accessible for everyone. Because of our children, we have a heart for people in wheelchairs,” Kijek said. “Our kids are trapped in bodies that don’t work. We give our kids all the experiences everyone else has.”
With their fundraising efforts, the Daisy Project was able to purchase and install two wheelchair swings at the Let Them Play Friendship Park in Lake Orion. The swing allows for individuals to remain seated in their wheelchairs while swinging back and forth. Kijek remembers the first time her son Drew, now 21, tried out the wheelchair swing.
“He was so happy,” she said. “He loved it.”
A wheelchair whirl playground spinner also was installed at the park, as was an adult-sized changing table. In addition, the Daisy Project volunteers have raised money over the years to provide medical equipment to families in need.
Another project the group is currently working on is raising money to purchase special equipment for individuals with mobility issues, to be used at River Bends Park in Shelby Township. Installing another, brand-new wheelchair swing in one of the park’s playgrounds is a goal, and money from Heartbreakers X will be used towards that.
The Emerald Theatre is located at 31 N. Walnut Street in downtown Mount Clemens. Log onto bit.ly/heartbreakersten2023 for tickets to Heartbreakers X. Sponsorships also are available. Feb. 3 is the deadline to purchase tickets.
For more information about this year’s charities, visit:
compassionpregnancy.org
faithinactionoakland.org
thedaisyprojectmi.com
agirllikemeinc.org
glbcforkids.org
saveasoulsanctuary.org
womanslife.org