' A Campfire Girl -- In The Bronx'! JFS Desert Presents Emmy Winning Comic Monica Piper

JFS Desert is proud to present an incredible afternoon with Emmy® Award winning comedy writer and stand-up comic Monica Piper for one performance only. This dynamic comedian who has written for Roseanne, Mad About You, Veronica's Closet and was the head writer of the #1 children's animated series Rugrats will perform her One Woman Show Sunday, November 11 at 3:00 p.m. The American Comedy Awards deemed her one of the top five female comics in America. She has opened for Jerry Seinfeld, Gloria Estefan, Neil Sedaka and The Smothers Brothers.

Monica Piper was a Campfire Girl...in the Bronx. "You sense your life isn't normal when you're sitting on the D train with a bag of marshmallows and a twig." Monica began her career as a high school English teacher. While finding it rewarding, she had to move on. "I couldn't handle the money and prestige." Always able to FIND the FUNNY, driven to make people laugh. She became a stand-up comic and landed her own Ace award-winning Showtime Special, No, Monica, Just you.

Monica became a mother and knew that sit-com hours and parenthood didn't mesh. She turned to animation and eventually became the head writer of Rugrats, for which she won an Emmy® in 2003 and an Emmy® nomination in 2004. She then developed and ran, All Grown Up for Nickelodeon and created and wrote the pilot for Disney's Stupid Cupid. But that wasn't enough. She did voices too, and launched a career as a voiceover actor. She now uses her experience to teach work teams everywhere to confront conflict in their "cartoon voices." Yes, even CEO's.

Then, a life-altering event occurred. Monica was diagnosed with breast cancer. If ever she had to FIND the FUNNY, it was then. In between surgeries and a course of radiation therapy, she turned back to her true love, performing. Her sharp wit engaged audiences as she tracked her treatment and recovery one joke at a time. Monica has shared her philosophy with Wellness Communities such as Premiere Oncology's "Tumor Humor," providing skill-building tips on how to FIND the FUNNY. Monica is presently cancer-free.

Monica realized, IF, I can FIND the FUNNY in cancer, I can teach people to FIND the FUNNY in anything!" And that she does. She transitioned from the entertainment world to the corporate, imparting her laugh-out-loud and motivating advice at conventions, annual sales meetings, retreats, workshops, and leadership training sessions.

Monica is presently trying to FIND the FUNNY in life with her teenage son. "We've been saying it all wrong all these years. It's not "teenager." It's "teenAGER!" Parenting groups leave her performances less stressed and armed with surefire coping techniques. Monica combines her skills, talent and experience to bring audiences her brand of uproarious yet insightful advice. As funny as it is, people take it seriously.

The Mission of JFS Desert is to improve the quality of life for all Coachella Valley residents by providing for the social service needs of the general community with a commitment to promote the well being of people of all ages, incomes and life preferences. JFS is supported by Desert Health Care Foundation, Jewish Federation, Fogelson Family Foundation, Auen Foundation, Annenberg Foundation, United Way of the Desert and the cities of Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, and Indian Wells along with many compassionate donors.

For more information on how to support and get involved with JFS Desert, visit www.JFSDesert.org or call 760-325-4088. JFS Desert is a non-profit 501© 3 organization.