About Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine
History of Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine
Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine (CCHC) is the Scleroderma Research Foundation’s (SRF’s) signature fundraising event, featuring some of the world’s greatest comedians and performing artists. They all donate their time and talents to support SRF’s innovative research program and help raise awareness about this rare autoimmune disease.
SRF founder Sharon Monsky and current SRF Board member Susan Feniger hosted the first-ever CCHC in 1987, with Robin Williams as one of the inaugural performers. Five years later, actor/comedian Bob Saget took the stage at the 1992 event, the beginning of his life-long commitment to ending scleroderma. For more than 25 years he co-hosted this annual event alongside Susan Feniger, and in 2003 he became an SRF Board member and official chair of the event.
Since its inception, this high-profile evening has generated more than $31 million to support the work of the SRF and our commitment to finding improved treatments and—one day—a cure for scleroderma.
Past Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine Performers
Over the years, the Scleroderma Research Foundation has been fortunate to have had some of the world’s finest performing artists generously donate their time and talents at Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine, including:
- Jason Alexander
- Tim Allen
- Tom Arnold
- Dave Attell
- Joy Behar
- Bill Bellamy
- Richard Belzer
- Jack Black
- Lewis Black
- Jackson Browne
- Hannibal Buress
- Bill Burr
- John Candy
- Dana Carvey
- Wyatt Cenac
- Dave Chapelle
- Michael Che
- Ronnie Chieng
- Kelly Clarkson
- Andy Cohen
- Sheryl Crow
- Counting Crows
- Kelsey Cook
- Katie Couric
- Whitney Cummings
- Rodney Dangerfield
- Ellen DeGeneres
- Dana Delany
- Alex Edelman
- Jimmy Fallon
- Tina Fey
- Craig Ferguson
- Ben Folds
- Matt Friend
- Jim Gaffigan
- Zach Galifianakis
- Jeff Garlin
- Nikki Glaser
- Whoopi Goldberg
- Goo Goo Dolls
- Gilbert Gottfried
- Josh Groban
- Bill Hader
- Arsenio Hall
- Chris Hardwick
- Ken Jeong
- Jim Jefferies
- Jimmy Kimmel
- Jay Leno
- George Lopez
- Jon Lovitz
- Joel McHale
- Howie Mandel
- Marc Maron
- John Mayer
- Seth Meyers
- Dennis Miller
- Tracy Morgan
- Kevin Nealon
- B.J. Novak
- Neon Trees
- Conan O’Brien
- Rosie O’Donnell
- John Oliver
- Ms. Pat
- John Pinette
- Amy Poehler
- Colin Quinn
- Brian Regan
- Don Rickles
- Ray Romano
- Jeff Ross
- Bob Saget
- Jerry Seinfeld
- Garry Shandling
- Sherri Shepperd
- Sarah Silverman
- John Stamos
- Jon Stewart
- Lily Tomlin
- Train
- George Wallace
- Robin Williams
Bob joined the SRF Board of Directors in 2003, but he began his involvement in 1991 through the SRF’s annual signature event, Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine, first as an attendee, then the next year as a performer.
In a strange twist of fate, his sister Gay was diagnosed with scleroderma after his introduction to the SRF. When she passed from scleroderma complications, Bob became even more committed to finding a cure. He ultimately became a key figure not only in organizing and producing CCHC, but also contributing hugely to national awareness of this disease for 30 years.
Legacy Award Recipients
2025
Adam Duritz
2024
John Mayer
Jeff Ross
2023
Caroline Hirsch