Betsy Boney is chair of Challenge Center’s Comedy Night fundraiser this Saturday, Sept. 21st

Betsy Boney, wife of husband Scott Boney, operators of the Windmill Farms store in Del Cerro, is serving as chair of the 16th annual Comedy Night Gala, a fundraiser benefiting the Challenge Center, a physical therapy rehabilitation center in La Mesa. Betsy Boney also serve as secretary on the Challenge Center board of directors.

Scott Boney has received rehabilitation services at the Challenge Center since 2008, when he suffered a brain injury after being pushed down stairs aboard a cruise ship.

Comedy Night will be held on Saturday, Sept. 21 at the Allen Airways Flying Museum at Gillespie Field, 2020 N. Marshall in El Cajon. Reception and silent auction begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. More than 200 people are expected to attend. Tickets for Comedy Night begin at $200 per person. For more event information, visit www.challengecenter.org.

The program will feature recognition for Ed Burr, president/CEO and founder of Edco Disposal Corp., and a performance by comedienne and actress Vicki Lawrence. Burr serves as treasurer on the Challenge Center board of directors. Edco has grown into the largest, family-owned-and-operated waste collection and recycling firm in the U.S.

Lawrence is known for her co-starring role on “The Carol Burnett Show” from 1967 to 1978 as the witty and smart-aleck Thelma Harper or “Mama.” Her popular elderly character led to her own television series called “Mama’s Family” that aired from 1983 to 1990. Lawrence has made numerous post-Mama's Family guest TV show appearances in her famed role. Earlier this year, Lawrence appeared as the character in a special sketch for a show staring Betty White. In addition, Lawrence regularly hosts a stage show titled "Vicki Lawrence & Mama: A Two-Woman Show."

Honorary chairs for the evening will be Julie and Tom Karlo of KPBS, and Bill and Claudia Allen of the Allen Airways Flying Museum. Dinner will be provided by ArtQuest Catering of San Diego. Emcee will be Steve Atkinson, KGTV-TV co-anchor of 10News.

Among the auction items available to the highest bidder: vacations to Cabo San Lucas, Desert Hot Springs and two tickets on Southwest Airlines; backyard catered BBQ; entertainment tickets to the symphony, zoo, museums, sky sailing, fishing, horse races, Disneyland and “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno;” jewelry and home furnishings merchandise. For ticket information, contact Trish Brereton at (619) 318-2586 or comedynightgala@gmail.com.

Proceeds from Comedy Night will benefit the Challenge Center’s scholarship fund that subsidizes physical therapy expenses for low-income individuals. The Challenge Center has provided skilled physical therapy rehabilitation, specialized assisted fitness training and wellness programs for physically challenged people since 1987.

Allen Airways Flying Museum is a privately owned museum located on Gillespie Field. Memorabilia displays include aviation artifacts from previous world wars, antique flying suits, helmets and goggles and posters from Hollywood motion pictures with aviation themes. The museum’s aircraft collection includes a 1930 Stearman C-3R Business Speedsters, 1940 Ryan Sport Trainer Military, 1942 Ryan PT-22, 1929 Boeing F4B-1 and the frame of a Breese Penguin found in an Escondido field, as well as vintage tractors and a 1936 Ford Roadster.