Chuck Lorre has done a lot for the Venice Family Clinic, and the clinic will soon do something for him.
The TV mogul is confirmed to receive an inaugural lifetime achievement award at the Venice Family Clinic’s HEART Gala at Culver City’s 3Labs on April 18. The event will also shine a light on philanthropist Anissa Balson and the Hearst Foundations with the presentation of a HEART Award.
The gala, designed to combine Health and Art initiatives, was mounted to celebrate “how creativity and compassion intersect to transform health care access across Los Angeles.” In addition to the honorees, a performer is expected to be added to the show to close it out. Nobody Wants This star Jackie Tohn will host the evening.
Lorre’s trophy is headed his way in recognition of his decades of philanthropic efforts and major contributions to the clinic. He helped establish the Robert Levine Family Health Center in 2004, a facility named for his late father that has since expanded to include prenatal, teen and family services. More recently, in 2017, Lorre underwrote major renovations at the center that added exam rooms and space for counseling and health education.
He also funded a comprehensive renovation of the flagship on Rose Avenue, which is now named the Chuck Lorre Rose Avenue Health and Wellness Center. It reopened in 2023, and serves more than 11,000 patients annually and includes dedicated pediatric areas, behavioral health and substance use services, community spaces, and amenities for patients experiencing homelessness.
“Starting with my early days as a musician, to my career writing sitcoms, I’ve tried to bring a little bit of light into the world,” Lorre said. “When I first became acquainted with the Venice Family Clinic, it was immediately clear that they’ve been bringing that light for many, many years. And I wanted to be a part of that effort. It has been my honor and privilege to be associated with this incredible institution.”
Balson and the Hearst Foundations will receive a HEART Award “for an extraordinary 50-year partnership with Venice Family Clinic.” As a board member of the foundations, Balson is credited with championing transformative investments in the clinic since the organization first began supporting the clinic in 1977.
During the pandemic and in the wake of the Los Angeles wildfires, Hearst provided emergency grants that ensured uninterrupted care for the community’s most vulnerable residents.
“Venice Family Clinic has been a beacon of hope and healing in Los Angeles for nearly five decades,” said Balson. “Through The Hearst Foundations’ longstanding partnership, we’ve witnessed firsthand how access to quality health care transforms lives and strengthens communities.”
Offered Venice Family Clinic CEO Dr. Mitesh Popat: “Together, these honorees demonstrate that when art, generosity, and vision come together, we can create lasting change. No matter how the landscape shifts, we’ll continue to be here — providing care, resources, and advocacy for our patients and communities every step of the way. We’re grateful to celebrate these remarkable individuals and the thousands of patients whose lives they’ve touched.”
More information about the clinic and its events can be found here.
