Stand Up for Heroes, presented by the Bob Woodruff Foundation and the New York Comedy Festival, tonight will hold its 17th annual celebration to honor U.S. military veterans and their families at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York.
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 10: Comedian Jon Stewart performs on stage at the New York Comedy Festival … [+]
The program will feature performances by comedians and musicians including Jimmy Carr, Ronny Chieng, Shane Gillis, Josh Groban, John Mellencamp, Tracy Morgan, Jon Stewart, The War and Treaty and Rita Wilson, and also spotlight stories of resilience and service of women and men who have served in the U.S. military.
Its goals are to raise awareness and funds for the Bob Woodruff Foundation, whose mission, it says, “is to ensure that our nation’s veterans, service members and their families — those who stood for us — have stable and successful futures.”
The foundation—which was established in 2006 after reporter Bob Woodruff was wounded by a roadside bomb while covering the war in Iraq—has invested over $120 million to support 20 million U.S. veterans and military families.
In 2007, New York Comedy Festival founders Caroline Hirsch and Andrew Fox and Bob and Lee Woodruff created this now annual event as a tribute to veterans and their loved ones. Since its inception, Stand Up for Heroes has raised $70 million, it says, “to help all veterans and military families have successful futures.”
Hirsch, founder and owner of the New York Comedy Festival and board member of the Bob Woodruff Foundation, said, “This special event is an unforgettable experience where attendees can experience the healing power of laughter and music while helping to provide long-lasting services to these extraordinary veterans.”
“Many veterans face challenges that include food and housing insecurity, social isolation, and health issues. Coming together to publicly support our nation’s 20 million veterans and military families is something that all of us can get behind,” said Anne Marie Dougherty, chief executive of the foundation.
Launched in 2004, the New York Comedy Festival was created by Hirsch and features over 150 shows across all of New York’s five boroughs.
