Thank You, Memorial Care!

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about YAY! for Orange County—a joyful, all‑day behavioral health event designed to reduce stigma, build community, and expand access to care for LGBTQ+ individuals. Presented by The YAY! Foundation, this program blends comedy, storytelling, and creative expression to make emotional wellness approachable, inclusive, and engaging.

We created this page specifically for your team at MemorialCare to offer a clear and heartfelt look at who we are, how this event works, and the impact it can have in your community. Led by Founder and CEO Aidan Park—your keynote speaker at the 5th Annual Youth Mental Health Forum—this model has been refined through 40+ successful programs nationwide and is ready to bring its healing, energizing, and stigma‑breaking magic home to Orange County. We look forward to exploring how we can make this day an unforgettable step toward connection, resilience, and lasting wellness.

About Our Event!

YAY! For Recovery – A Wellness Retreat for the Recovery Community
YAY! for Orange County is a free, all‑day celebration designed to uplift, connect, and support the LGBTQ+ community through joy, creativity, and healing. This inclusive, community‑driven event blends comedy, drag performances, sound healing, personal storytelling, and direct access to behavioral health resources in a welcoming, stigma‑free space. Participants will enjoy performances, guided meditations, wellness activities, and talks from leaders in mental health, recovery, and community empowerment—leaving with renewed energy, practical tools, and a stronger sense of belonging.

Highlights will include drag artists, LGBTQ+ comedians, sound bath facilitators, and local leaders—alongside a weeklong comedy and storytelling workshop for LGBTQ+ participants, culminating in a powerful on‑stage performance that amplifies community voices.

The event will be completely free to attend, ensuring accessibility for all ages and backgrounds, with free food, prizes, and a resource fair to connect participants to ongoing care and support.

PAST ORANGE COUNTY SUCCESSES

We have used comedy and storytelling as a tool for mental health advocacy all over orange county and our letters of endorsements speak volumes to our successes, please review supprot from our OC partners based on our track record of success.

Recent Successes/Video Samples

Stand Up PHO Good was a wellness event presented in partnership with Radiant Futures to encourage the API community to break the stigma around domestic violence and mental health—areas where silence can be especially strong. Through comedy, cultural connection, and community dialogue, the event created a safe space for important conversations that are often avoided, while celebrating the resilience and diversity of the API community.

Laugh RX, held in 2024, brought together API, LGBTQ+, youth, and mental health advocates for a wellness event centered on breaking stigma and fostering connection. Participants rated the event 4.9 out of 5 and reported up to 18% improvement in key mental health markers, including connection to community, confidence, and self-understanding. YAY! for Orange County will build on this success, using our proven model of integrating dynamic speakers and comedy-driven programming as powerful tools for mental health advocacy and measurable impact.

This event reel showcases our work over the years, highlighting the energy, creativity, and community impact we bring to every program. We are excited to bring this same magic to Orange County, supported by returning partners who have collaborated with us in the past. In the reel, you’ll see examples of our partnerships with Free Mom Hugs, Project Q, APAIT, The Center, New Economics for Women, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention—all of whom have expressed interest in joining us again for YAY! for Orange County.

YAY Day 2024, held at The Comedy Chateau, brought together over 12 resource providers for a day that blended entertainment with direct access to care. The event featured free food, onsite HIV testing, and mental health referrals from NAMI, alongside a vibrant lineup of comedians using humor to spark community dialogue about wellness. It was standing room only—a clear sign that creative, stigma-reducing approaches can draw people in and connect them to vital health resources. YAY! for Orange County will use this same proven approach to engage underserved LGBTQ+ community members, pair entertainment with onsite services, and ensure that behavioral health access feels welcoming, approachable, and culturally relevant.

Participant Testimonials

“Helping organize this with Aidan and Ben was more than I expected — it was actually healing. The process of writing and performing helped me strip away noise and focus on my story. Creating a five-minute set pushed me to let go of stuff from my parents and really see what mattered to me. And in the end, it was funny. Watching others do the same was even more powerful. What better way to heal than to laugh?”
— Joel, Participant, American Legion

“I was coming out of a really dark time and almost didn’t show up for the workshop. But I’m so grateful I did. It was exactly what I needed. This kind of experience changes people — one at a time — and gives us something to take back out into the world. Something joyful. Something healing.”
— Ryan Williams, Commander, American Legion

“This whole experience changed my entire life. It didn’t just give me confidence in things I used to only dream about — it actually helped me achieve them. It lit something inside me. I’m addicted now to this kind of growth and self-expression.”
— Tray, Participant

“I’m a recovering alcoholic with almost six years of sobriety. Humor has always helped me get through, and this gave me a place to bring that humor into my story — raw, honest, and real. We got to laugh about some really hard stuff. That matters. It’s a big part of how I’ve come this far.”
— Aaron Schenk, Participant, YAY! for Recovery

“When I met Aidan Park in 2020, I was in a dark place. I was struggling with depression, anxiety, and the suicide of a close friend. I felt directionless. After a few open mics, I joined Aidan’s workshop — and it changed everything. He showed me how to use humor to process my story. I got a standing ovation the first time I went on stage. That moment was life-changing.”
— Nick Kynett, Participant