Comedian Donates Concert Proceeds To MALDEF

 PHOENIX, AZ – George Lopez, comedian, actor and host of late-night talk show “Lopez Tonight,” donated $20,000 to MALDEF from the proceeds of his January 29 concert in Phoenix, Arizona.

The generous donation from The Lopez Foundation will allow MALDEF to continue to realize the organization’s mission of serving as the nation’s leading Latino legal civil rights organization.

George Lopez stated “As a comedian, I get paid to find the humor in all sorts of situations. And I love my job – I really do – because I am able to bring laughter to the lives of millions of Lopez Tonight viewers each night. But there is nothing funny about targeting individuals because of their background, ethnicity or race. That’s not the answer to the problems facing our nation. If not stopped, the current assaults on Latinos will negatively impact the possibilities for bright Latino children and youth hoping to better their circumstances through hard work and quality education. I am happy to support Tom and MALDEF because of all the amazing work they are doing to help Latino families overcome the challenges facing them.”

Thomas A. Saenz, MALDEF President and General Counsel, stated “MALDEF thanks George Lopez for his generous support and for his recognition of the constitutional crisis facing all of Arizona, with a particular impact on the Latino community, as a result of the reckless legislation, such as SB 1070, enacted by elected state leaders.  This support will assist MALDEF to continue to defend the Constitution in federal court.”

Linda Small, Executive Director of The Lopez Foundation, stated “We are proud to partner with MALDEF to help provide resources and support to Latino families across the nation.  The Lopez Foundation was created to help bring about positive, permanent change for underprivileged children and adults confronting challenges in education and health.  Our partnership with MALDEF will help ensure that, together, we can achieve our mission and enrich the lives of communities across the nation.”

Founded in 1968, MALDEF is the nation’s leading Latino legal civil rights organization.  Often described as the “law firm of the Latino community,” MALDEF promotes social change through advocacy, communications, community education, and litigation in the areas of education, employment, immigrant rights, and political access.