Our signature event, 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 programs and help raise awareness about this rare autoimmune disease.

Scleroderma Research Foundation 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 a Scleroderma Research Foundation Board member and official chair of the event.

CCHC has been traditionally held in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Las Vegas. Guests are treated to exceptional cuisine prepared by Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken, both Bravo TV Top Chef Masters.

Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine attendees have included generous partners and supporters from the entertainment world and corporate industries, as well as patients, physicians, and many others who have been directly or indirectly affected by scleroderma.

Over the years, this high-profile evening has generated more than $30 million to support the work of the Scleroderma Research Foundation and our commitment to finding improved treatments and – one day – a cure for scleroderma.

The Bob Saget Legacy Award

For more than 30 years, SRF Board member Bob Saget was a passionate advocate for the scleroderma community. Although we and the world mourned his loss in 2022, the SRF remains committed to Bob’s vision of a world free from scleroderma.

To honor his legacy, we established the Bob Saget Legacy Award to recognize individuals who, like Bob, use their voices and talents to raise awareness and funds to find a cure.