John Stamos Set for Bob Saget Legacy Award

The Scleroderma Research Foundation will honor John Stamos with the Bob Saget Legacy Award at its 2026 Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine benefit on October 13 at the Beverly Wilshire in Los Angeles. The event will pair a multi-course dinner curated by chef Susan Feniger with stand-up performances by Matt Friend, Ron Funches, and Lisa Ann Walter. Jeff Ross will return as host, while Seth Green will join as guest co-auctioneer for the live auction. Since 1987, the fundraising event has raised more than $30 million for scleroderma research.

Recognizing A Longtime Supporter

Introduced in 2023, the Bob Saget Legacy Award recognizes people who have used their voice to raise awareness and funds for scleroderma research. Stamos, a longtime friend of Saget’s, has supported the foundation’s mission for decades. In 2023, the Stamos family created three blue scleroderma awareness bracelets in partnership with My Saint My Hero, with 100% of proceeds donated to the foundation.

Kelly Rizzo, event co-chair, said:

“John Stamos was family to Bob in every sense of the word, on screen and off. In the years since we lost my husband, John has honored his friendship with Bob by showing up for the scleroderma community time and again. In presenting him with the Bob Saget Legacy Award, we're celebrating his generosity and his commitment to the fight for a cure.”

Comedy And Culinary Fundraiser

The 2026 program reunites several past Bob Saget Legacy Award recipients. New York Comedy Festival founder Caroline Hirsch and Grammy-winning musician John Mayer will return as co-chairs, joined by SRF Board Members Susan Feniger and Regina Hall. Adam Duritz, frontman of Counting Crows, is also a past recipient.

Funches, Friend, and Walter will take the stage alongside Ross. Green, known for work including “Robot Chicken,” “Austin Powers,” “Family Guy,” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” will help lead the live auction.

Jeff Ross, host of Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine, said:

“Bob was my brother, and he cared about ending scleroderma like nothing else. And this lineup? Ron, Matt, and Lisa Ann are going to tear the roof off that room. Bob would've loved every minute of it.”

Continuing Bob Saget’s Mission

Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine was organized and produced for decades by the late Bob Saget, whose sister Gay died from complications related to scleroderma. A member of the SRF Board of Directors, Saget spent 30 years raising funds and awareness for research into the rare autoimmune disease.

All proceeds from the event will support the foundation’s research programs and educational outreach. Sponsorships and tickets for Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine are now available.

Susan Feniger, chef and founding board member at The Scleroderma Research Foundation, said:

“As one of this Foundation's founding board members, I've been so proud of the progress we've made towards finding a cure, and Bob has been at the heart of it all for decades. The Bob Saget Legacy Award celebrates and continues his work, and no one represents it better than John. Honoring him is our promise that everything Bob gave to this cause will carry on.”