Lois Pope
Philanthropist Lois Pope has dedicated her life to improving the circumstances of others. Interested in a variety of issues, Lois Pope has committed to honoring disabled veterans, providing children with educational and inspiring opportunities, and establishing a research center to aid in discovering a cure for spinal cord injuries and neurological disorders, among other philanthropic endeavors. Lois Pope conceived of a memorial to disabled veterans in our nation’s capital and, with the assistance of Jesse Brown, the then Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and Art Wilson, the National Adjutant of the Disabled American Veterans organization, this idea is being actualized. Through her philanthropic efforts, Lois Pope and others launched the Disabled Veterans’ LIFE Memorial Foundation, Inc., as the fund-raising mechanism for the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial, the nation’s first and only permanent public tribute to the 3 million living American veterans with disabilities in the United States, as well as those who have died throughout history. To build a national memorial in Washington, Lois Pope advocated for a bill, which, with the approval of the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission, was passed by the U.S. Congress on October 24, 2000, and was signed into law by President William Jefferson Clinton. With her guidance and perseverance, the memorial will be erected near the U.S. Capitol and the U.S. Botanic Garden. Proactive in her endeavors, Lois Pope raised funds for the memorial entirely through private donations. A former Broadway actress and singer, Lois Pope performed at a benefit for a group of disabled veterans at the Rusk Institute in New York more than 40 years ago. From her experience at the show, she developed concern for the individuals who risked so much to protect their country. A number of years later, her commitment to them was crystallized after visiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and finding her cousin’s name engraved on the site. She asked a park ranger about a memorial for disabled veterans and when told there was not one, she set out to build one. Moreover, in 2001, on behalf of the Disabled Veterans’ LIFE Memorial Foundation, Lois Pope presented the first Unsung Hero Award to a Vietnam veteran who lost his legs in an explosion in 1969.
My Links
- Lois Pope on Ryze
- Lois Pope on Multiply
- Lois Pope on Businesscard2
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