About Us

Saranne Rothberg Founder/CEO The ComedyCures Foundation

The ComedyCures Foundation tickles funny bones! We bring joy, laughter, and therapeutic humor programs to kids and grown-ups living with illness depression, trauma and disabilities. Through large & small scale therapeutic comedy programs, we entertain and educate patients, families and caregivers about the power of a comic perspective and the positive benefits of laughter on the body, mind, and spirit. "Yes, laughter is great medicine!" Love, laughter and hope are communicated in every aspect of our unique programs.

Saranne Rothberg is a woman with a simple goal—to help you find joy in your journey. Saranne launched The ComedyCures Foundation, a 501(c)3 human service organization, from her chemo chair in 1999 as an outgrowth of her personal experience with the healing power of a comic perspective. She and her daughter discovered that therapeutic comedy served as a great family coping strategy as they dealt with Saranne’s early stage IV cancer diagnosis.

Today, Saranne is cancer-free and has taken ComedyCures’ life-affirming work to ill patients and families throughout the country. Her ground-breaking digital ComedyCures' PSA campaign launched daily last fall on the most listened to radio station in the country, CBS 1010WINS. This "ComedyCures LaughingLunch Break" at 12:35pm is impacting millions of people a month with hilarious performances by 100 of America's funniest comics. In March 2008, The ComedyCures LaughingLunch(R) Break expanded to Baltimore, MD. WLIF 101.9 LITE-FM!!

In addition, Saranne has helped almost 400,000 people at more than 390 live events rediscover their funny bones through her motivational, inspirational, laughter-rich performances and unique therapeutic productions. Oprah features Saranne as her "Hero" in her book, "Live Your Best Life".

February 2008, ComedyCures helped launch The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Global Campaign to UNite To End The Violence Against Women. In addition to the dynamic morning Kick-off and illuminating Interactive Panel, an exciting VIP ComedyCures Entertainment Reception was Hosted by UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro.

Fall 2007, Saranne collaborated with SELF Magazine for "The LOL Comedy Benefit" where she performed with Molly Shannon, Susie Essman and Alex Borstein to raise money for ComedyCures' therapeutic programs and breast cancer.  ComedyCures then returned from the West Coast where Saranne met up with Palm and MobiTV to launch "The Treo Comedy Festival" including many talented filmmakers, plus fellow celebrity judges Penn & Teller and Adam Ferrara and celebrity hosts Susie Essman and John Henson in order to raise funds for ComedyCures and to inspire others to laugh and live their dreams.

In March 2007, Saranne designed and produced The ComedyCures LaughAbout, a therapeutic entertainment event for critically ill children in the Pediatric Intensive Care, Epilepsy Monitoring and Cancer units at HUMC. She produced and hosted the reunification Homecoming event for The US Marines from Iraq in 2006. She also created a intimate program for bombing victims from Israel. Her smash hit "ComedyCures LaughingLunch LIVE" is going on its fourth year and serves adult patients and caregivers from every medical population, human service agency and socio-economic group. 

She has a multi-year request list for appearances and keynote addresses but she always finds time to take one more request. In Spring 2007 Saranne helped launch a college program inspired by her work.

Saranne's ComedyCures 1-888-HA-HA-HA-HA LaughLine® reaches as many as 4,000 people per month. Approximately 60,000 of her playful Wellness Joke Book pages have been created and circulated around the world, including delivered to the troops in the Middle East. ComedyCures serves diverse audiences of all ages.

Saranne and her daughter, Lauriel, 1999, after chemo

Saranne has been featured by media around the world, including CNN "Health & Happiness" Special, Good Morning America, Oprah Magazine, Family Circle, PBS, CBS, ABC, NPR, YAHOO and The New York Times. NBC’s “NY and Comedy” Special dedicated a segment to Saranne’s remarkable use of therapeutic humor in addition to featuring Joan Rivers, Jackie Mason, Caroline Hirsch and The Friars Club.

Saranne has collaborated with many Fortune 500 Companies and prominent organizations: The Red Cross, The United Way, Major US Hospitals, Ronald McDonald’s Charities, Gilda’s Clubs, Paul Newman’s Hole in the Woods Camp, Paul McCartney’s Garland Appeal, Susan G. Komen Foundation, Hospice  and Caregiver Programs, Cancer Survivor’s Day, Girl Scouts, Public Schools and many other reputable organizations. Saranne applauds the talented performers, celebrities and emerging talent who appear in ComedyCures programs around the world in hospitals, stadiums, military bases, community centers, ballrooms, Broadway theaters, schools and hospice.

Praised for her humor and humanitarian efforts, Saranne has won many awards including; 2007 Yoplait Breast Cancer Champion Award, The Hope for The Future Award, The Making a Difference Award, The Rotarian Humanitarian Award and The Cancer Superhero of the Year Award.  Saranne helped immediately orchestrate a fund specifically earmarked for cancer patients impacted by Hurricane Katrina, in addition to producing "Kids For Katrina Relief" with 750 children from all socio-economic groups and religions.

Saranne was the first therapeutic humor consultant called to Ground Zero after September 11th. Years later, she was awarded a major grant by the Rotary District 7230 NYC/WTC Disaster Relief Fund, Inc. to produce and host the first therapeutic humor program for the children of victims of the 9/11 tragedy. The ComedyCures Foundation’s "FUNDAYSUNDAY”, a Broadway extravaganza, was held at Town Hall in New York City on May 22, 2005 to rave reviews. Saranne recently accepted the "Entertainment Corporate Award of the Year" from the City of New York. 

Born in Philadelphia, and educated in Los Angeles, New York and Italy, Saranne holds degrees in Broadcast Journalism, Humanities, Special Education Consulting, and Italian Language and Culture.  She has received grants from the US Government, major corporations and foundations to support her studies, research and innovative programs.  Saranne was even invited to become a New York Friar by Dean Roman. 

Back in 1999, as a newly-diagnosed cancer patient, Saranne was greatly inspired by the writings of Norman Cousins, the pioneer of therapeutic humor. In 2007, Saranne recently had the honor of meeting three generations of the Cousins' family and sharing this therapeutic legacy. Saranne is a stage IV cancer survivor, with no visible disease, and a world-renowned mind/body and therapeutic humor/laughter expert. Saranne resides in Bergen County, New Jersey with her 15 year-old daughter, Lauriel.