Deputy Escalante Benefit 2008

January 27, 2015

A total of $25,000 was raised for the family of slain Deputy Juan “Able” Escalante—as well as a variety of other worthy causes—at this standing-room-only comedy event, held October 15, 2008, at the newly-opened Laugh Factory in Long Beach, California. Some of comedy’s biggest names, including headliners Dane Cook andDom Irrera, walked the red carpet, then kept attendees entertained throughout the evening.

Also keeping audiences laughing were Bryan Callen (Mad TV), Natasha Leggero (Reno 911),Wendi McLendon-Covey (Reno 911), Joey Medina (The Original Latin Kings of Comedy),Chris ‘Kid’ Reid (Kid & Play) and The Bornstein Experiment (mentalist-comedians).

Of the proceeds, $20,000 was presented to Deputy Escalante’s wife and three children—to help following his tragic death in August, 2008, when he was gunned down by gang members while on his way to work in Los Angeles.

The remaining proceeds helped start the Cops 4 Causes Fallen Heroes Scholarship Fund—designated for children of officers killed or disabled in the line of duty—and helped support several Southern California organizations, including the Special Olympics of Southern California, LA Children’s Hospital, the Thalians Mental Health Center, and the Casa Pacifica center for abused and neglected children.