Last week, Co-chairs John Mayer, Kelly Rizzo, Jeff Ross, and SRF Board Member, Susan Feniger presented and curated Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine, raising more than $1.2M for the Scleroderma Research Foundation (SRF) in a moving tribute to Bob Saget at the Beverly Wilshire.
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Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, John Mayer, and Jeff Ross, the signature fundraising event featured the biggest names in comedy and music to celebrate Saget’s work as a relentless champion for those affected by scleroderma.
Some of the world’s most talented performers generously donated their time to take to the stage to raise funds for the Scleroderma Research Foundation and to find a cure. Co-host Jimmy Kimmel kicked off the event, as John Mayer and Jeff Ross continued the evening’s festivities. The audience went wild when Dave Chappelle took the stage for a surprise performance, which included a touching moment where he shared a final video message he received from Saget. Chappelle also welcomed Bill Burr to the stage for a few impromptu jokes, as they riffed off one another. Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine featured performances by Howie Mandel and Kevin Nealon, with Joel McHale leading the live auction. John Stamos and Mike Binder presented a special tribute video honoring Bob’s legacy, and SRF Board Member Regina Hall introduced an intimate music performance by John Mayer. Attendees enjoyed a sit-down dinner curated by celebrity chef Susan Feniger.
As a longtime supporter and board member of Scleroderma Research Foundation—the country’s first and leading nonprofit investor in medical research into scleroderma—Bob Saget spearheaded Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine for 30 years. Since 1987, Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine has been a cornerstone of the SRF’s fundraising efforts, raising over $28 million to fund vital research, so that one day, no one will have to suffer from scleroderma.
“The heart and soul of every event is to raise as much money as possible for research…while laughing. It’s just part of what Bob has always taught me and taught everybody—to get through the hard times, you have to laugh,” says Kelly Rizzo.
“This is Bob’s legacy,” adds Jeff Ross. “It’s important for me to be here to keep Bob’s name alive. And most importantly: scleroderma sucks and they need to find a cure. I volunteered to host this year and we wound up having this amazing, powerful, healing event.”
“It’s been a huge loss and tonight is a personification of that loss. This was his pride and joy, and we are going to make sure to carry it on in his honor. We hope to bring as good of a job as he did, bringing awareness to this organization,” said John Mayer.
“It’s great to be able to do something positive to honor your friend. Most of the time, that’s not the case. To have something that will really help save other people’s lives is a real blessing,” said Jimmy Kimmel.
“Bob’s presence can never be replaced. This meant so much to him, so [now] we can honor his work, his legacy, and his spirit,” says Regina Hall.
