On Thursday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m., the La Cañada Presbyterian Church Parent Education program will be hosting its annual gala “A Night of Laughs – I Was a Great Parent Before I Had Kids” featuring Chris Erskine and John Cervenka with emcees Anne Bierling and Chuck Osburn. Participation in this virtual event is free, and viewers will enjoy a night of laughs, giveaways and even an opportunity to win a beach getaway.

Local restaurants Los Gringos and Dish in La Cañada have also offered to donate a portion of their proceeds to LCPC for meals purchased that evening. To RSVP, visit tinyurl.com/bclxzmpm.

Chris Erskine has been chronicling life in Los Angeles for more than 25 years. As a columnist for the Los Angeles Times, he wrote for the sports, travel, entertainment and lifestyle sections. Best known for his characterizations of suburban family life, he is the author of four books: “Surviving Suburbia,” “Man of the House,” “Daditude” and “Lavender in Your Lemonade.” The Chicago native has also worked for papers in Miami and New Orleans. Erskine raised his four children in La Cañada.

John Cervenka is a partner with The Aegis Group at Morgan Stanley and manages its Pasadena office. Prior to his career in institutional asset management, Cervenka was a television producer and writer with projects at FOX Studios, Sony Television, Spike TV and the Game Show Network. He is a west coast guy having attended San Marino High School, USC and the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona. He has also raised his four children in La Cañada.

Anne Bierling (MA, MFT) has been in the industry of helping families thrive for 32 years. A licensed marriage & family therapist, she is currently the director of LCPC Parent Education. While working as a family therapist in the ’90s, Bierling and her colleagues wrote “The Life Model” (which has been translated into 10 languages). She is also a frequent speaker at conferences. Prior to raising her three children and becoming a therapist, Bierling was a high school instructor, guidance counselor and assistant principal for seven years.

Rev. Dr. Chuck Osburn has been a pastor at LCPC for 45 years. Raised in Pittsburgh, Osburn became a Christian in high school through Young Life. After graduating from the University of Cincinnati, he went to Fuller Seminary earning an M.Div. and a license in marriage & family therapy. Known for his faithful pastoral care of the community, Osburn raised his family in La Cañada.

All proceeds from the event will benefit the La Cañada Parent Education program and its missions to serve others. Underwriters include: Melissa & John Schiller, Carrie & Peter Kingston, Dona & Gordon Crawford, Grace & Robert Lee

Jenn & Jeff Kliewer, The Milbrodt Family Trust, Stephanie & Charles Ginn, Cathy & Randy Steward, Cathie & Bob Bautista, Cristina & Ben Kelly, Compass Real Estate,

Jessica Chu/Calvin Cheng, Stephanie Ferguson/John Yslas and The Berns Team, Keller Williams Realty.