Today, Mario Vollera is a thriving restaurateur who owns and operates iconic Venice spaces like Roosterfish Bar and ŌWA. But when he first arrived in Los Angeles in 2008, Mario found himself living without a safety net and in need of help. That’s when he became a patient of Venice Family Clinic.

Mario was born and raised in a small village outside of Rome, where family, generosity and a love of healthy food were always valued. When Mario moved to Los Angeles he immersed himself in Venice’s vibrant culinary scene. But Mario struggled to adjust and things became even harder when a persistent toothache turned into a severe infection. Afraid to visit a dentist without insurance, Mario’s health deteriorated.

“I remember feeling like an outsider,” Mario recalls. “Even when I was in tremendous pain, I was afraid to ask for help.” Fortunately, Mario’s coworkers insisted he visit Venice Family Clinic. “That first visit to the Clinic was a turning point for me,” Mario says. “They accepted me and cared for me without charging me a cent. That was when I felt I had found my new home.”

Almost twenty years later, Mario’s businesses are thriving, and he has built a life in Venice for his young family. Now that he has the resources to give back, Mario feels it is his responsibility to support people in need in his community. He works with our partner organization Safe Place for Youth to offer job opportunities to young people experiencing homelessness and regularly volunteers at his daughter’s school to teach kids about nutrition. Recently, Mario also hosted a benefit for the Clinic at ŌWA.

“We’re going to do it every year,” says Mario. “When I was new to this country and needed help, Venice Family Clinic was there for me. I want to make sure they can be there for other immigrants. I want to pay it forward.”