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Celebrity Auction and Comedy Gala to Raise Money for Chelsea's P.S. 11

By Mathew Katz | January 22, 2014 9:16am
  Gilbert Gottfried, Robin Thicke and Penn and Teller are among the celebrities supporting the school.
Comedy for a Cause Raises Cash for P.S. 11
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CHELSEA — It pays to have famous friends.

Comedian Gilbert Gottfried will host a star-studded gala and online auction called Comedy for a Cause to raise money for his daughter's school, P.S. 11. For the second year, the actor and his famous friends will hold the event at the Gotham Comedy Club.

The Feb. 11 show is already sold out, but an online auction supporting the school will run from Jan. 28 to Feb. 18.

Last year's Comedy for a Cause show and auction raised $70,000 for the school's PTA, according to Gottfried's wife and fellow event organizer, Dara Gottfried. P.S. 11 families, teachers and guests got a surprise when Jerry Seinfeld himself showed up unannounced to perform a set.

"This year we sold out in about five days," Dara Gottfried said. "It's amazing how much work goes into these things — it's like a full-time job."

This year's fest will feature Gottfried, along with comedians Artie Lange, Jim Norton, Michael Che, Rachel Feinstein, Tom Cotter and Harrison Greenbaum.

Celebrities of all stripes donated to the auction, which includes chances to meet singer Robin Thicke, magicians Penn and Teller and real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran.

There are also tickets to see "The Book of Mormon" and attend fashion week, "impossible to get" reservations for Hamptons restaurant Nick & Tony's and a private consultation with a top children's talent agent. 

Gilbert Gottfried is also letting people bid on the chance to get him to record their outgoing voicemail message — using his well-known grating voice.

P.S. 11 has a wide variety of students, ranging from the children of affluent tech employees to children living in the NYCHA Fulton Houses. The cash raised by the show and auction will help pay for music, dance and theater programs, field trips, computers, school supplies and more.

The PTA's fundraising goal for this year is $650,000. The group is hoping to raise a big chunk of that with the star-studded event.

"Our hopes are for six figures," Dara Gottfried said.