Hollywood Gala Raises $2.2 Million for Los Angeles Clinics

Saban Community Clinic raised $2.2 million on Monday evening during its 50th anniversary gala held in the Crystal Ballroom at the Beverly Hills Hotel. The organization operates seven clinics across Los Angeles and is constructing a new 12,000-square-foot facility in the Crenshaw corridor. The funds will support healthcare services for residents who seek care at these locations.

The event honored David Nevins, former chief of Showtime, and Peter Friedlander, who leads Amazon MGM Studios. Richard Weitz, co-chair of the gala and a co-chairman of WME, presented the awards. Weitz took the podium to praise the honorees and also paid tribute to Bela Bajaria, who was recently replaced as Netflix chief content officer by Peter Rice amid layoffs of 1,000 employees. Weitz, who stood with Bajaria at the start of the show, noted that she had changed the face of Netflix. He stepped away from his teleprompter to tell the room that she deserved the love, prompting a loud round of applause from the audience.

Ellen Hoberman, a longtime advocate for the clinic, addressed the current political climate. She stated that the Trump administration has rolled back healthcare policies and cut Medicaid programs, making it harder for vulnerable populations to receive care. Hoberman urged attendees to vote for leaders who will protect healthcare. Her children, Eric and Sarah, later took the stage in a surprise tribute to her four decades of work. Sarah Hoberman described her mother as the heartbeat of the organization, noting that she handles every detail of the gala, from hand-delivering invitations to dyeing towels for backstage riders.

Actor Jimmy Smits also spoke, highlighting a recent executive order that removed protections against immigration enforcement at clinics, hospitals, schools, and places of worship. Smits said the decision has left families afraid to seek care and forced medical staff to protect patients from fear. He introduced a video featuring Heidy and her family, detailing their experiences with the clinic. Actor and comedian Alex Edelman hosted the event. He joked about the industry's changes, referencing the presence of Paramount+ executives and the fact that he was hosting instead of established figures like Conan O'Brien or Jimmy Kimmel.

Connie Britton presented the Lenny Somberg Volunteer Award to Nevins. She recalled meeting him 20 years ago on the set of Friday Night Lights, where he became a close collaborator who helped her move out of her apartment at the end of the first season. Nevins accepted the award and noted that Lenny Somberg was killed 50 years ago in a robbery at the clinic office. Nevins said the clinic was created for people who had nowhere else to turn, including the poor, undocumented, and those struggling with addiction. He thanked the staff for turning a small clinic into a major institution in a city with the largest concentration of uninsured patients in the country.

The evening included a musical performance by Aloe Blacc, who sang three songs including I Need a Dolla and Lean on Me. Walton Goggins presented the final award to Friedlander. A video tribute played before the presentation, featuring messages from Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys, Amanda Seyfried, Uzo Aduba, Noah Centineo, Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman, and Callum Turner. Goggins began his speech by describing how he first met Friedlander 14 years ago.