A very merry evening full of laughter and giving, just in time for the holiday season!
Monday December 12th Comic Relief US, a non-profit centered around dismantling intergenerational poverty, honors American activist, designer, philanthropist and Funny or Die owner and chairman, Henry R. Muñoz III.
Comic Relief US hosts their inaugural winter fête at Cipriani 25 Broadway in lower Manhattan. In attendance are star-studded guests like John Oliver (comedian and television host), Ana Navarro (The View co-host), Roy Wood Jr. (comedian and former correspondent of The Daily Show), Melora Hardin (actress and singer), Phoebe Robinson (comedian, writer, and Everything’s Trash creator), Alex Edelman (Comic), and Joanna Coles (producer, author, and former Hearst Chief Content Officer).
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden delivers a sweet message via video praising the work and vision of the honoree of the evening, Mr. Henry Muñoz. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks on behalf of her close friendship with the recipient, and The View’s Ana Navarro presets Muñoz with the Visionary Award.
Muñoz has launched national movements in support of the empowerment and orientation of the Latino community, including Momento Latino, TheDream.US and Latino Victory. The advocate and business leader is one of the few Latino and openly gay studio owners in Hollywood and continues to pushing for more minority representation among major distributers. Henry was recently nominated for Tony Awards as a producer for the Broadway shows Some Like It Hot and New York, New York, and is also a producer of the Broadway revival of Funny Girl.
The evening endures with hilarious comedy sets by Phoebe Robinson, Alex Edelman, and John Oliver, Denée Benton’s beautiful rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Someday at Christmas,” and a surprise performance of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You,” by Love Actually actress Olivia Olson.
Joined by auctioneer Lydia Fenet, Comic Relief US raises $300K in donations and the evening’s proceeds will support the organization’s work towards addressing the causes and results of poverty, like disparities within the education system, and access to housing and healthcare.
“Through our work, we are ensuring that we change the cycles of intergenerational poverty for children and young people, and in Comic Relief US fashion, we’ll share a few laughs along the way,” says Comic Relief US CEO Alison Moore.
Since 2015 Comic Relief US has raised over $365M and continues to impact and aid children in the US and around the world. For more information about Comic Relief US, visit https://www.comicrelief.com/. Follow @ComicReliefUS on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Facebook.
Below are a few festive images from the gala.
