The Bob Woodruff Foundation Raises More Than $3 Million To Help Injured Troops And Their Families At Sixth Annual Stand Up For Heroes Benefit - and Now Joins The #GivingTuesday Initiative

NEW YORK, Nov. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Stand Up for Heroes, the Bob Woodruff Foundation's (BWF) annual benefit event and the kickoff for the New York Comedy Festival, on Nov. 8, 2012, brought together celebrities, service members and their families for a night of laughter and performances from A-list musicians and comedians, as well as wounded veterans, to raise funds for programs that the Bob Woodruff Foundation helps support. The proceeds from the sixth annual event, more than $3 million—bringing to $13 million the total funds raised for all Stand Up for Heroes benefits—will benefit organizations across the country vetted by the Bob Woodruff Foundation for their effectiveness and success.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121126/NY18310)

In addition, BWF is now joining the #GivingTuesday initiative in order to continue the momentum from the amazingly successful Stand Up for Heroes benefit, which will allow the foundation to fundraise via micro-donations and activating its social media constituency.

"We are thrilled with the results from Stand Up for Heroes—the generosity of spirit exhibited that evening from all the honored guests, performers and supporters is quite humbling," said Bob Woodruff, co-founder, the Bob Woodruff Foundation. "And now with #GivingTuesday, we're excited to see the spirit of the holiday season kick off in such a charitable way."

For the first time ever this year, the Stand Up for Heroes event was live streamed on YouTube—with performances by Bruce Springsteen (who was joined by his wife, Pattie Scialfa, for one song); John Mayer, who performed an instrumental version of the Beatles' "Long and Winding Road" on an electric guitar; Roger Waters, who took to the stage with a band of service members. Specifically for this event, Waters enlisted warriors from an organization the Bob Woodruff Foundation funds, the rehabilitation program MusiCorps—along with help from MusiCorps' founder Arthur Bloom. MusiCorps operates out of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Comedians who took the stage for this year's 6th annual Stand Up for Heroes event included Mike Birbiglia, Ricky Gervais, Patton Oswalt, Jon Stewart and Robin Williams.

The musical acts, as well as performances by the service members and interviews with celebrities in attendance, are still viewable on Remind.org. Donations can be made on the site, as well, at Remind.org, or by texting "BWF" to 50555 to donate $10. Follow the Bob Woodruff Foundation on Twitter @ReMIND and take action by participating in the #GivingTuesday movement this season on Nov. 27, 2012.

#GivingTuesday is a movement to celebrate and provide incentives to give, culminating with a national day of giving on Nov. 27, 2012. The effort harnesses the American spirit and collective power of a unique blend of partners—charities, families, businesses and individuals—to transform how people think about, talk about and participate in the giving season.#GivingTuesday will leverage the power of social media to create a better world. In addition to the Bob Woodruff Foundation, founding partners include Blackbaud, the Case Foundation, charity: water, Darden Restaurant Group, DonorsChoose.org, Global Giving, Groupon, Kiva, Mashable, Unilever, United Nations Foundation, United Way and VentureThree Capital.

About the Bob Woodruff Foundation
The Bob Woodruff Foundation is the nonprofit dedicated to ensuring injured service members, veterans and their families are thriving. A national organization with grassroots reach, the Bob Woodruff Foundation augments the work of the federal government, diligently navigating the maze of more than 40,000 nonprofits providing services to veterans, finds and funds the most innovative programs, and holds those programs accountable for measurable results. To date, through its charitable investments, the Bob Woodruff Foundation has invested more than $12 million in over 70 organizations, reaching more than 1 million service members, support personnel, veterans and their families. The foundation's investments are meeting the full spectrum of needs injured service members have—from medical care, physical accommodations and counseling to larger social issues like homelessness and suicide. 

The Bob Woodruff Foundation was co-founded in 2006 by award-winning anchor Bob Woodruff and his family, whose own experiences inspired them to make sure our nation's heroes have access to the high level of support and resources they deserve, for as long as they need it.

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

Media Contact:
Cindy Tanenbaum
917.538.1259
[email protected]

SOURCE Bob Woodruff Foundation

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