Jo Koy and friends raise $75K for Fil-Am nonprofit in Los Angeles

Jo Koy (middle) and film producer Dan Lim (extreme right) with officers of fundraiser recipient Search to Involve Pilipino Americans. FACEBOOK

Comedian Jo Koy and film producer Dan Lin raised $75,000 in donations for a Filipino American nonprofit in Los Angeles during the Rise for Comedy festival on Thursday, July 29 at Historic Filipinotown’s Rideback Ranch.

The recipient, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA), helps the growth of small businesses among low-income immigrant communities in Los Angeles.

Jo Koy, who is promoting his breakthrough film “Easter Sunday,” hosted the event. He also has a Netflix special coming in September.

Koy and Lin presented a $25,000 check to SIPA board officers Edward Malicdem, Jennifer Taylor, Rachel Buenviaje and Rita Garcia, Variety reported.

Jo Koy’s movie “Easter Sunday” is screening soon. YOUTUBE

The comedian matched the donation and then put the CEO of production company Rideback on the spot by asking him to fork over another $25,000, raising the total to $75,000.

“You should have seen him sweat; I have never heard the sound of sweat until now,” he joked, according to Variety.

A panel on Asian American representation in news and entertainment started the evening, moderated by Kathy K. Im, director of journalism and media at the MacArthur Foundation.

Among the panelists were Los Angeles Times TV critic Lorraine Ali, CNN reporter Lisa Ling, Panda Express Chief Brand Officer Andrea Cherng and UTA’s Jacqueline Kim, Variety reported.

Capping the event was a stand-up comedy routine from AAPI comedians that included Jimmy O. Yang, Ronny Chieng, Fahim Anwar and Andrew Lopez.