Support The 'Woodruff Fund'

Bob and Lee Woodruff know how to draw a crowd.

They will be hosting the "Stand up for Heroes" gala on Nov 7th, those showing up include Journalists, Generals, Politicians & Comedians Coming Together To Support The Woodruff Fund, a partnership between the New York Comedy Festival and the Bob Woodruff Family Fund

Conan O'Brien hosts the event which is being chaired by Peter and Megan Chernin of News Corp., Bob Iger and Willow Bay of Disney, Les Moonves and Julie Chen of CBS, Dick and Laura Parsons of Time Warner and Jeff and Caryn Zucker of NBCU.

This event is billed as "an evening of laughter, tributes and gratitude dedicated to our nation's injured service members."

Those attending and making up the honorary committee are Generals Barry McCaffrey and John Abizaid; Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver; Senators Bob Dole, Elizabeth Dole, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Tim Johnson, John McCain, John Warner and Jim Webb; and presidential candidates John Edwards and his wife Elizabeth and Mitt Romney.

The benefit committee includes journalists Christiane Amanpour, Wolf Blitzer, Tom Brokaw, Steve Capus, Anderson Cooper, Katie Couric, Kimberly Dozier, Charlie Gibson, Kayce Jennings, Jon Klein, Sean McManus, Martha Raddatz, Tim Russert, Diane Sawyer, Lynn Sherr, Claire Shipman, Greta Van Susteren, Barbara Walters, Jim Walton, David Westin, and Brian & Jane Williams.

"We are a very lucky family with Bob's recovery and we are well aware that not every family has the outcome we have had," said Bob and Lee Woodruff. "We were determined to use our journey to draw attention to the number of traumatic brain injuries from this war and to ensure that all service members returning from the war continue to receive the best care and attention in rehab and beyond."

Those joining Conan O'Brien in hosting and perfoming will be Lewis Black, Bruce Springsteen, Robin Williams and Other Special Guests.

It takes place on November 7, 2007 at the New York City Town Hall

Proceeds from the evening going to the Bob Woodruff Family Fund

It will start at 8:00PM on wednesday November 7th.

The Honorary Committee for this unprecedented event to support our injured service members is led by President and Mrs. George W. Bush, President George H.W. Bush and President William J. Clinton.

Also joining the Honorary Committee are Senator Bob Dole, Senator Elizabeth Dole, General John Abizaid, Senator Joseph Biden, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Congressman Bill and Beverly Young, Senator Tim Johnson, General Barry McCaffrey, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, Senator Carl Levin, Vice Admiral Donald Arthur, Senator John Warner, Senator John and Elizabeth Edwards, Admiral Edmund Giambastiani, Senator Chuck Hagel, Senator Jim Webb, Senator John McCain, Congressman Steve Buyer, General Michael Hagee, Governor Mitt Romney, Judge William Sessions, Congressman Robert Filner, Congressman Duncan Hunter, Senator Robert Byrd, Congressman Walter Jones, Congressman Jerry Lewis, Senator Pat Roberts, Lieutenant General Gregory Newbold, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, Congressman Ike Skelton and others.

The growing Benefit Committee list includes Christiane Amanpour, Jeff Bewkes, Wolf Blitzer, Tom Brokaw, Tina Brown, Steve Capus, Anderson Cooper, Katie Couric, Kimberly Dozier, James Gandolfini, Charlie Gibson, Kayce Jennings, Jon Klein, Cindi Leive, Sean McManus, Janice Min, Robbie Myers, Martha Nelson, Mike Nichols, Dan Peres, Martha Raddatz, Kelly Ripa, Tim Russert, Diane Sawyer, Lynn Sherr, Claire Shipman, Leonard and Allison Stern, Greta Van Susteren, Barbara Walters, Jim Walton, Harvey Weinstein, David Westin, Brian and Jane Williams and Fareed Zakaria to name a few. In addition, GFI Group Inc. is a prime sponsor of the event.

"We are a very lucky family with Bob's recovery and we are well aware that not every family has the outcome we have had," said Bob and Lee Woodruff. "We were determined to use our journey to draw attention to the number of traumatic brain injuries from this war and to ensure that all service members returning from the war continue to receive the best care and attention in rehab and beyond."

The Bob Woodruff Family Fund assists service members injured while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Special emphasis is placed on the "hidden signature injuries" of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan traumatic brain injury (TBI) and combat stress injuries including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Fund works with private industry and government to develop public awareness and excellence in research, education, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, support and resources for the injured and their families as they reintegrate to duty or civilian life. For more information, please visit the Bob Woodruff Family Fund

For ticket information on the "Stand Up for Heroes: A Benefit for the Bob Woodruff Family Fund" event, please email Benefit or visit the site.

This event is produced by Caroline Hirsch, Lee Woodruff, Jeff Ross, Andrew Fox and Louis Faranda.

The Fourth Annual NYCF's roster also includes celebrated comics Rosie O'Donnell performing at Avery Fisher Hall on November 6; Sarah Silverman at Carnegie Hall on November 7; "Comedy Cares for the Homeless" with Joy Behar and Kathleen Madigan at Carolines on Broadway on November 7; Andy Borowitz "Countdown to '08" with Mo Rocca and Arianna Huffington at the 92nd Street Y on November 7; Denis Leary at the Beacon Theatre on November 8; Louis CK at Town Hall on November 8; The writers of the Late Show with David Letterman at the Paley Center for Media on November 9; Artie Lange at Town Hall on November 9; Damon Wayans at the Beacon Theatre on November 9; "Scrubs: The Farewell Tour" at the Paley Center for Media on November 10; Bill Maher at the Beacon Theatre on November 10; DL Hughley at Town Hall on November 10; ASSSSCAT with Matt Besser, Amy Poehler, Ian Roberts and Matt Walsh at Irving Plaza at 9 pm; and "Family Guy's" Seth MacFarlane at Avery Fisher Hall on November 11.

The NYCF sponsors include Jeep, American Express, exclusive broadcast partners WNYW/Fox 5 and WWOR/My9 New York, internet media sponsor MySpace.com, The New York Post and Time Out New York. The 2007 NYCF is produced by Carolines on Broadway and The Alliance Agency.

This ought to be an interesting, and well needed, fun event. It makes me wonder if there will be some well needed Public Sparks flying. Just looking at the cast of characters performing and the cast of characters sitting on the committee's one wonders if this somehow can bring about a togetherness that is greatly needed in this country. Will the closeness of the deverse ideologies bring about Common Sense and Real Conversation about the Realities we now live in? Will minds be changed? Will Real Support, and not just empty words, be spoken and understood? Will Real Representation come back to the People? Will life go on as it is now, after this event?

As a Veteran I know there probably will be many questions in the Veteran's Community, for I had them popping in my head as I read about this event.

Why is there such a need for this event, or any like it, being held to Support our Wounded and looking for funds to Support them and their families?

What if Bob Woodruff, or someone as prominant and having such damaging wounds, hadn't been so unlucky In-Theater, would others just take up this cause?

Why is there an extreme need for these types of events, most of those performing, hosting, and chairing this event are benefiting nicely from the huge taxcuts they received?

Where is the Sacrifice of the rest of the country, is just pulling out their wallets and giving a couple of bucks, than saying they "Support The Troops" enough?

Why is it this Country Cheers on Wars, like some sort of sporting event, which are Unnecessary, Tragic, and in most cases Illegal Conflicts {built on lies and supported on same}, than refuse to Honor the Contracts and Oaths of those they send into these Hells on Earth, which totally destroy the peoples lives, countries, cultures of those we wage them on?

There are, and have been, many more questions rolling through my little mind, as there are for most. Many of them are questions that shouldn't even exist, the answers should have been a part of this countries makeup and ideology if we really are a leading Nation of Example!

I Strongly Commend Bob and Lee Woodruff, for they Truely Recognize the Important Need, but that Need should not even exsist, and yet it does, and has, for Most Who Honorably Serve This Nation, Right or Wrong!!!!

So untill this Nation "Really Does Support" I ask you Support Bob and Lee and all the others that Really Recognize That Need, and Support what this country Really should be, not what we like to think and say it is, in our Arrogance and Apathy towards others!!!!