Names and faces
Bruce Springsteen auctioned off the guitar around his shoulder for $250,000 to benefit wounded servicemen and women, the climax of Wednesday’s seventh annual “Stand Up for Heroes” benefit run by ABC newsman Bob Woodruff’s foundation. A row of comics — Jon Stewart, Bill Cosby, Jim Gaffigan and Jerry Seinfeld — preceded former Pink Floyd frontman Roger Waters, who played with a band featuring wounded veterans, and local hero Springsteen. The show at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York was beamed online through Google Plus and YouTube. Woodruff was nearly killed eight years ago by an improvised explosive device in Iraq. This year’s benefit, from which the Woodruffs hoped to raise $20 million, had a special emphasis on family caregivers who nurse veterans back to health. Rachel and Larkin O’Hern, from Belton, Texas, had the audience on its feet by telling their love story and Larkin’s arduous road to recovery after losing both legs and his right hand. The process, Larkin O’Hern said, is “the triumph of slim hope over crushing despair.”
Connie Francis, Alan Alda and Joe Montegna are joining forces to help raise money for veterans suffering the wounds of war. The trio will host the Homeward Bound telethon to benefit victims of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. The four-hour event, airing at 6 p.m. CST Sunday on the Military Channel, is a fundraiser for several charities. Other celebrities set to participate include Mark Harmon and other NCIS cast members, Kevin Spacey, Jason Bateman, Lou Diamond Phillips, Gloria Loring and James Brolin. Scheduled performers include the American Military Spouses Choir, Patti Austin, Michael Feinstein, Ben Vereen and Steve Tyrell. “This is a 45-year-old dream for me,” said Francis, who entertained troops during the Vietnam War. A telethon was needed then but the social climate wasn’t receptive to aiding veterans, the singer-actress said.