Met Council on Jewish Poverty joins the nation in mourning entertainment legend Bob Saget, a hilarious comedian and a generous and giving man who helped Met Council’s emergency food programs at a time when they needed it most – during COVID. A familiar, fatherly face to a generation of Americans, Saget was a ubiquitous presence on television for decades and one of the funniest comedians in the business. Last February, Saget volunteered his talents with comedian Elon Gold for a star-studded performance of “Purim: Funny Story,” a hilarious retelling of the Purim story that raised $500,000 for Met Council’s COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund.
Bob stole the show as the evil Haman in a cast that included comedy legends Howie Mandel, Jeff Garlin, Jeff Ross, Susie Essman, and others. Met Council will forever be grateful for the hilarity and generosity he displayed by lending his talents to the role in our charity benefit special. More than 25,000 people tuned in to watch his antics live. It was an amazing, successful night. And thousands of New Yorkers benefited from the money raised during the show.
“Bob helped hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers get food during some of the darkest hours of the pandemic. It’s not surprising; it’s just another story of the person he was: generous and loving to a fault. We send our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, loved ones, and all Americans who loved him. We join you in mourning a great man,” said David G. Greenfield, CEO of Met Council. “Bob’s life was cut too short, but it was a life well lived. He brought joy to the lives of millions, earned himself a place on the pantheon of comedy, and made sure to use his good fortune in life to give back to those in need.”