The Venice Family Clinic HEART initiative is all about celebrating the transformative power of art in combination with health, and our second annual HEART Gala on Saturday, April 18 did just that in absolutely exuberant style.
Chris Martin and band.
Over 550 attendees enjoyed an evening of coming together around a shared cause. Attendees safeguarded Venice Family Clinic’s ability to care for our patients through live and silent auctions, and a truly extraordinary show of generosity and solidarity in our live appeal.
“I feel grateful to be in community with such dedicated, incredible caring people,” said Sarah Ali, COO of the R&S Kayne Foundation, which helped launch and continues to support Venice Family Clinic’s doula training program.
The night treated our guests to incomparable memorable moments. Renowned artists and dedicated collectors got to meet each other in person, some for the very first time. Host Jackie Tohn opened the evening with her unfiltered wit and compassion. Venice Family Clinic CEO Mitesh Popat, MD shared how the Clinic is meeting a moment of unprecedented challenges in health care funding. The stories of three patients — Patrick, Rosa and Edgar — showed how Venice Family Clinic will always provide our patients with multifaceted health care that truly changes lives.
Venice Family Clinic CEO Mitesh Popat, MD
“For 57 years, whatever the headwinds, we have continuously cared for the people who too often fall through the cracks,” Dr. Popat said. “With your partnership, we will continue to meet this moment – delivering whole-person care to children, teens, and adults, with the dignity and respect we all deserve.”
Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Chuck Lorre shared the personal story that has fueled his commitment to the Clinic for decades, including at least one colonoscopy joke, along with true humility and grace. Anissa Balson, accepting the HEART Award on behalf of herself and the Hearst Foundations, explained how imagination and creativity, paired with determination and generosity, can transform lives, community and the world.
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- HEART Award recipient Anissa Balson
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- Coldplay’s Chris Martin
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- Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Chuck Lorre
And with a grand finale befitting the awe-inspiring spirit of generosity that filled the room all night, Coldplay’s Chris Martin treated HEART Gala guests to a once-in-a-lifetime intimate performance.
Long time Clinic supporter and volunteer Penny Akashi hoped the friends she brought to the HEART Gala would leave feeling inspired and as positive as she does about her involvement with Venice Family Clinic. After an unforgettable evening, she certainly got her wish.