In a matter of seconds, life can change forever.
On December 4th, 2015, Dan and Myrna Golinsky were struck by a visually impaired motorist while on their nightly neighborhood walk. Dan took the brunt of the impact, sustaining a major traumatic brain injury (TBI) that led him to fall into a coma. For eleven months, Dan lived in a coma/ minimally conscious state before passing away on November 12, 2016. Dan left behind his wife (Myrna), two children (Evan and Marlee), and close family and friends all rocked by this tragedy.
Dan’s son Evan, fourteen at the time, recognized the need to honor his dad in a positive way. Having engaged with many doctors throughout Dan’s hospitalization at Ryder Trauma Center and beyond, particularly Dr. Ross Bullock, Evan felt compelled to draw attention to the issue of traumatic brain injury. These injuries impact millions of people annually yet often go overlooked in terms of funding and advocacy.
Being that Dan adored stand-up comedy, an idea for a meaningful fundraiser formed.
Thus, the Golinsky Comedy Club was born.
Working with the Brain Trauma Foundation, Evan established The Golinsky Fund. This fund targets improving the guidelines set forth by the Brain Trauma Foundation for the treatment of patients with traumatic brain injuries. The funds directly support research into traumatic brain injuries and effective treatment methods, with the hope of improving the survival rate of patients like Dan.
In 2017, Evan Golinsky partnered with Temple Beth Am of Miami, Florida, to organize the inaugural Golinsky Comedy Club. The first event was held on December 17th, 2017 and featured locally and nationally recognized comedians, including Pulitzer Prize winner Dave Barry. The first show was a hit, with the community coming together to raise almost $30,000 for The Golinsky Fund.
With this success, Evan turned the show into an annual event, memorializing his father with laughter and levity. Since 2017, the Golinsky Comedy Club has raised over $120,000, with comedians including Gilbert Gottfried, Patton Oswalt, and Justin Long contributing their acts to the Comedy Club.
While Evan attended college at the University of Pennsylvania, he passed the torch to two very special people who added their individuality to the Comedy Club.
Marlee Golinsky, Evan’s younger sister, has been an integral part of the development of the Golinsky Comedy Club since its inception. Marlee was deeply impacted by the passing of her father and has tirelessly supported the fundraiser with her leadership, outreach, and creative adaptation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cooper Menachem, a longtime friend of the Golinsky’s, joined Marlee to support the mission of the Comedy Club during the pandemic, inspired by his grandfather Neal’s passing at a young age.
In 2020, Marlee and Cooper expanded the Golinsky Comedy Club through the inclusion of funding for Achieve Miami, a Miami-based nonprofit benefitting underserved youth. Marlee and Cooper created a student scholarship in honor of the Golinsky and Menachem families.