The Amy Cole Gift

Continuing a Legacy of Love and Laughter

When Stephen Colbert stepped onto the Emmy stage this year to accept the award for Outstanding Talk Series,
he did something unforgettable. With the world watching, he paused to remember his late assistant of 16 years, Amy Cole – “a young woman who should be here tonight”.

For over a decade and a half, Amy was a trusted, vital, and extraordinary part of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and before that the Colbert Report.   She wasn’t just an assistant; she was a teammate, a problem-solver, and a beloved presence who gave herself fully to the people she worked with. As colleagues have said, working with Stephen wasn’t just a job for her – it was a calling, and she gave it everything she had.

But Amy’s story didn’t begin in television. Long before she joined Colbert’s team, she was serving children in hospitals. As a child life specialist at Texas Children’s Hospital, in 1999 Amy discovered Radio Lollipop, a volunteer-powered charity that uses play, music, and imagination to bring care and comfort to sick children. That passion stayed with her for more than 20 years. Even after moving to New York to work with Colbert, Amy continued to volunteer – stepping into senior leadership roles at Radio Lollipop to help recruit and mentor volunteers, ensuring children received the joy and companionship she believed every child deserves.

“Amy loved Radio Lollipop – it was her passion beyond the show,”
one of her Late Show colleagues shared. “If you want to honor her, give to
Radio Lollipop. That’s what she would have wanted.”

The Amy Cole Gift was created to honor this remarkable spirit – combining her two worlds: the laughter she shared on The Late Show and the comfort she gave through Radio Lollipop. The Amy Cole Gift continues her legacy. Donations are funding a new Radio Lollipop studio in Houston and New York’s first LolliTrollie, taking fun directly to children’s bedsides.

Amy’s life was a testament to kindness, loyalty, and joy. Stephen Colbert’s Emmy tribute was a reminder that her light touched far more people than she ever knew.  By supporting the Amy Cole Gift, you are not only remembering Amy but also carrying forward her mission: to bring laughter, love, and healing to children when they need it most.

Please consider making a donation today. Together, we can keep Amy’s spirit alive in the laughter of children in hospital.