The Gainesville Improv Guild hosted its second annual benefit show for World Children Resources on Wednesday and raised nearly $1000 to aid children in Ukraine.

Prior to the show’s start, World Children Resources volunteer Laura Nemmers shared a brief message about the nonprofit organization’s goals.

“Our current focus is to bring [Ukrainian] children previously hosted [by American families] and those who are in the process of adoption to the United States to be with families who are waiting for them,” she said. “There are more than 300 children who are in the process of adoption. These adoptions are currently suspended as our government’s way for the war to end. But, as you know, there is no end date for the war.”

The World Children Resources has delivered over 300,000 pounds of food and evacuated 560 Ukrainians to safety, Nemmers said.

The guild does about four benefit shows a year. They have only done one for-profit show to raise money for themselves, but the rest of the shows are free or are for benefits. Jeff Jurgens, the director of the guild, said they are working to become a nonprofit and are currently assisting other nonprofit organizations.

He said the idea to host benefit shows came after the organization was formed.

“I figured we’re bringing people together, and the money that we can make is not like we can retire on or make a living off of,” Jurgens said. “So we might as well give it to an organization that can use it.”

He said that it is in the guild’s mission statement to put on benefit shows for organizations that assist those in need.

“That’s one of our primary missions because we know we’re going to bring people together,” he said. “Why not bring them together for a cause?”

The Gainesville Improv Guild was founded in 2013 and has 11 members, but only 10 were present at the benefit show. All members were required to audition.

Jurgens said the guild focuses on working with organizations that can benefit and assist other people in need. He said that sometimes the guild will reach out to organizations, and other times organizations will contact them.

This is the guild’s second show with the World Children Resources to raise money for Ukraine. Their first show was in September of 2022, and the guild helped raise $4,000 for Ukraine. Jurgens said that the guild reached out to the organization again this year for a second benefit performance.

One of the ways that Wednesday’s event brought in money was from a silent auction, where audience members could write down the amount they’d like to bid on seven gift cards that were donated by organizations ranging from Limelight Salon to Piesano’s.

There were also donation jars placed throughout the venue.

Audience members also had the option to choose their ticket prices to determine how much they’d like to donate. When purchasing tickets, individuals were presented with four different tiers of prices. The cheapest option cost $12.50 and was labeled “WCR Supporter.” The most costly was $50 and was labeled “WCR Champion.”

Going into the event, Jurgens said they didn’t have a specific goal for how much to raise.

“We just want to raise as much money for them as possible,” he said.

The event took place at the Thomas Center and the music group “Some of This” opened for the guild with a variety of cover songs. During their last song, a jazz rendition of “All About That Bass,” members of the guild danced around the room, encouraging audience members to rise out of their seats and join them.

Elisa Nemmers, an audience member, said she was adopted by an American family from Russia when she was 2. When she first immigrated to the United States, she found a playmate named Katya who was from Ukraine. The two became close and still remain best friends, even after Katya moved back to Ukraine.

Nemmers was wearing a necklace of the Ukrainian trident, which symbolizes the Ukrainian coat of arms and represents Ukrainian warriors.

“I got this necklace when the war started,” she said. “I promised Katya I would give it to her the day the war ended.”

She said that Katya’s uncle was killed in the war in January. Nemmers was also wearing a gold necklace and said she would rather lose that instead of the Ukrainian trident.