We’re talking about comedy and humor this week and today we’re going to talk about Stand Up for Heroes. A partnership between the New York Comedy Festival and the Bob Woodruff Foundation, Stand Up for Heroes is an annual benefit to raise funds for the Foundation. Started by its namesake, Bob Woodruff, and his wife, Lee, The Bob Woodruff Foundation gives back to those who “stood up for us.”
Woodruff, if you’re not familiar with his story, is the son of a Korean war veteran and the grandson of a veteran who served in WWI and WII. In 2006, Woodruff was an ABC journalist imbedded with forces in Iraq when he was badly injured in an IED explosion. Saved by US troops, he spent 36 days in a coma and another thirteen months recovering from his traumatic brain injury. Suffering from an injury which is incredibly common in those who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, Woodruff understands first-hand the struggle that so many veterans are facing and created the Bob Woodruff Foundation as a way to support them.
The Stand Up for Heroes benefit brings together wounded veterans, their families, and celebrities for a night of fundraising and entertainment. Big name comedians, such as Jon Stewart, Robin Williams, Jimmy Kimmel, and Jerry Seinfeld, and musicians, such as Bruce Springsteen, Roger Waters, and John Mayer, have all donated their time and talent for this benefit. In its eighth year, the benefit has raised over $16 million dollars. That money, eighty-seven cents of every dollar, has been dispersed to a variety of organizations dedicated to supporting post-9/11 wounded veterans and their families. Grant recipients include Farmer Veteran Coalition, The Telling, Student Veterans of America, Team Rubicon and others.
This year’s benefit will be held 5 November 2014 at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. You can find out more about the benefit and the Bob Woodruff Foundation on the Foundation’s webpage, Facebook page, and Twitter feed.
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