"The Daily Show" host John Stewart was appointed today to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum's board of directors.  Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who's chairman of the board, introduced Stewart to the now 48-member board during its quarterly meeting. Stewart thank the mayor, the board and said he would do whatever he could do to help.  

As host of the Emmy-award winning “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central, Stewart, a lower Manhattan resident, has long been a voice on 9/11-related matters.

Update: “Luckily for me, it appears as if they’ve done 95 percent of the hard labor on this. So I’m hoping to help in any way I can offer,” Stewart said in a New York Times article.  

Read more about Jon Stewart's appointment to the board in a web-exclusive by DNAinfo.com's Julie Shapiro.

In early September 2010, Bloomberg hosted Stewart at the memorial and museum’s annual benefit dinner in lower Manhattan, where Stewart served as master of ceremonies.

Days after the 2001 attacks, Stewart had a memorable TV moment, mixing measured whit with emotional commentary in the opening of his show.  In recent months, he gained national attention and praise for his passionate work in dedicating a broadcast to the 9/11 health bill, which President Obama signed into law earlier this month.    

Stewart began hosting “The Daily Show” in 1999.  Since his arrival, the satire news show has received 36 Emmy Award nominations and won 14 times. Stewart, who is executive producer and writer as well as host, received five Emmy nominations from 2002 to 2008. The show was honored in 2004 by the Television Critics Association by winning Outstanding Achievement in News and Information, edging out traditional news shows in the category.

Stewart joins a board with members who have a life in media and entertainment, including Robert De Niro, Billy Crystal and Jane Rosenthal. The board of directors include victims’ family members, 9/11 survivors, business pioneers and leading philanthropists.

By Michael Frazier, Sr. Communications Manager for the 9/11 Memorial

The 9/11 Memorial and Museum and Sharp Electronics Corporation today announced the beginning of a technology partnership.  Sharp, in addition to providing future audio/video techonology support, has generously donated a new video installation at the 9/11 Memorial Preview Site. The 13' x 7' video wall, comprised of nine Sharp LCD monitors, features animated renderings of the Memorial and an official "opening day counter."  Stop by the Preview Site to see for yourself!

By Norm Dannen, Public Affairs Associate

Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who serves as chairman of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, hosted the charity's third annual benefit dinner last night. Jon Stewart of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" served as the event's master of ceremonies. Bloomberg was a recent guest on Stewart's show. 

The dinner put a spotlight on the progress made toward the goal of opening the 9/11 Memorial on the 10th anniversary of the attacks. It also highlighted teh stories of volunteerism and compassion that was spawned from the events of Sept. 11th.

During the benefit, Robert Wood Johnson, IV, the New York Jet's chairman and chief executive officer, was presented with the "Distinction in Corporate Citizenship" award. Time Warner Inc. was honored for the "Distinction in Rebuilding" award. Jeff Bewkes, the chairman and CEO for Time Warner, accepted the award.

The benefit dinner was held at Cipriani Wall Street in Manhattan.

9/11 Memorial staff

Delta Air Lines has made a generous donation to help build and sustain the 9/11 Memorial and Museum as a special tribute to honor airline industry employees.   Delta is now one of more than 170,000 individual contributors from all 50 states and 35 countries who have made donations. 9/11 Memorial Chairman Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg thanked Delta Air Lines, saying the gift "reminds us of the critical role that airline industries play to ensure the safety of those who fly."

Delta joins a growing list of corporate supporters that includes the real estate, financial services, legal, tourism, media, labor and banking industries.

In the announcement of the gift, Gail Grimmet, Delta Air Lines Senior Vice President, New York, said, “The impact 9/11 had on our industry cannot be understated.  It affected the lives of our employees in an irrevocable way.  We are honored to pay tribute to those who perished, as well as to the indomitable spirit of Delta’s employees and all of our colleagues across the airline industry. We are privileged to be part of the project that memorializes the tragedy and celebrates our collective spirit as a city and a nation to overcome it.”

More than 300 young, civic-minded and forward-looking professionals came out in support of the the 9/11 Memorial Visionary Circle on April 26, 2010 at the Tribeca Film Festival. The event was the second for the Visionary Circle which has succeeded in raising over $175,000 for the 9/11 Memorial. The event included a special screening of the film "The Space Between" which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. Jane Rosenthal, Tribeca Film Festival Co-Founder and 9/11 Memorial Board Member, and Director Travis Fine whose film was inspired by the events of 9/11, welcomed the audience. Following the screening, attendees enjoyed a reception with  9/11 Board Member and Keating Crown who co-founded and chairs the Visionary Circle, 9/11 Memorial President Joe Daniels and special guest, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Chairman of the 9/11 Memorial.

A special thanks goes to the co-hosts of the Visionary Circle event for making the event such a success: Beth Amorosi, AT&T,  David Atkins, Mark Benhar- Benhar Office Interiors, Cathy Blaney, Nisha & Jamie Brodsky, Daniel Cendan, Caroline & Keating Crown, Naomi & Joseph Daniels, Richard Flood, John Gallagher, Steve Grant, Stuart Jankoff, John Jefferson, Anthoula Katsimatides, Katie & Drew Melchionni, Nicole & Joseph Naidrich, Suzanne Paxton, Paul J. Pollack, Patricia Quick, Kevin Rampe, David Ridley, Andrew Sachs, Erica & Todd Silverman, Amanda Taylor, Christine Taylor, and Donna & Isaac Zion.

Check out event photos here.

By the 9/11 Memorial staff