The Fort Lauderdale Improv was recently transformed into Carnival’s Punchliner Comedy Club – for one night, at least - as part of a special fundraiser that generated more than $10,000 for CHARLEE of Dade County – a 20 percent increase over the amount raised last year.

The funds will be used to help CHARLEE fulfill its mission of assisting abused, abandoned and neglected children and their families throughout South Florida.

Sponsored by Carnival’s Global Contact Center and hosted by Eli Rodriguez, one of the company’s personal vacation planners who is also a professional comedian, the evening featured hilarious 30-minute sets by four of the cruise line’s most popular comedians – John Dicrosta, Tony Esposito, Thea Vidale and Billy D. Washington – who have entertained guests in Carnival’s shipboard comedy clubs as well as comedy venues throughout the country.

The most popular comedy venues at sea, Carnival’s Punchliner Comedy Clubs presented by George Lopez are featured aboard all 24 of the line’s “Fun Ships,” with a lineup of side-splitting funnymen and women each voyage.  It’s estimated that the Punchliner Comedy Clubs host upwards of 20,000 comedy shows annually fleetwide.