This Friday, Feb. 13, come out for a night of laughs, fun, and goodies to benefit Tioga County cats and dogs in need. 

The Tioga County Cat Project is presenting “Comedy to the Rescue” featuring nationally touring stand-up comedian Clay Foley. The show will start at 7:30 p.m. in the Coolidge Theatre at the Deane Center for the Performing Arts, 104 Main Street in Wellsboro. 

The theatre doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the show will be available near those doors.

A cash bar will be open all evening, starting at 6:30 p.m. in the hallway right outside the Coolidge Theatre. 

In the theatre will be a Chinese auction with gift cards to area businesses and items available for viewing by show attendees. Among them are: a baby basket with a handmade quilt, a game from Pop’s Culture Shoppe, wind chimes, cat items from Tractor Supply, a basket of children’s books with two signed by author Kevin Coolidge, a Highland Chocolates gift card with a sampler box, etc.

Chinese auction participants can buy tickets from 6:30 p.m. until just before the final act and put them into containers in front of the specific items they hope to win. By adding more tickets, they can improve their chances. There will also be a 50-50 raffle. Winners names will be drawn for the auction items and 50-50 raffle and announced just prior to the end of Foley’s show.  

He has two passions. Foley loves animals and being a stand-up comedian. He lives in Illinois with his wife and an ever-growing number of rescue pets, both dogs and cats. 

Uniting his two passions is his special project, Comedy to the Rescue developed in 2024. It is the culmination of his 10 years in animal welfare as a former cruelty investigator and humane educator in schools from 2006 to 2016 and his years in stand-up comedy beginning in 2016 and continuing to this day. He is an avid animal rescuer and transporter.

On stage, Foley enjoys poking fun at his parents, life in general and his own rescue pets and their antics. He is thankful for it all. That gratitude – alongside clever punchlines, inventive props, and a compelling stage presence – has earned him a spot among the country’s funniest and most interesting comics.

Through Comedy to the Rescue, Foley is now touring across the country using humor to help raise funds for local charities for homeless pets in need like the Tioga County Cat Project. 

“He is not charging a penny to come and do this show for us so all money raised this Friday will directly be used for the animals in our care and other homeless animals,” said Jill Hall who is organizing the fundraiser. “Our goal is to raise $5,000 so we are asking that people contribute whatever they can to help us.” 

“The core mission of the Tioga County Cat Project, a 501c3 non-profit tax exempt organization, is to improve the lives of people and pets in our county,” Hall said. “We are reducing cat overpopulation, helping prevent cats, kittens and dogs from suffering with diseases, controlling feral cat colonies, and providing access to affordable veterinary services for Tioga County residents’ pets. 

“Due to the increasing need in the area, we have begun handling rescues, adoptions, and crisis situations for cats and dogs,” said Hall. “We provide transportation to low-cost spay/neuter and vaccine clinics. We loan carriers and traps at no cost to the residents of Tioga County. We do it all entirely on donations and volunteerism.”

For tickets to see Foley’s show, visit www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/comedy-to-the-rescue. “We are encouraging people to order their tickets in advance. We fund raise with Zeffy to ensure that 100 percent of the ticket price goes to our mission,” Jill said.  “People can also purchase tickets for the show when the doors open at 6:30 p.m. this Friday, Feb. 13.”

Those who have questions or want more information are welcome to email tiogacountycatproject@gmail.com.