Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa, Jim Gaffigan, Norah Jones, Jerry Seinfeld, Jon Stewart, Questlove and Mark Normand are confirmed for the 18th annual Stand Up for Heroes benefit, which will take place on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, as part of the New York Comedy Festival.
The annual event, which raises awareness and funds for the Bob Woodruff Foundation, whose mission is to ensure that our nation’s veterans, service members, and their families have stable and successful futures will take place at David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center in Manhattan and feature performances by these and other stars of music and comedy.
At least one of the musicians on the bill has proven himself to be adept at comedy as well. In the past, Springsteen — who is a regular at the event and aced an extended cameo on the last season of Larry David’s Curb Your Enthusiasm — has peppered his set with dirty jokes such as this one he told at the 2022 event: “During sex, you burn off as many calories as if you ran 8 miles,” he said. “But who can run 8 miles in 30 seconds? Got that off the Internet.”
“For 17 years, at each Stand Up for Heroes, I’ve been impressed to see so many come together to honor the bravery and resilience of our veterans,” said Woodruff, an ABC correspondent who suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2006 while covering the Iraq War, and after battling his way back to health created the foundation. “Our 18th event will be another outstanding tribute to those who served and a reminder to all of us of the debt we owe them and their families for their service and sacrifices.”
Jim Gaffigan performs onstage during the 15th Annual Stand Up For Heroes benefit at Alice Tully Hall presented by Bob Woodruff Foundation and NY Comedy Festival on Nov. 8, 2021 in New York City.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for SUFH
In 2007, New York Comedy Festival founders Caroline Hirsch and Andrew Fox partnered with Bob and Lee Woodruff to create this special event as a tribute to impacted veterans and their loved ones. Since its inception, Stand Up for Heroes has raised $84 million to date to help all veterans and military families have successful futures. Over the past 17 years, comedians and performers including John Mellencamp, Stephen Colbert, Eric Church, Sheryl Crow, Gaffigan, Whoopi Goldberg, The Lumineers, John Mayer, Seth Meyers, Hasan Minhaj, Tracy Morgan, John Mulaney, Trevor Noah, Conan O’Brien, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The War and Treaty and Robin Williams have taken the stage to advocate for our extraordinary service members.
“Eighteen years of comedy and music have transformed into a powerful force for good. As Stand Up For Heroes celebrates its 18th anniversary on Veterans Day, alongside the New York Comedy Festival’s 20th, we’re humbled to once again unite comedy’s brightest stars with a shared mission: to honor and support our nation’s heroes. Together, we’ll laugh, inspire, and invest in the futures of those who’ve sacrificed so much for our freedom,” said Hirsch, who is a foundation board member.
Jon Stewart performs onstage during the 17th Annual Stand Up For Heroes Benefit presented by Bob Woodruff Foundation and NY Comedy Festival at David Geffen Hall on Nov. 6, 2023 in New York City.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Bob Woodruff Foundation
“Stand Up for Heroes, a night of hope, healing, and laughter to honor our nation’s veterans and their families, fittingly takes place on Veterans Day this year,” said Anne Marie Dougherty, CEO of the Bob Woodruff Foundation. “As a nation, it’s our privilege and our duty to stand with them, and to ensure they receive the support they’ve earned. Our event is a powerful platform to help us spread that message.”
Tickets go on sale Sept. 5 at the event’s website.
