Tinley Native, TikTok Star To Give Away Hundreds Of Turkeys

TINLEY PARK, IL — A TikTok star with a soft spot for Tinley Park is doing his part to give back to the area this Thanksgiving, with a turkey giveaway set to take place the week before Thanksgiving.

Nearly a lifelong resident of Tinley Park, Ish Taher has built a TikTok following of 4.2 million, but it's the people in his hometown and the surrounding area who mean the most to him. He'll hand out 300 turkeys on a first-come, first-serve basis to area residents on Thursday, Nov. 17.

"Ideally it's to provide some financial ease for people that really need it," Taher told Patch.

It will be Taher's first year holding the giveaway, so he imagines there might be some kinks in the process.

"In terms of organization, I hope everyone can bear with us," Taher told Patch.

Taher, 28, is a graduate of Summit Hill District 161 and Lincoln-Way District 210's now-shuttered Lincoln-Way North High School. He aspired to acting and comedy after graduation, training at Second City Chicago and Black Box Acting. He'sappeared in a variety of films and series, and had been cast in a national Coca-Cola commercial before the onset of COVID-19, he said.

"Everything was good, and then TikTok came around, and the acting world closed," Taher said, "and I concentrated all my efforts on TikTok."

Taher's TikTok content is mostly comedic skits, but it's working. He was recently recognized as the #1 Tik Tok Streamer in the United States, according to a release.

"Comedy's a beautiful form of bringing joy to people," Taher told Patch. "I always feel like it's best if I laugh at myself—with me being the person being laughed at.

"It's providing people with some sort of happiness. So many people come to me and tell me that my content brightens their day, and that's why I do it."

Tinley Park "just feels like home," he said, so it seems natural to hold the giveaway in the area.

"People around here have big hearts," he said. "It's an area that will always be near and dear to my heart."

The giveaway will be held at the Country Club Hills Theater Pavilion, located at 4150 W. 183rd Street, Country Club Hills. The event will start at 3 p.m. and run until all turkeys are gone.

“Thanksgiving is a time for families and friends to gather and appreciate one another, but unfortunately, so many people are in a tough place financially and I’m hoping to provide them some ease,” Taher said. “I’ve always been really grateful for the opportunities I’ve received over the years, and since I am able to, I’d like to help those around me have a memorable holiday.”