Stephen Colbert Helps Honor Michele Ganeless at Broadcast, Cable & Film Event rss

Playful humor? Check. Good-natured teasing? Check. An appreciation for helping people and giving back to the community? Check.

There was all that and more as Stephen Colbert, host of The Colbert Report, as well as comedian and actor Chris Hardwick helped honor Michele Ganeless, president of Comedy Central, at UJA-Federation of New York’s Broadcast, Cable & Film Division event on June 19th.

Guests from the media and entertainment industry turned out at The Edison Ballroom in Manhattan to pay tribute to Ganeless for her leadership in philanthropy and business. They also enjoyed hearing Colbert quip, “Why is this night different from any other night? Because I’m usually just in a video.” As he presented Ganeless with her award, Colbert added, “Thank you for the privilege of honoring my dear friend, Michele. Thank you, Michele, for being the kind of friend I can still call a real friend and for guiding me for 26 years.”

When Ganeless accepted the award, Hardwick, who hosted the evening, peeked through the stage’s backdrop curtain to watch. Only his head was visible, which made the audience laugh.

The honoree thanked her Comedy Central colleagues, all of the guests attending the event, and her children and family, who she said were most important to her. Ganeless reflected on how UJA-Federation helps people in need who are less fortunate, but that even her own family has benefited from The Jewish Community Center in Manhattan, one of the nonprofits in UJA-Federation’s network. “The JCC in Manhattan is a community center that serves my own family,” from preschool to bat and bar mitzvah programs, she said.

Michael D. Fricklas, executive vice president, general counsel, and secretary of Viacom and co-chair of UJA-Federation of New York’s Entertainment, Media & Communications Executive Committee, also noted that UJA-Federation “helps people no matter who or where they are,” and offers support for people with a wide range of needs, from overcoming poverty and hunger to job training.

Committed to Helping People
“We are all here tonight because we’re honoring Michele,” said Donna Orender, CEO of Orender Unlimited, one of the evening’s event chairs, and co-chair of UJA-Federation of New York’s Sports for Youth initiative. “But also because we are committed to helping people.”

Colleagues of Ganeless produced a tribute video that was a warm mix of respect, gentle ribbing, and heartfelt expression of congratulations on her “well-deserved” honor.

“Thank you for your generosity,” Hardwick told the guests. “The work UJA-Federation is doing is so necessary. Whatever you achieve in life, you don’t feel the molecules aligning until you’re giving back.”