Who Are We?

The Funniest Celebrity in Washington Contest was founded by Richard Siegel in 1987. Conceived as a fundraiser for area and national non-profits, beneficiaries have included Make A Wish Foundation, Child Welfare League of America, Johns Hopkins Children's Center, Bread for the City, VSA Arts and this year Stand Up for Kids. Each year, the contest brings together 10 celebrities from the worlds of politics, media and sports to entertain the attendees while competing for the title of The Funniest Celebrity in Washington.
The contestant performances are interspersed with live music, a professional master of ceremonies and a live auction to raise additional funds for the designated charity. Judged by a distinguished panel of their peers, the winner takes home the trophy declaring him or her The Funniest Celebrity in Washington.

Past competitors have included:

• Senator Joseph Lieberman
• Oliver North
• Pat Schroeder
• Senator Tom Daschle
• Susan Molinari
•  Letitia Baldridge
•  The Late Tim Russert
• Arianna Huffington,
• Chris Matthews
• Attorney William Ginsburgh.
• Senator Arlen Specter
• Congressman Dennis Kucinich
• White House counsel Ed Gillespie
• Tucker Carlson
• Paul Begala
• The Late Tony Snow
• Sam Donaldson
• George Stephanopoulos

Previous winners incude:

• Rep.Brian Baird [D-WA]
• Rep. Spencer Bauchus [R-AL]
• Paul Berry, WJLA-TV Seven On Your Side anchor
• Matt Cooper, TIME magazine; Blogger for Talking Points Memo
• Jonathan Edwards, performer, singer-songwriter
• Rep.Barney Frank [D-MA]
• Austan Goolsbee, White House economic adviser
• Governor Mike Huckabee
• Arianna Huffington, Huffington Post
• Wes Johnson, Washington Capitals
• Mark Kessler, radio personality, Stadium voice of Redskins
• Sen. Joseph Lieberman [I-CT]
• Chris Matthews, MSNBC
• Joe Randazzo, editor of The Onion
• James Rosen, Fox News
• Rep. Linda Sanchez [D-CA]

One of the most highly publicized events in Washington, The Funniest Celebrity in Washington Contest has been covered by TIME Magazine, U.S. News and World Report, CNN, The Larry King Show, Hardball with Chris Matthews, NBC, UPI, WTOP and is broadcast annually on C-SPAN. Journalists are among the competitors and judges at the contest, showing Washington that they like to laugh too. Best of all, you see that some of our national politicians actually have a sense of humor and are willing to admit it in public!

Mission

The Mission of the Funniest Celebrity in Washington Charitable Fund, Inc. is to allow journalists, other media, politicians, athletes and high profile individuals an opportunity to perform humorous material in front of a live audience to benefit charitable causes.