CHLA Gala 2024

The Event

The Children’s Hospital Los Angeles gala pays tribute to our brave patients and the remarkable physicians, researchers and caregivers who create hope and build healthier futures for children. CHLA will bestow its Courage to Care Award on philanthropists who exemplify volunteerism, insightful leadership and charitable giving.

This biennial gala will occur at The Event Deck at L.A. LIVE in downtown Los Angeles on October 5, 2024.

This will be an evening to remember as we celebrate the inspiring philanthropy of our greatest advocates and partners with lively entertainment, delicious food and a heartwarming program highlighting the hospital’s latest achievements made possible by our generous community.

Your support ensures we have the necessary resources to conduct leading research, which advances the development of innovative therapies to improve the lives of some of our most vulnerable children. Together, we are providing world-class, personalized care to countless families in Southern California and beyond. We look forward to celebrating with champions like you.

Courage to Care Award Honorees

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.

Musical Performance

Image of Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato is a Grammy-nominated and award-winning musician, actor, advocate and New York Times best-selling author who has captivated audiences with powerhouse vocals and illustrious songwriting. Her most recent album debuted at #1 on several Billboard charts including the Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart, the Top Rock Albums chart, and the Top Alternative Albums chart, and marked Demi’s eighth consecutive Top 10 album on the Billboard 200.

On screen, Demi first broke out on the hit Disney film series Camp Rock in the leading role of Mitchie. Other notable television credits include a recurring role as Dani on Glee, and guest starring roles on Grey’s Anatomy and Will & Grace, most recently starring in the Netflix film Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. Demi has been honored with numerous awards and accolades throughout a storied career, and with an audience of over 266 million on social media, the multi-talented artist is a global sensation.

For nearly a decade, Demi has been a champion for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles by supporting the hospital’s annual Make March Matter campaign, visiting with and performing for patients and their families, donating tour proceeds and raising funds for the hospital through special initiatives. Demi is also a tireless advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, anti-bullying, women’s rights, mental health issues and substance use disorders.

Hosts

Serving as hosts for this year’s CHLA gala are wife and husband, Lisa Joyner and Jon Cryer.

Image of Lisa Joyner

Lisa Joyner

Lisa Joyner is an award-winning journalist, television personality, actress and producer, and an advocate for foster care and adoption. An adoptee herself, Joyner has shared her personal journey to find her biological parents. In 2019, she co-hosted the heartwarming show, "Long Lost Family," which reunited birth parents, children and siblings searching for their families. She has been recognized with a Los Angeles Press Club Award, a Los Angeles area Emmy Award and a Golden Mike Award for her work in broadcast journalism.

Image of Lisa Joyner

Jon Cryer

Emmy Award-winning actor, writer and producer Jon Cryer has had audiences laughing for decades thanks to memorable roles like Duckie in the teen classic film "Pretty in Pink," and the straitlaced Alan Harper in the long-running Chuck Lorre sitcom "Two and a Half Men." Cryer’s role on the show earned him two Emmy Awards, one each for outstanding supporting actor and outstanding lead actor in a comedy series. A fitness enthusiast, Cryer has been a longtime supporter of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles by participating in the annual triathlon, which raises funds for pediatric cancer research at the hospital.

Honorary Co-Chairs

Jimmy Kimmel and Molly McNearney

Molly McNearney and Jimmy Kimmel

Jimmy Kimmel and Molly McNearney serve as honorary chairs for this year’s CHLA Gala to support Children’s Hospital Los Angles, an organization that is very close to their hearts. In 2017, their son Billy was born with a rare and life-threatening heart condition and was cared for by the incredible doctors and nurses at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

Jimmy is the host and executive producer of ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” and Molly serves as co-Head Writer and Executive Producer on the show.

Kristin and Jeffrey Worthe

Kristin and Jeffrey Worthe

Kristin and Jeff Worthe are longstanding supporters of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. The Worthes were CHLA’s 2022 Courage to Care Honorees; they were instrumental in the Living Proof campaign to support the hospital’s expansion and were founding members of the Children’s Fund 100. They both served on the hospital’s former Heart Institute campaign committee.

Jeff’s involvement with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles spans more than 18 years as a Board leader and includes chairing the Construction Planning Committee for the state-of-the-art Marion and John E. Anderson Pavilion, which opened in 2011; advocating for federal and state reimbursement strategies; chairing the Finance and Audit Committees; and playing an instrumental role in real estate planning and development for the hospital. He currently serves on the CHLA Foundation Board of Trustees. Most recently, Jeff served as Chair of the Board of Directors, a role he assumed at a pivotal time for the institution.

Kristin is the founder of The Prism Way, a non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of justice-impacted persons both during and after release from prison. Jeff is Founder and President of Worthe Real Estate Group, a Santa Monica-based commercial real estate company. Kristin and Jeff are active with a wide variety of charities in Los Angeles and abroad.

Mission Ambassadors

Photo of nurse with patients

CHLA Nurses

Providing the best care for children requires a team, and CHLA’s nurses deliver expert clinical care with assurance, clarity and compassion. Last year alone, the hospital’s nurses helped tend to more than 700,000 patient and family visits.

Nurses are the heart and soul of CHLA, and their work has significantly expanded with the increasing social needs of families emerging from the pandemic. In 2022, the Magnet Recognition Program? commission recognized CHLA’s nurses for their exemplary relationships with patients and their families, their unwavering teamwork and steadfast commitment to serve, as well as their world-class clinical expertise in caring for the children in greatest need.

Developed by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the largest nursing credentialing organization in the world, the Magnet Recognition Program? is a four-year certification widely considered to be the benchmark measure of the quality of care that patients and families can expect from a hospital. This is the fourth time in a row Children’s Hospital Los Angeles has earned Magnet status—an honor held by fewer than 10% of hospitals.

We are grateful to recognize and celebrate the inspiring dedication of the hospital's nurses and caregivers at the 2024 CHLA Gala. Thank you for serving as leaders and visionaries in our effort to create hope and build healthier futures for children.

Event Packages and Opportunities to Support

For details on opportunities to support contact Michael Sandler at 323.240.4935 or msandler@chla.usc.edu.

Become a Nurse Champion by purchasing a table or ticket(s) at any level to host CHLA Nurses!

Please contact Michael Sandler at 323.240.4935 or msandler@chla.usc.edu for waitlist information.

Please contact Michael Sandler at 323.240.4935 or msandler@chla.usc.edu for waitlist information.

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