Vicki Fox, photo by Meredith Kaminek
When all-around funny person Jennie Adams, a member of the improvisation group No Artificial Sweeteners, was contacted by Vicki Fox, founder of Women of Intention (WOI), the request seemed simple enough—put on a performance for an upcoming WOI event.
When Adams explained that the group only performs at charitable fundraisers and was not for hire, Fox offered more details that changed Adams’ mind. Her event was to help the C.A.R.E. Program at Allison Hill Community Ministry so that the group could receive much-needed funds. That new bit of information and the now resounding “yes” from Adams sealed the deal.
No Artificial Sweeteners is an all-female, all-volunteer improv group that has put on shows in the past to benefit organizations such as the PA Breast Cancer Coalition, Caitlin’s Smiles and The MakeSpace. WOI is a community of women committed to changing the world. When the two merge, you get an evening of hilarity, connection and support for everyone involved, but particularly for a local after-school program that serves about 30 Allison Hill children, providing them with meals, tutoring and field trips.
“When Vicki called, I couldn’t say no,” Adams recalls. “The match-up was just too perfect.”
Fox couldn’t agree more. She’d been looking to create another entertaining evening for her group of women but, at the same time, wanted to extend her reach to help the local community.
“I believe women are the change agents making this world a more humane planet,” Fox says. “We are the ones who tend and befriend and are mindful of the generations that will follow. In order to be able to give, a trait that women excel in, we have to have something to give. In order to nurture, we need to nurture, replenish, rejuvenate and refresh ourselves. What does that better than laughter?”
Improv comedy, as many know, is an unscripted, seat-of-your-pants art form where the actors create characters, dialogue and story as they go. It’s edgy and scary for the people on stage; it’s refreshing and fun and in-the-moment for audiences. The mantra that improv comedians follow is “Yes, and…”, meaning they accept and go with any scenario they are presented with and, in a sense, jump into the comedic fire with everything they’ve got.
While comedy was not Fox’s objective when she organized WOI in 2006, most of the other descriptions of improv probably apply as to why the group exists in the first place. It was at her 55th birthday party attended by 38 female friends where she asked each to share their intentions. They did so with such passion, Fox recalls, that she sought to continue that intention-sharing experience—thus the name Women of Intention, whose tagline is “Ordinary Women Making an Extraordinary Difference.”
In a way, Fox’s journey headed toward that improv rule of “Yes, and….” Saying “yes” to coming up with the idea of WOI, going with her gut, and creating events where like-minded women—teachers, doctors, activists, artists, entrepreneurs—are nurtured, informed and connected and where they give to each other and to others.
So women making other women laugh for a good cause? Yes, and…it all makes sense.
“No Artificial Sweeteners proved my point of how women find it natural to come together to make the world a better place,” Fox says. “While they perform in different troupes, they feel drawn to gather in supporting each other and donating their time and energy to support causes that improve our community. It will benefit the WOI women because not only will we be having an evening filled with laughter, camaraderie and fun, we will have the joy of knowing we are helping people in our local community.”
The Women of Intention benefit for the C.A.R.E. Program at Allison Hill Community Ministry will take place on Thursday, June 18, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., at Passage to India Restaurant, 520 Race St., Harrisburg. For more information and registration, visit www.womenofintention.com.
