Passing gas during a silent quiz in his fifth grade Spanish class did more than make Charlie Nadler a hero among his 10-year-old companions, it gave him fodder for a comedy routine over two decades later. In Alive from Martha's Vineyard, Mr. Nadler’s new comedy album, he jokes about that moment. But his humor is definitely not limited to scenes from his childhood. Much of the material on the album comes from keen observations on the ironies of today’s middle class world. All proceeds from the album go to Alex’s Place, the teen center at the YMCA.

Mr. Nadler now lives in New York city but he was born and grew up on the Vineyard — he graduated from the regional high school in 2002. Though he was interested in performing as an adolescent, there wasn’t a place to explore the option on the Island.

“When I was growing up there was nowhere to do it,” he said in an interview by phone. Alex’s Place, which opened three years after Mr. Nadler graduated high school, offers the space for budding comedians, musicians and performers to learn and grow in a safe environment of their peers.

“There really wasn’t anything like that for teenagers that wasn’t affiliated with the high school,” Mr. Nadler said.

In the infancy of his comedy career, Mr. Nadler returned a few years ago to the Vineyard and performed in an open mic slot at Alex’s Place. It was a hit and he was invited back to perform a longer set. Alive from Martha's Vineyard is a recording of his second annual half-hour show at the teen center.

Mr. Nadler’s jokes focus mainly on himself, though he does step into the broader realm of politics. From online dating to overspending on brunch, farmers’ markets to subway etiquette and back to that fateful day in fifth grade where he just couldn’t hold it in, the 30-minute album maintains a quick pace in a relaxed manner. His jokes, though relating to current trends and events, also touch upon timeless topics of divorce, marriage and debt.

“I’m really interested in the shelf life of material,” he said. “I’m obsessed with finding stuff that lasts.”

Comedians such as George Carlin, Bill Hicks and Louis CK inspire him with their strong social commentary, but stand-up really came about by chance.

“Ideally I want to write for movies and T.V., I’m just too lazy to leave the house,” he said.

Growing up, Mr. Nadler admitted he was terrified of public speaking. “A fate worse than death,” he said. But he loved writing jokes, and he loved having an audience for those jokes. With the advent of the internet and instant messaging, Mr. Nadler found a virtual audience. Sitting behind the computer screen he could be funny but safe from stage fright.

But at the urging of his online audience, Mr. Nadler made a New Year’s resolution five years ago to try stand-up. A month shy of the year’s deadline, he fulfilled the resolution.

Now, he admits that taking his talents outside his own home has its benefits.

“With stand-up you get this immediate reaction,” he said. “It’s nice to be part of a group instead of being behind a computer screen all day.”

Mr. Nadler is not the first funny fruit to fall from the family tree. His parents, Holly and Marty Nadler, met when his mother came to pitch ideas for the sitcom Laverne and Shirley, which Marty wrote for.

“It definitely feels genetic,” said Mr. Nadler. “It feels like something I was destined to do, it came naturally.”

Mr. Nadler currently has a few regular gigs, including doing late night shows at Comic Strip Live in New York city. The decision to donate the proceeds from his first comedy album to Alex’s Place felt natural, he said, because he found it a special place that helped him refine his routines.

“I’d much rather give them the money, because they will make amazing use out of it, whereas I’d just waste it all on Uber and Seamless,” he wrote on the donation page of Play it Forward.

The album has been live for a week, and has already made nearly $800. It is available at Play it Forward (playitforward.com/projects/9) for a pay as you can donation.