Stephen Colbert raises over $1 million for disaster relief

Stephen Colbert is turning the end of his Late Show into a chance to help others. As his show prepares for its final episode on May 21, 2026, Colbert launched a charity campaign that has raised over $1 million for World Central Kitchen.

World Central Kitchen is an organization started by chef José Andrés that feeds people during disasters and crises. Colbert decided to auction off items from his show and sell special t-shirts to support this cause. The navy blue shirts cost $40 each, with $20 from every sale going directly to the charity.

The fundraising has been incredibly successful. So far, 33,657 t-shirts have been sold, raising at least $673,140. Combined with over $406,000 from auctioning show props like ties, chairs, and cardboard cutouts, the total has crossed $1 million in just two weeks. This shows how quickly our communities can come together when we have a clear way to help.

Colbert has featured chef José Andrés on his show many times, building a friendship around their shared commitment to helping others. During one recent episode, Andrés cooked paella live on air while Colbert announced the fundraising efforts. World Central Kitchen thanked the Late Show community for supporting their mission to serve meals to disaster-affected areas.

This campaign shows how entertainment platforms can become powerful tools for good. People across the country are buying t-shirts not just as mementos, but as a way to support communities facing emergencies. The success proves that when we make giving easy and meaningful, our collective impact can be enormous.