Lopez has been a spokesperson with the National Kidney Foundation for many years and he is very aware of the need for organ donation. “Every day, 12 people die waiting for a kidney. Organ and tissue donation helps others by giving them a second chance at life. A match doesn’t have to be precise, and medicines make it easier for a living donor to donate. We can save lives not only when we’re alive, but also when we pass, through donation,” he explains.
(Photo by Mark Mainz/Getty Images)
Lopez received a kidney from his then wife, Ann, and he couldn’t be more grateful. He explains how sick he was and how much pain he went through when he was diagnosed with kidney failure. Then after his transplant, literally less than 2 days later, he woke up and felt better and healthier than he had in a long time. “At that moment, I decided that I could not turn my back on spreading the message of organ donation, of prevention and of taking an interest in health and in the health my family.”
This motivated him to launch the George Lopez foundation, which raises awareness about kidney and organ donation. He also does charity comedy shows and events like golf events to raise money to help underprivileged children, adults and even military families.
