Chuck Lorre Foundation funds Children's Hospital L.A. health education institute

Children's Hospital Los Angeles announced Tuesday that the Chuck Lorre Family Foundation has made what the hospital calls "one of the largest gifts" in its history to establish a pediatric health education institute named for the co-creator of the smash television hits "The Big Bang Theory" and "Two and a Half Men."

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CHLA did not disclose the amount of the award. A media representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

"This transformational gift -- among the three largest ever to the hospital -- will allow Children's Hospital Los Angeles to invest deeply in education for physicians, residents, fellows, nurses and other health care professionals for generations to come," Paul Viviano, CHLA's president and chief executive officer, said in a statement.

"It will have a profound impact on the future of health care locally and nationally," Viviano continued. "We are grateful to the Chuck Lorre Family Foundation for its vision, commitment, and extreme generosity in making this milestone gift."

Lorre is known for writing, creating and producing some of television's most successful programs, including "The Big Bang Theory," "Two and a Half Men" and "Young Sheldon."

The foundation has been supporting CHLA since 2016, according to the hospital.

The gift to establish the Chuck Lorre Pediatric Health Education Institute was first announced at the CHLA gala on Oct. 5, where Lorre was honored with the hospital's Courage to Care Award for his longtime support of CHLA and education. The event raised nearly $5 million to support pediatric health care and research, CHLA said.

In December, the Lorre foundation pledged a total of $10 million to CHLA to support research education for high school and college students from under-resourced communities throughout Los Angeles.

"Investing in people creates profound change," Lorre said in a statement. "Fostering career growth for health care professionals at every level by creating pathways for advancement and new opportunities to build a diverse workforce is deeply meaningful to me. It is thrilling to expand our partnership with Children's Hospital Los Angeles to create this new education institute, which will help shape the future of medicine and health care."

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