Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine
A Tribute to Bob Saget
Benefitting the Scleroderma Research Foundation
Wednesday, November 8
at the Edison Ballroom, New York City as Part of the 19th Annual New York Comedy Festival
Caroline Hirsch to be honored with the
first-ever Bob Saget Legacy Award
The Scleroderma Research Foundation (SRF)—the country’s first and leading nonprofit investor in medical research into scleroderma—announced today that Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine, a tribute to Bob Saget, will recognize and honor long-time SRF Board Member Bob Saget, who spearheaded the signature event for 30 years, on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. at the Edison Ballroom (240 W 47th Street, New York, NY) as part of the 19th annual New York Comedy Festival. Friends of Bob Saget, which include some of the world’s greatest comedians and performing artists, will be on hand to shine a spotlight on scleroderma and raise vital funds for the SRF’s research and education programs. Hosted by Jeff Ross, Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine is co-chaired by Susan Feniger, Regina Hall, and Kelly Rizzo. The event will feature Michael Che, Nikki Glaser, and Jeff Ross, alongside musicians Adam Duritz and David Immerglück of the Counting Crows, and additional guests to be announced at a later date.
At this year’s event, the SRF will debut the Bob Saget Legacy Award, which will honor individuals who have followed in his footsteps by going above and beyond to help raise awareness about scleroderma and funds to find a cure. The inaugural award will be presented to Caroline Hirsch, founder and owner of Carolines and the New York Comedy Festival.
“This fall, we’ll hold Bob in our hearts as we pay tribute to his dedication to supporting the Scleroderma Research Foundation in honor of his sister,” says Susan Feniger. “With Cool Comedy Hot Cuisine returning to New York, I am thrilled to honor Caroline, one of Bob’s longtime friends and a key supporter of the SRF. Caroline and Bob worked together to attract talent from across comedy and music to Carolines on Broadway for past Cool Comedy events. It was through laughter that this event has touched many lives, and Caroline’s involvement was crucial to the success of raising awareness and funds for the SRF.”
“This tribute is powerful and healing, bringing together an amazing group of performers to celebrate Bob’s dedication to the cause and to find a cure for scleroderma. This is Bob’s legacy, and it is important for me to volunteer in the planning and hosting to keep his name alive,” says Jeff Ross.
“After my mother was diagnosed with Scleroderma in 2006, Bob was there to support and was a guiding force as I deepened my support for scleroderma research,” says Regina Hall. “While we can never replace Bob’s presence, Cool Comedy Hot Cuisine allows us to honor his work, legacy, and spirit.”
“I am truly humbled to be receiving the inaugural Bob Saget Legacy Award from the Scleroderma Research Foundation. Bob was a dear friend and his passing was a great loss for all of us,” said Caroline Hirsch. “He used his platform to bring awareness to scleroderma, and his tireless efforts have undoubtedly made a significant impact in the fight against this disease. I want to thank everyone at the Scleroderma Research Foundation for their dedication to this cause. Your unwavering commitment to finding a cure for scleroderma is truly inspiring.”
Since 1987, the SRF has hosted Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine, featuring the biggest names in comedy to raise critical funds for research and awareness. The SRF is the United States’ leading nonprofit investor in scleroderma research. Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine has been a cornerstone of the SRF’s fundraising efforts, raising over $28 million to fund research so that one day, no one will suffer from scleroderma.
In 2022, the sold-out event raised more than $1.3 million when Saget’s wife, Kelly Rizzo, joined as co-chair for the first time. Since its inception, SRF founding board member Susan Feniger has helped lead Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine and, alongside Rizzo, is now joined by SRF board member Regina Hall. Jeff Ross, a long-time supporter of the SRF and close friend to Saget, will return as host, a role Saget shared for many years with Feniger.
“I am honored to continue the legacy that Bob built, by working with his closest friends to create an unforgettable night with the same goal that Bob had—to raise as much money as possible for scleroderma research,” says Kelly Rizzo. “Laughter was at the heart of everything Bob did, and Cool Comedy Hot Cuisine is no exception. We look forward to filling the room full of laughter, all in the spirit of finding a cure.”
Saget passionately championed the Scleroderma Research Foundation since losing his sister Gay to the disease in 1994. Saget joined the Scleroderma Research Foundation Board of Directors in 2003. However, his involvement began in 1991 through the SRF’s annual signature event, Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine—as an attendee, then the next year as a performer, and ultimately as a key figure in organizing and producing the event. He brought together the best comedians, musicians, and more, raising over $29 million toward funding research. Saget actively contributed to the day-to-day operations of the SRF and played a pivotal role in its success. He met with patients, built lasting relationships through his gift of storytelling and laughter, and shared his own experience of the impact of scleroderma on his own family’s life. He passionately sought to find a cure and connected deeply with those affected by the disease.
Sponsorships starting at $1,000 are now available. A limited number of individual tickets at $750 are now available as well, and more will be made available in the coming weeks. For more information, visit www.srfcure.org/cchc.
Scleroderma, often misdiagnosed, is a rare and often life-threatening autoimmune disease that can cause fibrosis in the skin and other vital organs. In the most severe cases, complications can damage the heart, lungs, and digestive system. The SRF funds and facilitates the most promising, highest-quality research aimed at improved therapies and, ultimately, a cure for scleroderma.
