Comic Relief To Honor Trevor Noah & Kristin Lemkau At Benefit Hosted By John Oliver 

Nonprofit Comic Relief has unveiled details for its annual Comic Relief Live benefit, hosted by comedian and late-night talk show host John Oliver. This year’s ceremony will honor comedian and author Trevor Noah with Comic Relief’s Icon Award and Kristin Lemkau, who serves as Chief Executive Officer of J.P. Morgan Wealth Management at JPMorgan Chase, with Comic Relief’s Visionary Award. 

The benefit takes place on Dec. 10 in the Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall in New York. Ticket packages and individual tickets went on sale today and can be purchased at comicrelief.org/live.

The lineup for the event includes performances and appearances by Tony Award-winning comedian, actor, and writer Ilana Glazer, acclaimed actor and singer Andrew Rannells, and Emmy Award-nominated comedian Roy Wood Jr., with additional celebrity appearances to be announced.

“We are incredibly proud to honor Trevor Noah and Kristin Lemkau, two extraordinary leaders whose dedication to helping children and families truly embodies the spirit of Comic Relief,” said Michele Ganeless, Chief Executive Officer, Comic Relief. “‘Comic Relief Live’ is also an ideal moment to celebrate our remarkable grantee partners who are on the front lines every day, making a tangible difference in people’s lives.”

The Icon Award recognizes “individuals in the entertainment industry who have leveraged their platform as a force for good, and whose actions have inspired the public to support children and young people facing poverty.” Noah and his Foundation are being honored “for their efforts to reimagine how youth learn, acquire skills, and harness the curiosity necessary to lead the next generation, and to create a world where education enables youth to dream, see, and build the impossible.” 

Last year, the award was given to Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, and Robin Williams (posthumously).

“I’m deeply honored to be recognized by Comic Relief, an organization that uses the power of laughter to effect positive change in the world and to help build a more hopeful future for kids,” said Trevor Noah. “The work that my foundation and I strive to do taps into that same belief system.”

Comic Relief’s Visionary Award is presented to “individuals whose exceptional professional, civic, and philanthropic endeavors have meaningfully and boldly created opportunities to support and empower others.” Lemkau is being celebrated for her “efforts to combat poverty, expand access to quality education, and champion community involvement as crucial for social impact.”

Sir Mark Thompson, Chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide, received last year’s Visionary Award.

“I’m humbled and deeply grateful to receive the Visionary Award from Comic Relief,” said Lemkau. “I’ve worked most of my adult life to support organizations that help children break the cycle of poverty. No child chooses to be born into systemic poverty, and every child deserves the help to break through the enormous headwinds it creates for them. The work Comic Relief does is absolutely staggering, to unify an entire industry to donate their time, talent, and dollars to help more than 35 million kids ‘build the impossible.'”

Funds from the annual “Comic Relief Live” benefit support the nonprofit’s “work empowering community-based partners who work tirelessly to help children in under-resourced communities get a great education, stay safe and supported, grow up healthy, and feel empowered to chase their dreams.” Comic Relief, which is a registered U.S. 501(c)(3) public charity, has raised more than $436 million and helped over 50 million children and families across the U.S. and around the world.