Joe Materese Joking for Mental Health at Greenfields Fire Hall

While mental illness is serious, comedian Joe Matarese is using humor to help fight it.

Matarese, who is regularly seen on E!’s Chelsea Lately, will headline at the Benefit for the National Alliance On Mental Illness (NAMI) at on Budd Boulevard Saturday night at 8 p.m. All proceeds go to NAMI.

“I love doing things like this,” said Matarese. “On my podcast, Fixing Joe, I will hear from people who talk about how it has helped listeners.”

Regularly, Matarese–who has admitted his own struggle with neuroses–will ask listeners and comedians to help “fix” him. In the process, fans of Matarese have found a kinship with the comedian that has spurred on their own recovery and help.

“We recently had former Howard Stern Show comedian Artie Lange talking about his struggles with addiction,” said Matarese, who added the experience was beneficial to both men, and being able to help raise money and awareness for NAMI was his way of helping.

Founded in 1979, NAMI “has been dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness.”

Matarese said he became involved with the Oct. 1 event when local filmmaker Sean Gardner contacted him.

"I'm headlining this show to help raise money for NAMI and it's open to the public, so please come out," said Matarese. "This connects well with Fixing Joe."

For the last two decades, Matarese has been a regular on the comedy circuit in New York City and across the country. He has been seen on The Late Show with David Letterman, Comedy Central Presents with his own half-hour special, The Howard Stern Show and Breuer Unleashed on Sirius Satellite Radio, as well as The Late Late Show with first host Craig Kilborn and second host Craig Ferguson, along with NBC's Last Comic Standing.

He also appeared on the Bravo reality series Better Half in which he was able to give his wife a lesson in stand-up comedy which won her the $20,000 grand prize.

In his usual self-deprecating fashion, he encourages anyone to “check him out [on stage, because] within minutes, you will feel like your life is perfect!”

For tickets and more information, visit spgfilms.com.