“This is Us” actress Susan Kelechi Watson and KCBS’ anchor Pat Harvey were honored at the fifth annual MLK Community Health Foundation’s “Sharing the Dream” Luncheon.
Jill Munroe covered the red carpet for EURWeb at the event was hosted by “Blackish” star Anthony Anderson, and celebrates those who have made a difference through philanthropy work and community involvement. The ceremony was held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, and included individuals from the business, civic and entertainment communities across the city.
Harvey has been the previous host of the event and was surprised when she received the call that the foundation wanted to honor her instead of leading the ceremony. Having been a staple in Los Angeles for 28 years, she shared how extremely proud she was that the two-year-old facility was able to reopen and serve over 1 million residents in South LA which includes the areas of Compton, Watts and Inglewood.
Watson was excited that her character “Beth” on “This is Us” has been an inspiration of social change and connecting to the community. She spoke with us on the impact of receiving this award as a Jamaican-American during the Martin Luther King holiday weekend, in light of President Donald Trump’s remarks regarding immigrants.
Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer made the announcement that $15 million would be donated to the MLK Community Medical Group on behalf of the Weingart Foundation and the Ballmer Group in support of the hospital’s affiliated nonprofit. Allocated as $7.5 million from each entity, the funds will be distributed over five years, with a goal of closing South Los Angeles’ critical physician gap.
Opened in 2015, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital (MLKCH) is a private, nonprofit hospital providing high-quality, general acute care to residents of South Los Angeles. Its board of directors is committed to establishing a national model of patient-centered care using technology, data, and innovation to affect population health improvements.
