Although she was a member of one of the most successful hip hop/pop groups of all time, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes spent a significant portion of her final years away from the limelight. She traveled to the impoverished Central American country of Honduras in the late 90s for the very first time, and soon, it became her second home. Left Eye fell in love with the country’s natural beauty, holistic healing, and its people. Before her passing in 2002, she was in the process of establishing a non-profit educational and medical center on property she had purchased near the coastal cities of La Ceiba and Jutiapa. Today, the Lisa Lopes Foundation is a reality that honors her vision.
One of the core programs of the Lisa Lopes Foundation (LLF) is the “New Knerds.” The New Knerds (which stands for Knowledgeable-Educated-Relentlessly-Driven-Scholars) is a group of scholars and teachers from elementary and middle school teachers in the Metro Atlanta area. The New Knerds have created a platform called “World War E…the New Fight for Education (WWE).” The WWE movement allows these scholars to volunteer their time and talents as means to motivate at-risk students who are in urban and underserved communities.
The foundation also plans to open a medical center in Honduras and has already raised over $4,000 thanks to the help of David Archuleta’s Angel for a Cause (AFAC) organization. LLF plans to provide medical and dental treatment free of charge for those who cannot afford it. Health care for the urban and rural poor is extremely limited especially since the Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America. LLF hopes to five back to the impoverished families that suffer everyday there.
Learn how you can volunteer or donate to the Lisa Lopes Foundation at www.lisalopesfoundation.org and www.newknerds.com
I think it is good to give back i help people all ican because to give is rewarding. I am a single mother of a 11 year old boy. who is a honor roll student. Now that i am out of work with out a car i pray to be a blessing to someone and in return we can help each other with wisdom. I am in need of help this holiday season. Secret santa that will be a dream come true. I wish #1 for a car to get back and forth to work to help my clients. I am a cna of 15 years. Thanks Ms. Rice My son loves the latest gadgets ipad2 and more i settle with a smile.
Hey Brittany, your blog is very inspiring because it talks about a life of a celebrity who had a vision of giving back to the poor. Hopefully, this organization can also reach out people suffering from vision problems.