Venice Family Clinic Conducts Annual Fundraiser at Google's Main Street HQ

5/19/2019: The Venice Family Clinic Art Walk and Auction hosted an event at Google LA on Sunday, May 19, raised more than $1,000,000 in support of the Clinic's mission to provide health care to people regardless of ability to pay.

Venice Family Clinic has been serving the medical needs of this community for the past 40 years. It celebrated this occasion with an art walk and auction, its goal to raise money on May 18 and 19.

"Drive under the binoculars"( a Claes Oldenburg 2 story sculpture on Main Street in Venice) read the directions for the private preview on May 18 in the Google facility. This event was for major contributors/ special guests and included a small party.

May 19 the art works were viewed and bid on by the public. A participant filled in a yellow sheet with a number , which was used to identify his bid on a specific work. Beside the art work was a sheet stated it value, where the bid could begin and the minimum bid that was possible. The bids were open at 6 PM.

Hampton Drive was closed to accommodate the registration desks, and many food trucks. There were pop up workshops and a zone for free activities for the whole family, as well as live music, and a beer/wine garden.

34 local artists opened their studios for private tours, which were limited to viewers over 21. They could be reached by a private bus and were in close proximity to the main viewing areas.

"The Venice Family Clinic funds quality health care services for 27,000 people in need at the Clinic's 12 locations and through street medicine teams across Los Angeles regardless of income, insurance or immigration status," noted the VFC in a press release.

"Venice Art Walk & Auctions is the largest art walk in SoCal and the biggest public event held by the tech giant (Google), which turns into a gallery space for the event."

Celebrity attendees included Molly Shannon and Fritz Chesnut, Paul Lieberstein (The Office), Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Simon Pegg, Camryn Manheim, Gary Baseman, Ivy Kagan Bierman, Rosson Crow, Laddie John Dill, Timo Fahler, Kim Fisher and Florian Morlat, Honor Fraser, John Geresi, Jane Glassman, Kellie and Jeff Hepper, Cathy Konrad, Kelly Lamb, Alice Lodge, Jamie Manné, Yassi Mazandi, Shulamit Nazarian, Soraya Nazarian, Jason Olive, Kristi Paulson, Krista Raine, Dr. Bill Resnick and Michael J. Stubbs, Ronnie Rubin, Leslie Rubinoff, Ry Rocklen, Azadeh Shladovsky, and Billie Weisman.