Stand-Up for Mental Health Program

Partner:

STAND UP FOR MENTAL HEALTH COMEDY SHOW ~PROGRAM~ SEPTEMBER 5, 2025 ~ 7 TO 9PM LAUREL RIDGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, WARRENTON Welcome by April Achter, Director of Communications & Outreach at Encompass Community Supports David Granirer ~ Founder of Stand Up For Mental Health & Tonight’s Emcee David is a counselor, mental health comedian, stand-up comic, and mental health keynote speaker. David, who himself has bipolar has taught stand-up comedy to recovering addicts and cancer patients, founded Stand Up For Mental Health,™ his award-winning program teaching comedy to people with mental health issues in 2004. His work is featured by media worldwide and in the VOICE Award winning Passionate Eye documentary Cracking Up and the award-winning Australian documentary “Crack Up.”

Ashton Morse Ashton earned his Master’s of Education in Community Counseling at the College of William and Mary. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Virginia.

Ashton worked as a clinician for Crisis Services and the Young Adult Coordinated Care program before taking on a leadership role as the Program Manager for Crisis Services in 2018. As Director of Clinical Supports, Ashton oversees and manages the quality, safety, and efficiency of clinical operations, ensuring compliance with regulations and standards, and fostering a positive clinical team. Ashton works with Culpeper Pride to promote LBGTQ+ awareness in the community.

Frances Gordon Frances brings a wide variety of experience to her position as a Registered Peer Recovery Specialist: she’s worked at McDonald’s, corporate training, middle school teacher, procedure manual writer, to finally finding her calling working with people with mental health and substance use issues at the SEE Recovery Center. It only took 50 years to figure out what she wanted to be when she grew up.

~MEET THE COMICS ~ Kirstan Knipple Kirstan is a comedian, mental health advocate, single mom, and professional chaos coordinator. When she’s not making audiences laugh about the absurdity of life, she’s busy being a Family Support Partner and Certified Peer Recovery Specialist at the S.E.E. Recovery Center (translation: she helps people get their lives together while barely keeping hers together). She’s also the Executive Director of Mom2Mom, because apparently being a single mom of two wasn’t quite enough. Kirstan brings real talk, real life, and real exhaustion to the stage — proving that sometimes the only thing standing between you and a full-blown meltdown... is a solid punchline.

Mike Gordon

Mike has been doing stand-up since he was a year old and learned to stand up. He has previously done open mike nights and paid comedy performances. His mommy is very proud of him.

Shawn Sawyer

Shawn is a world-renowned auto mechanic and comedian.

He has performed in many of the finest police stations in Culpeper and surrounding counties. His hobbies include knitting and basket weaving.

Wendy Bundy As a multifaceted professional, Wendy serves as the Coordinator for the Virginia Zero Suicide Hub and an adjunct professor in criminal justice.

Informed by her experience as a 911 dispatcher, she is a passionate, awardwinning advocate for mental health and wellness with a dedicated focus on the public safety community. When she isn't working or sharing her expertise, Wendy enjoys the quiet companionship of her husband, their four dogs, and three birds.

Thank you to all of tonight's comics including David Granirer for his time and expertise, Jeanette Nord for her tireless planning efforts, Laurel Ridge Community College, and our volunteers who made this event possible.