SAUGUS — What do a comedian, a quilter and a store clerk have in common?
Benji Wozniak, a comedian from Lynn; Kristin Callahan, a quilter from Saugus; and Matt Genovese, a 21-year-old from Saugus with a drive to help others, are teaming up to use their individual talents to help a single cause: the Jimmy Fund.
“We all have a gift that we can use to help battle this,” said Callahan, who works at Quilter’s Common in Wakefield. Her husband Steven Callahan is a cancer survivor.
The team, which also includes Matt Genovese’s mother, Sharon Genovese, has planned two fundraisers at the Marleah E. Graves “MEG” Building on Essex Street. First they’ll get together to create small quilted squares called mug rugs on Aug. 19, then Wozniak will break out the microphone for a night of giggles on Aug. 30.
Wozniak learned of the fundraising team from Matt Genovese. The pair work together at Home Depot, where Wozniak often breaks into jokes while doing everyday tasks, said his co-worker.
Genovese, who lost his grandfather to cancer before he was born, suggested he perform in a comedy show to help raise money. Wozniak chose to take it a step farther. He joined the team to hoof the 13.1 miles in Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk.
Wozniak became a comedian just two years ago, though he considered it long before.
“I didn’t want to go through life not doing stuff and not trying things,” he said.
The quilting fundraiser will be at 1 p.m. on Aug. 19 at the MEG Building. The cost is $30, which includes all necessary materials.
The comedy show will be Aug. 30 at 6 p.m. Tickets are $20.
