Tim Allen, Jon Lovitz, Bob Saget and Robin Williams 'Stand-Up' for 13th Cool Comedy - Hot Cuisine, a Benefit for Scleroderma Research on March 26 With Special Musical Kick Off by John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls

    BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., March 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Tim Allen, Bill Bellamy,
 Jon Lovitz, Bob Saget, and Robin Williams are among the extraordinary
 collection of comedians who will take to the stage on Friday, March 26, at the
 Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel to benefit the Scleroderma Research Foundation.
 This stellar lineup will be kicked off by John Rzeznik of The Goo Goo Dolls
 singing his world famous song, Iris.
     The event is Cool Comedy - Hot Cuisine -- an evening of world-class comedy
 and gourmet dining to raise awareness and funds aimed at finding a cure for
 scleroderma, the debilitating and often deadly disease affecting more than
 300,000 Americans.
     Cool Comedy - Hot Cuisine is the flagship fundraiser of the Scleroderma
 Research Foundation, the only organization in the nation dedicated exclusively
 to raising the funds necessary to find a cure for this life-threatening
 illness.  Led by Saget in his sixth appearance, each talent will perform live
 on stage at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel for one of the most successful
 charitable events of the social season (last year's gala boasted net revenues
 in excess of $1,000,000).
     The evening's "hot cuisine" will include a sumptuous five-course feast
 prepared by celebrity chefs and renowned Los Angeles restaurateurs Susan
 Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken, television's "Too Hot Tamales" and chef-owners
 of award-winning Border Grill (Santa Monica/Las Vegas) and Ciudad restaurants.
     Guests will be seated among stars from the worlds of television, film,
 sports, politics, music, and business.  A live auction hosted by comedian Bill
 Bellamy will feature exclusive packages including tickets to Super Bowl XXXIX
 in Jacksonville, Florida, a private jet charter for 50 guests to Las Vegas, a
 Hollywood package complete with 'walk-on' role on NBC's Will & Grace, a magnum
 collection of extremely rare wines from Napa Valley's most respected vintners,
 and more.
     Cool Comedy - Hot Cuisine proceeds will benefit scleroderma research at
 leading U.S. medical institutions such as Dartmouth, Duke, Johns Hopkins, Ohio
 State, Stanford, UC San Francisco, and others.
     Scleroderma is a chronic, often life-threatening disease of the connective
 tissues affecting as many Americans as multiple sclerosis, more than muscular
 dystrophy, and 1/3 as many as HIV.  Approximately 80% of scleroderma victims
 are women in the prime of their lives, but the disease also strikes men and
 children across all ages and ethnic boundaries.
     The word scleroderma is Greek and literally means "hard skin."  The
 disease is most serious when it affects internal organs, causing severe damage
 and serious complications to the body's digestive, respiratory, circulatory,
 and immune systems.
     Since its founding in 1987 by scleroderma patient, the late Sharon Monsky,
 the Scleroderma Research Foundation has mobilized and developed an acclaimed
 national scientific and medical research program focused on the highest
 quality medical research.  The organization is focused on research at the
 cellular level to understand the mechanisms of the disease and ultimately
 develop therapies to stop or reverse its progress.
     Cool Comedy - Hot Cuisine was established in 1988 and has since welcomed a
 long list of leading celebrities to the stage, donating their considerable
 talents to elevate the profile of the disease and raise millions of dollars
 for scleroderma research.
     The goal of the Scleroderma Research Foundation is to "go out of
 business."  The focus, clear and specific: to find a cure for scleroderma.  To
 date, the Foundation has raised more than $16 million toward that goal.
     Individual tickets for Cool Comedy - Hot Cuisine are $500; $1,000; and
 $2,500, with proceeds going directly toward the nationally recognized programs
 of the Scleroderma Research Foundation.  Advance reservations are required.
 Table prices range from $5,000 to $100,000.  To purchase, call (310) 914-9100.
 
 For more information call (805) 563-9133.
 
     For further information, please contact: Charles Spaulding of Scleroderma
 Research Foundation, +1-805-563-9133, ext. 18, or fax, +1-805-563-2402,
 cspaulding@sclerodermaUSA.org ; or for tickets, +1-310-914-9100.
 
 

SOURCE  Scleroderma Research Foundation