Star-studded Scleroderma Fundraiser ‘Cool Comedy – Hot Cuisine’ Set for April 25 in Beverly Hills

While finding a cure for scleroderma is serious business, the Scleroderma Research Foundation (SRF) mixes in comedy, show business, and good food at its celebrity-filled fundraiser, ‘Cool Comedy – Hot Cuisine.’

Held this year at the Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire on April 25, the event will be hosted by scleroderma activist and stand-up comedian Bob Saget, whose sister died from scleroderma complications. Proceeds will benefit SRF’s research and awareness-building efforts.

The evening of levity and gourmet cuisine will feature comedians Ken Jeong, Ray Romano, and a special guest, plus actor John Stamos. The night’s Hot Cuisine portion will spotlight Latin-inspired courses by celebrity chefs and restaurateurs, Susan Feniger, an SRF board member, and her business partner Mary Sue Milliken.

Also in attendance will be television writing and producing legend Norman Lear, plus actors Jodie Sweetin, John Brotherton, Candace Cameron-Bure, Adam Hagenbuch, Kevin Connolly, Doug Ellin, Seth Green, Jonathan Silverman, Peri Gilpin, and more. The event also includes a live auction.

“The night is about finding a cure,” Saget said in a news release. “All of our money goes right to research. The evening will have the best four-course meal, the best wines and the best talent you can have.”

Cool Comedy-Hot Cuisine memories. Photo credit: Business Wire

In the last 32 years, the event has raised more than $48 million for research to help find a cure and, in the interim, better therapies. Last year’s event in New York City raised about $1 million. Tickets range from $500 for individuals, to $5,000 to $75,000 for tables. Visit this page to purchase tickets and for more information.

Founded in 1987, the SRF is the nation’s largest non-profit investor in research for this chronic, autoimmune disease. It was founded by patient and advocate Sharon Monsky, who died from scleroderma in 2002 at the age of 48.

“I establish(ed) an organization that would bring the best of science and technology together in an effort to discover better treatments and a cure for people everywhere living with scleroderma,” Monsky said about the Foundation.

According to SRF, the success of previous ‘Cool Comedy – Hot Cuisine’ events held in New York and Los Angeles raised considerable awareness for scleroderma, and allowed the Foundation to fund relevant research projects with the goal of improving the quality of life for patients.

It is estimated that 300,000 U.S. residents have scleroderma, most of them women. The exact disease cause is unknown.