SRF’s Cool Comedy-Hot Cuisine Night Raises $800,000 for Scleroderma Research
At its 12th Annual Cool Comedy – Hot Cuisine gala in New York, the Scleroderma Research Foundation (SRF) raised almost $800,000 for scleroderma research.
Cool Comedy – Hot Cuisine is the SRF’s signature fundraiser. It’s a night of gourmet cuisine and entertainment, featuring celebrity chefs and appearances from some of the biggest names in comedy.
This year’s fundraising event, presented by Actelion Pharmaceuticals, along with The Arthur Zimtbaum Foundation, and Andrew and Violetta Merin, was held on Dec. 12 at Carolines on Broadway. Hosted by Bob Saget, a comedian, actor and SRF board member who lost his sister to the disease, the evening also included actress Dana Delany, a fellow SRF board member, who assisted Saget with the auction. Other featured comedians were Michael Che, John Oliver, and Jeff Ross.
The evening’s “hot cuisine” was prepared by “Top Chef Masters” like Susan Feniger (also an SRF board member) and Mary Sue Milliken, who prepared a multi-course dinner with dishes from their Border Grill Restaurants and featured wine from the Rombauer Vineyards, one of the event’s sponsor.
“I was overwhelmed by the generosity in the room. From my friends who generously donate their time and talent to the many giving individuals who helped us raise nearly $800,000, it was an amazing night. I am deeply proud of the impact Cool Comedy – Hot Cuisine has on the Scleroderma Research Foundation’s ability to fund the most promising medical research,” Saget said in a recent news release. “Until a cure is found, I will continue to dedicate my life to putting an end to this disease. It’s what I must do, it’s we what we must do for the patients.”
Since its inception in 1988, the event has raised millions of dollars for SRF to fund innovative research, bringing hope and helping to improve the quality of life for patients with this rare and debilitating disease. The event also serves to introduce scleroderma and the SFR, America’s largest nonprofit investor in scleroderma research, to thousands around the country. It is estimated that scleroderma affects about 20 cases per 1 million adults in the United States.
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