The Courage to Care Award is presented at each CHLA Gala to individuals who have demonstrated
extraordinary commitment to children, pediatric-related causes and humanitarian efforts at
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and beyond. Our honorees come from a variety of backgrounds and
industries— but they share a dedication to philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy to improve the
lives of children around the world.
This year, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is honored to present the 2024 Courage to Care Awards
to AEG, Bernadette and Sugar Ray Leonard and Chuck Lorre.
AEG
As longtime supporters of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, AEG has helped the hospital fulfill
its mission to create hope and build healthier futures for children. Through the
organization’s exceptional contributions and partnerships with the Los Angeles Galaxy and the
Los Angeles Kings, among others, AEG has invested in critical programs and services, such as the
Blood Donor Center, the Sports Medicine Program, pediatric neurosurgery research and the
Children’s Fund, which supports the hospital’s greatest needs. In addition to their
inspiring philanthropy, AEG employees and athletes frequently visit the hospital, helping to lift
the spirits of CHLA patients and families.
Headquartered in Los Angeles, AEG is the world's leading sports and live entertainment company,
operating in facilities, music, real estate, sports, ticketing and global partnerships. They own and
manage more than 300 preeminent arenas, stadiums, convention centers and performing arts venues
around the globe and are the world’ largest operators of high-profile sporting events and
franchises like the LA Kings and LA Galaxy. Through its worldwide network of venues, portfolio of
powerful sports and music brands and its integrated entertainment districts, AEG entertains more
than 160 million guests annually.
AEG has supported important fundraising events such as the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Gala and Gabriel’s Organization Funding All Renal Research (GOFARR) Funfest. As a result of
AEG’s generosity, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles has been able to advance
groundbreaking research in a variety of subspecialties and provide care for some of our
community’s most vulnerable patients. We are truly grateful to AEG for their extraordinary and
enduring support of CHLA and the countless families who rely on the hospital’s life-changing
programs and services.
Bernadette and Sugar Ray Leonard
Bernadette and Ray Leonard are longtime supporters of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and
the hospital’s nationally ranked Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism.
Through the Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation, founded in 2009, Bernadette and Ray have committed to
raising awareness of and funding for life-changing research for children with Type 1 and Type 2
diabetes.
An Olympic gold medalist and six-time world champion boxer and motivational speaker, Ray has
served as a member of the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Foundation Board of Trustees
since 2019. Outside of this critical leadership role, for many years Ray has co-hosted
CHLA’s annual community event, Walk & Play L.A., engaging hundreds of families by
celebrating and promoting the well-being of kids in Los Angeles and raising money to create hope
and build healthier futures for children. Additionally, he has served as a co-Chair of the CHLA
Ambassadors and was instrumental in championing for the Endocrinology Ambassadors, a fundraising
council for the Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism.
Bernadette is the co-Founder and a Director of the Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation, where she is
focused on improving the lives of children and their families. During the pandemic, Bernadette
played an invaluable role in securing PPE supplies to support CHLA team members in their
critical care work.
We are grateful to Bernadette and Ray Leonard for their exceptional commitment to
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, our team members and the patients entrusted to our care.
Chuck Lorre
Philanthropist Chuck Lorre has ardently supported numerous causes including Children’s
Hospital Los Angeles through The Chuck Lorre Family Foundation’s transformational giving and a
longtime commitment to advancing the future of pediatric health care. The Chuck Lorre Family
Foundation’s focus on supporting research education for high school and college students from
under-resourced communities throughout greater Los Angeles led to the establishment of the Chuck
Lorre Research Scholars Program, which broadens Lorre’s incredible commitment to STEM
education by supporting students who identify as an underrepresented minority in their quest to
become scientists or clinician-researchers with the goal of ultimately create a larger, more diverse
pool of scientists, doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals.
Chuck Lorre is a prolific television writer and producer, having created, executive produced, or
written over 1,500 episodes of award-winning television. During his expansive career, Lorre has
created some of the most beloved programs in recent television history, including Mom, The Kominsky
Method, and Two and a Half Men. Additionally, his hit shows Young Sheldon and The Big Bang Theory
have inspired generations of young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and
math (STEM), and became the catalyst for the primary mission of The Chuck Lorre Family Foundation.
Lorre has received multiple Golden Globe Awards and Emmy nominations, in addition to being named to
the Television Hall of Fame and honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
On behalf of everyone at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, we are grateful to Chuck Lorre for
his generosity and dedication to supporting the advancement of students from under-resourced
communities in professional fields of science and medicine and for opening opportunities for those
struggling with less and striving for more.