Gervais, Springsteen & More to Perform at STAND UP FOR HEROES Benefit Tonight, 11/8

The event, featuring performances by Mike Birbiglia, Ricky Gervais, Patton Oswalt, Jon Stewart, Bruce Springsteen and Robin Williams, is one of the centerpiece events of the 9th annual New York Comedy Festival, running Nov. 7-11, 2012, at venues throughout New York City. Tickets go on sale  Sept. 24 through www.ReMIND.org or www.nycomedyfestival.com. Corporate sponsor packages and VIP benefit packages can be purchased by emailing SUFH@remind.org.

Stand Up for Heroes brings together leaders from business, entertainment and philanthropy to raise funds for the Bob Woodruff Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to investing in national and community-based programs that connect our troops to the help they need—from individual needs like physical accommodations, job training and financial counseling, to larger social issues like homelessness and suicide prevention; educating the public about the needs of service members returning from war; and collaborating with key federal, state and local experts to identify and solve issues related to the successful return of service members from combat to civilian life.

"As we approach 11 years at war, the Bob Woodruff Foundation remembers. Less than 1 percent of the nation's population has stood up to serve overseas, many in multiple deployments, when their country asked them to go. And when our service members come home changed by the act of war, in need or looking for a new beginning, it is up to us as a nation to take care of our own and honor their sacrifices," said Lee Woodruff, co-founder of the Bob Woodruff Foundation. "Stand Up for Heroes is a special evening full of uplifting moments that unify and inspire us to do more on behalf of the heroes in our midst."

"Our veterans and returning service members are an inspiration to all of us, and we are so proud to once again partner with Bob and Lee Woodruff to help make sure our troops and families receive the support and services they require," saysCaroline Hirsch, founder of the New York Comedy Festival and owner of Carolines on Broadway.

The Bob Woodruff Foundation has invested more than $12 million to help wounded warriors and their families overcome the challenges they face as they transition and heal from the physical and hidden wounds of war. Funds raised at Stand Up for Heroes will be invested in programs that connect troops to the help they need—from physical rehabilitation and counseling, to education, employment and financial assistance, to help with larger issues like homelessness and suicide.

Now in its ninth year, the New York Comedy Festival (NYCF), in association with Comedy Central, will take place Nov. 7–11, 2012, in New York City with Stand Up for Heroes as one of the festival's centerpiece events. The five-day festival will continue with an all-star lineup featuring some of the biggest names in the industry including AZIZ ANSARI, Adam Carolla, Rob Delaney, Jim Gaffigan, Ricky Gervais, Kevin Hart, Artie Lange, Bill Maher, Patton Oswalt, Brian Regan, Marlon and Shawn Wayans, and Robin Williams. The NYCF's schedule will consist of more than 150 comedians performing in over 80 shows at iconic New York City venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Beacon Theatre, Madison Square Garden, Town Hall, the Apollo Theater and Carolines on Broadway.

The NYCF is produced by Carolines on Broadway. Sponsors are Citibank, Klondike®, JetBlue and SVEDKA Vodka. The media sponsors are: New York Post, Time Out New York, Variety and the Village Voice.

SUFH sponsors include GFI Group Inc., the Paul E. Singer Foundation, A&E Television Group, ABC Television Group, art of grace, Brown-Forman, CBS, Google, Inc., Havas Health and Havas PR, Hero Milies, JetBlue, JWT Worldwide, NBC Universal, PepsiCo, Purdue Pharma L.P., The Brightwater Fund, Thomson Reuters, Toyota. 

ABOUT THE BOB WOODRUFF FOUNDATION:

Cofounded by award-winning ABC News reporter Bob Woodruff after he sustained serious injuries while covering the Iraq War in 2006, the Bob Woodruff Foundation is the national nonprofit that helps ensure our nation's injured service members, veterans and their families return to a homefront ready to support them. BWF provides resources and support to service members, veterans and their families to successfully reintegrate into their communities so they may thrive physically, psychologically, socially and economically.

Across the country, BWF collaborates with organizations and experts to identify and solve issues related to the return of service members from combat to civilian life and invests in programs that connect our troops to the help they need—from individual needs like physical accommodations, job training and financial counseling, to larger social issues like homelessness and suicide prevention.

Through our charitable investment program we seek out innovative programs nationwide, many of them at the grassroots level, that are providing actionable and meaningful assistance to post-9/11 injured, wounded, or ill service members, veterans, their families and/or caregivers in the areas of education, employment, mental health and wellness, and community integration. BWF is finding and funding organizations that bring hope and fulfillment into warrior's lives and futures.

The Bob Woodruff Foundation has invested $12 million in over 70 organizations, impacting more than 1,000,000 service members, support personnel, veterans and their families nationwide. Together, with our partners, we are healing the physical and psychological wounds of war.

For sponsorship opportunities email SUFH@ReMIND.org

For more information about the Bob Woodruff Foundation please visit www.ReMIND.org  

ABOUT THE NEW YORK COMEDY FESTIVAL:

Now in its ninth 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 LOUIS C.K., Bill Maher, Ricky Gervais, Kathy Griffin, Dane Cook, Sarah Silverman, AZIZ ANSARI, Wanda Sykes and Joel McHale, 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 Robin Williams, Jon Stewart, Jerry Seinfeld, Lewis Black, Ricky Gervais, Conan O'Brien and Bruce Springsteen. Sponsors are Citibank, Klondike®, JetBlue and SVEDKA Vodka. The media sponsors are: New York Post, Time Out New York, Varietyand the Village Voice.