Mission Statement
The mission of The YAY! Foundation is to spark culture shifts that reduce stigma and strengthen connection around health, healing, and belonging. We use humor, arts, and heart to make tough conversations approachable and joyful, while creating practical, actionable solutions that empower individuals and communities to thrive.
Our Approach
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to culture change — and that’s the point. At YAY, we start by listening to what a community or organization truly needs. Then we co-create programs that blend humor, arts, and heart in ways that are both joyful and practical.
Sometimes that looks like a comedy festival. Sometimes it’s a storytelling workshop, an empowerment training, or a creative cultural event. Whatever form it takes, our work is designed to spark empathy, reduce stigma, and create actionable solutions that help individuals and communities thrive.
Our approach is catching on: in 2025 alone, we’ve run more than 40 programs across the country, reaching people as varied as veterans in Montana, LGBTQ seniors in Los Angeles, mental health activists in Washington, first responders in Ohio, public schools in New York, and disabled Native youth with the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.
This breadth reflects our values: we listen first to each community, never offering a one-size-fits-all solution. At the core of our work is connection and empathy — and we bring in humor, arts, and storytelling as powerful tools for effective advocacy, healing, and culture change.
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Core Programs
Comedy Programs
Our comedy festivals, shows, and workshops use humor as a tool for connection and stigma reduction. From community-wide YAY! Fests to veteran-focused shows and storytelling showcases, we prove that laughter is serious medicine.
YAY! Level Up
Workshops and programs that help people step into confidence, resilience, and possibility. This includes YAY!-Ful Recovery, youth storytelling workshops, and trainings that equip individuals to share their truth and create change in their own lives and communities.
Organizational Consulting
We partner with towns, schools, and organizations to co-create culture-shift strategies. Through listening sessions, custom trainings, and tailored programming, we design actionable solutions that build empathy, belonging, and authentic connection in workplaces and communities.
Additional Programming
From YAY! Let’s Go social wellness groups, to high school YAY! Clubs, to musical theatre bootcamps and pro-social events, we design creative experiences that foster connection, joy, and community well-being.
Why YAY! is Needed
Many individuals from all walks of life face feelings of shame, isolation, and hopelessness on a daily basis. The worst thing in the world is to feel alone in one’s pain and to feel powerless to change the circumstances which are driving the pain.
When an individual has a traumatic experience or are in an unwanted life circumstance which they feel powerless to change, they can develop a base self-concept of shame. Too many people are in this painful cycle, which often times leave them feeling like they must suffer alone. When this happens, individuals feel helpless, unwanted, and alone in isolation. This can lead to anxiety, illness, addictions, depression and in some cases death.
How We Help!
The YAY Foundation is dedicated to making health and difficult conversations fun, approachable, and exciting. Our programs place a special emphasis on allowing individuals to connect with other like-minded individuals, fostering a sense of community and support.
At the soul of our foundation lies personal storytelling and the sharing of vulnerabilities in a safe and fun environment. When individuals engage in this process, it creates a bonding experience between participants and audiences alike. Individuals feel less alone in their experiences and are encouraged to share and be vulnerable, fostering a sense of connection and understanding.
Through our efforts, we provide:
Mental health programming that integrates research-backed tools with lived experiences and personal anecdotes shared in a light-hearted and engaging manner.
Mental health comedy events specifically crafted to tackle challenging and often stigmatized topics in a safe and approachable environment. Additionally, we offer resource tables at all our events, ensuring attendees have access to ongoing support if needed.
Training sessions aimed at equipping individuals with the skills to express themselves effectively through storytelling and comedy. By fostering these abilities, we empower individuals to share their stories and navigate difficult experiences with greater comfort and confidence.