The 2023 “Cool Comedy Hot Cuisine” fundraiser for the Scleroderma Research Foundation was filled with tributes to the late comedian and scleroderma research advocate Bob Saget, who died in 2022.
Held at the Edison Ballroom in New York City on Wednesday night as part of the 19th annual New York Comedy Festival, the event was filled with tributes to Saget, who worked with the foundation for 30 years to raise money and awareness about the ravages of scleroderma, a devastating autoimmune disease.
Jeff Ross hosted the event, opening by saying, “Tonight will be a tribute to Bob, but also a look ahead at what we’re doing in the fight against scleroderma.”
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Thanks to an auction featuring items like a 10-day resort trip to Bali and a five-day trip to Tuscany as well as donations made during the event, the foundation raised an impressive $1.2 million for the cause.
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Dr. Luke Evnin, the chairman of the foundation’s board of directors, spoke about Saget’s contributions to the fight against scleroderma. “Bob and I worked together for over 20 years. … I always imagined Bob and I would be side-by-side up here to announce that we had made an incredible difference in this disease, and maybe even stand up here and announce a cure, but that’s not to be.”
Saget’s family — including his wife Kelly Rizzo, daughters Aubrey and Lara and nephew Adam Saget — were also in attendance, joined by the “Full House” star’s TV daughter Ashley Olsen.
Caroline Hirsch was honored with the first ever Bob Saget Legacy Award during the event. Hirsch is the founder and owner of Carolines comedy club and the New York Comedy Festival. She had worked with Saget throughout the years to attract top talent to past “Cool Comedy” events.
The evening also featured performances by top comedians like Ronny Chieng, Nikki Glaser and Michael Che, and a special musical performance by Adam Duritz & David Immerglück of Counting Crows.
The menu was curated by chef and foundation board member Susan Feniger. It included a tuna tiradito appetizer, an Indian crispy chicken main course, and an Egyptian semolina cake for dessert.
