NEW YORK, Sept. 13, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Few events have created more of a lasting impact on the lives of our nation's injured veterans and their families than Stand Up for Heroes (SUFH), returning for its 10th anniversary to the Theater at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, November 1. This year's event will include performances by Louis C.K., Jim Gaffigan, Jerry Seinfeld, Bruce Springsteen and Jon Stewart. Beyond the laughs and music, the audience can expect more than a few heart-warming moments and surprises while honoring those who serve and reflecting on the effect a decade of support has provided. Stand Up for Heroes is presented by the Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF) and the New York Comedy Festival (NYCF).
Since its inception in 2007, the benefit for the BWF has raised more than $33 million to create long-lasting positive outcomes for our nation's wounded, ill, and injured veterans, service members and their families.
"We look forward to Stand Up for Heroes each year not only because it's grown into New York's biggest night of comedy and music, but because a decade of laughter has translated into a lifetime of immeasurable support for our nation's injured heroes," said Bob Woodruff, co-founder and ABC news correspondent. "As we commemorate the 15th anniversary of 9/11 and the wars that have followed, it's important not to lose sight of the fact that a small percentage of our population stood up for us—it's now our turn to stand up for them."
In 2006, Bob and Lee Woodruff found themselves facing similar challenges to injured service members during Bob's recovery from injuries sustained by a roadside bomb while covering the war in Iraq for ABC News. Inspired by their experiences, they resolved to ensure that our nation's heroes have access to the same level of support and resources.
Since then, the Bob Woodruff Foundation has established itself as a leader in the veteran community by forging partnerships at the highest levels of government, military, business and philanthropy. Beyond reaching more than 2.5 million veterans, service members and their family members, investments in programs have bolstered hundreds of nonprofits serving veterans.
Stand Up for Heroes became the brainchild of the Woodruffs and New York Comedy Festival founders Caroline Hirsch and Andrew Fox as a tribute to these heroes.
"We could not be more proud to partner with the Bob Woodruff Foundation to celebrate such an incredible milestone as the 10-year anniversary of Stand Up for Heroes," says Caroline Hirsch, Bob Woodruff Foundation board member and founder of the New York Comedy Festival and Carolines on Broadway. "The organization's remarkable perseverance, passion and contribution to wounded soldiers and their families is outstanding. Nothing would be possible without the time and dedication from all of the performers and supporters of the organization over the years."
Stand Up for Heroes continues to expand and grow due to its remarkable success. Beginning at Town Hall the event moved to the Beacon Theater in 2010, and landed at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in 2013. Over the past nine years, comedians and performers including Louis C.K., Stephen Colbert, Jim Gaffigan, Ricky Gervais, John Mayer, Seth Meyers, Conan O'Brien, Jerry Seinfeld, Jon Stewart, Brian Regan, Ray Romano and Robin Williams have taken the stage to advocate for extraordinary servicemen and women. Bruce Springsteen has performed at every Stand Up for Heroes.
Tickets for Stand Up for Heroes go on sale today at 12:00PM EST through bobwoodrufffoundation.org , nycomedyfestival.com or ticketmaster.com . For those unable to attend, an online auction offers a variety of high-end experiences and items for bid. Corporate sponsor packages and VIP benefit packages can be purchased by emailing sufh@bobwoodrufffoundation.org .
Stand Up for Heroes will kick off, and is one of the centerpiece events of, the New York Comedy Festival. The 13th installment of the festival runs November 1 – 6, 2016 and takes place at venues throughout New York City. The NYCF's schedule will consist of more than 200 comedians -- including Eric Andre, Fred Armisen, Dane Cook, Chris D'Elia, Cameron Esposito, Bridget Everett, Hari Kondabolu, Bill Maher, Marc Maron, T.J. Miller, Tim Minchin, Tracy Morgan, Trevor Noah, Tig Notaro and Patton Oswalt, performing in over 60 shows at iconic New York City venues such as the Beacon Theatre, Carnegie Hall, Carolines on Broadway, Madison Square Garden, The Theater at MSG and Town Hall.
Presented by the Bob Woodruff Foundation and the New York Comedy Festival, the 10th annual Stand Up for Heroes is brought to you by Veterans on Wall Street and supported by founding sponsor GFI Group Inc., and the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation. This year's sponsors for Stand Up for Heroes include: The Paul E. Singer Foundation, craigconnects, Jack Daniel's, 21st Century Fox, J. Walter Thompson, HAVAS PR & HAVAS Health, JetBlue, Thomson Reuters, and the Barbara Bradley Baekgaard Foundation.
ABOUT THE BOB WOODRUFF FOUNDATION
The Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF) was founded in 2006 after reporter Bob Woodruff was hit by a roadside bomb while covering the war in Iraq. Since then, the Bob Woodruff Foundation has led an enduring call to action for people to stand up for heroes and meet the emerging and long term-needs of today's veterans. To date, BWF has invested more than $33 million to find, fund and shape programs that have empowered more than 2.5 million impacted veterans, service members and their families. For more information, please visit bobwoodrufffoundation.org or follow us on Twitter at @Stand4Heroes.
ABOUT THE NEW YORK COMEDY FESTIVAL
Now in its thirteenth year, the New York Comedy Festival is produced by Carolines on Broadway in association with Comedy Central. The festival has featured the country's top comedians, including Aziz Ansari, Judd Apatow, Hannibal Buress, Bill Burr, Louis C.K., Margaret Cho, Billy Crystal, Larry David, Ricky Gervais, Kathy Griffin, Kevin Hart, John Leguizamo, Norm Macdonald, Bill Maher, Tig Notaro, Nick Offerman, Amy Schumer, Sarah Silverman, and Wanda Sykes, to name a few. In 2007, the festival launched the "Stand Up for Heroes" event to benefit The Bob Woodruff Foundation, which has featured performances by Ricky Gervais, John Mayer, Seth Meyers, John Oliver, Conan O'Brien, Ray Romano, Jerry Seinfeld, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Stewart, and Robin Williams, among others. To date, the "Stand Up for Heroes" events have raised over $33 million. For more information please visit the NYCF website, like the NYCF Facebook page, and follow the NYCF on Twitter, @NYComedyFest. This year the festival has a new hashtag — #MakeNYLaugh — for use in all of its social media platforms.
PRESS CONTACTS: NEW YORK COMEDY FESTIVAL | FRANK PR | 646.861.0843 STEPHANIE DAVIDSON | CLARE ANNE DARRAGH | LINA PLATH | BOB WOODRUFF FOUNDATION | 646.257.5490 SAM KILLE | KATHERINE COOK | CINDY TANENBAUM | HAVAS PR | 917.538.1259
