Chris Martin, Jackie Thon, and Chuck Lorre Attend Venice Family Clinic's Heart Gala

Venice Family Clinic celebrated two extraordinary champions of health and art at its 2026 HEART Gala on Saturday, April 18, at 3Labs in Culver City. The evening honored philanthropist Anissa Balson and The Hearst Foundations with the HEART Award, while television legend Chuck Lorre received the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award. The evening concluded with a special performance by Coldplay’s Chris Martin.

The 2026 HEART (Health + Art) Gala marked a milestone for Venice Family Clinic’s signature initiative, which celebrates how creativity and compassion intersect to expand health care access across Los Angeles. The event brought together entertainment leaders, philanthropists, and community supporters united in advancing care for the 45,000 patients Venice Family Clinic serves annually.

Anissa Balson and The Hearst Foundations were recognized with the HEART Award for their extraordinary 50-year partnership with Venice Family Clinic. The Hearst Foundations, of which Balson is a director and vice president, have championed transformative investments in the Clinic’s work since 1977, creating one of the most enduring philanthropic partnerships in Los Angeles health care history.

During both times of growth and crisis, The Hearst Foundations have played a critical role in sustaining services for our community. Emergency grants during the COVID-19 pandemic and in response to last year’s Los Angeles wildfires ensured uninterrupted care for the vulnerable. Founded in the 1940s, The Hearst Foundations support nonprofit institutions across culture, education, health care, and social services nationwide.

"Venice Family Clinic has been a beacon of hope and healing in Los Angeles for nearly five decades," said Anissa Balson. "Through The Hearst Foundations' longstanding partnership, we've witnessed firsthand how access to quality health care transforms lives and strengthens communities. As both a philanthropist and an artist, I believe deeply in the HEART initiative's mission—that creativity and compassion are inseparable forces for good in the world."

Balson, who holds a B.F.A. from Otis-Parsons School of Design, is also a contributing artist to the annual Venice Family Clinic Art Exhibition + Auction. Her leadership extends across our city’s cultural institutions, including roles with the Getty Museum, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, and the Los Angeles Library Foundation.

Chuck Lorre received Venice Family Clinic’s inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of more than three decades of philanthropy supporting healing and human connection. Among his contributions was the establishment of the Robert Levine Family Health Center in 2004, named for his late father, expanding prenatal, teen, and family services. In 2017, Lorre funded major renovations at the center, adding exam rooms, counseling spaces, and health education capacity.

More recently, Lorre funded the comprehensive renovation of the Clinic’s flagship location on Rose Avenue, now named the Chuck Lorre Rose Avenue Health and Wellness Center. Reopened in 2023, the facility serves more than 11,000 patients annually and includes pediatric care, 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 create things that brought a little bit of joy to people,” said Chuck Lorre. “Didn’t always succeed, but that was the goal.  When I first became acquainted with Venice Family Clinic, it was immediately clear that they’d been bringing a lot more than joy. They’d been bringing freedom from fear. Hope for a healthy life. And peace of mind. Every day, for thousands of people. At no charge. And I wanted to be a part of that effort. It has been my honor and privilege to be associated with this incredible institution.”

Actress, writer, and producer Jackie Tohn hosted the evening, guiding guests through a night of celebration, storytelling, and impact.

"This year's HEART Gala represents everything we stand for at Venice Family Clinic," said Dr. Mitesh Popat, CEO of Venice Family Clinic. "Anissa Balson and The Hearst Foundations' half-century of partnership has sustained us through every challenge and enabled extraordinary growth. Chuck Lorre's transformative gifts have modernized our facilities and secured the Clinic’s ability to provide care for years to come. Together, these individuals demonstrate that when art, generosity, and vision come together, we can create lasting change."

Venice Family Clinic serves 45,000 patients annually across 20 locations spanning Venice, Santa Monica, Culver City, Torrance, Redondo Beach, Carson, Hawthorne, Gardena, and Inglewood. The organization provides comprehensive medical, dental, vision, behavioral health, substance use treatment, pharmacy services, street medicine, and community wellness programs—including free food distributions that provided more than 916,000 pounds of healthy food in 2025.

The 2026 HEART Gala began with a cocktail reception followed by dinner, award presentations, and the evening’s special performance by Coldplay’s Chris Martin.

Photos courtesy of: Shutterstock for Venice Family Clinic