John Stamos to be honored for longtime support of scleroderma research

Bob Saget Legacy Award will be presented at October SRF fundraiser

Written by Marisa Wexler, MS |

Dozens of awareness ribbons are shown blasting out of a megaphone cone.

John Stamos, the Emmy-nominated actor and producer known for his role on “Full House,” will receive the Bob Saget Legacy Award.

The Scleroderma Research Foundation (SRF) gives this award to individuals who have used their voices to raise awareness and support research for scleroderma. Stamos will be honored at the Cool Comedy, Hot Cuisine event, an annual SRF fundraiser set for Tuesday, Oct. 13, at the Beverly Wilshire in Los Angeles.

Since the late 1980s, the Cool Comedy, Hot Cuisine event has raised more than $30 million for scleroderma research. For decades, the event was hosted by the late Bob Saget, whose sister died of scleroderma-related complications. The SRF introduced the award bearing his name in 2023, following Saget’s death the prior year.

“In presenting [Stamos] with the Bob Saget Legacy Award, we’re celebrating his generosity and his commitment to the fight for a cure,” Kelly Rizzo, event co-chair, said in a press release from the SRF. Rizzo was married to Saget from 2018 until his death.

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Stamos has long supported scleroderma research

Stamos and Saget starred together on the long-running sitcom “Full House.” Stamos has also appeared on “General Hospital” and “ER” and has supported scleroderma research and awareness for decades.

“John Stamos was family to Bob in every sense of the word, on screen and off. In the years since we lost my husband, John has honored his friendship with Bob by showing up for the scleroderma community time and again,” Rizzo said.

The Cool Comedy, Hot Cuisine event will feature performances by comedians Matt Friend, Ron Funches, and Lisa Ann Walter. Seth Green will join the live auction as a guest co-auctioneer. The event will be hosted by Jeff Ross, a previous recipient of the Bob Saget Legacy Award.

“Bob was my brother, and he cared about ending scleroderma like nothing else,” Ross said. “And this lineup? Ron, Matt, and Lisa Ann are going to tear the roof off that room. Bob would’ve loved every minute of it.”

The evening will also include a multi-course gourmet dinner curated by chef Susan Feniger.

“As one of this Foundation’s founding board members, I’ve been so proud of the progress we’ve made towards finding a cure, and Bob has been at the heart of it all for decades,” Feniger said. “The Bob Saget Legacy Award celebrates and continues his work, and no one represents it better than John. Honoring him is our promise that everything Bob gave to this cause will carry on.”

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