PALM BEACH, FL -- Lois Pope, founder and president of the Lois Pope Life Foundation, Inc. and LIFE (Leaders in Furthering Education) has joined the board of the American Humane Association. As the nation's voice for the protection of children and animals, the American Humane Association reaches millions of people every day through groundbreaking research, education, training and services that span a wide network of organizations, agencies and businesses. The AHA's mission is to create a more humane and compassionate world by ending abuse and neglect of children and animals. Mrs. Pope joins the ranks of other well-known supporters of the AHA such as Martha Stewart, Whoopi Goldberg, Jillian Michaels, Kristin Chenoweth, and Betty White.

"I am honored to be a part of the American Humane Association," said Lois Pope. "Their work on behalf of children and animals for more than 120 years has truly made the world a better place. They have saved countless lives and given a voice to those who all too often have none."

Mrs. Lois Pope, one of America's leading philanthropists and co-founder and chairman of the Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation, has raised funds since 1997 for the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial. The Memorial is the brainchild of Mrs. Pope whose commitment to disabled veterans dates back some 40 years to a performance she gave for a group of brave servicemen receiving treatment at the Rusk Rehabilitation Center in New York. Mrs. Pope conceived the Memorial almost 15 years ago while visiting the Vietnam Memorial to see her cousin's name etched there. To date LIFE has raised millions to build this moving and lasting tribute to the ever-growing number of heroes who have given of their minds and bodies to protect our freedom.

The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial is the first memorial in Washington, DC to honor the sacrifices of more than three million living and deceased disabled veterans, brave men and women whose lives have been forever changed by injuries. The Memorial, which will commemorate the sacrifices and dedication of disabled American veterans from all branches of the Armed Services throughout America's history, will ensure that our disabled veterans will always be remembered, while educating future generations about the all too human cost of war.

The Lois Pope Life Foundation, Inc. and LIFE have also provided awards for medical research, scholarships, summer camp programs, the performing arts, and animal welfare. Projects include the University of Miami-based Lois Pope LIFE Center, the leading facility in the world for research into paralysis and neurological diseases; a life-saving clean water project in hurricane-ravaged Guatemala; an number of ambulances for Magen David Adom, the "Israeli Red Cross;" scholarships for community-minded, aspiring physicians attending the City College of New York and has given $300,000 to the Sudanese Genocide Response Team to help young refugee women in the Sudan who have been displaced due to war migrate to America and find new lives in a free society.

Mrs. Pope has been honored numerous times for her dedication to improving the world around her. In 2007 she was honored with the "Outstanding Philanthropist Award" at the 22nd annual "Great Sports Legend" dinner to benefit the Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis. She was honored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals as Philanthropist of the Year in October of 2008. In 2006, former Secretary of State, Colin Powell appointed Mrs. Pope to the Board of the Colin Powell Center for Policy Studies at the City College of New York. Mrs. Pope serves on the Boards of the Palm Beach Opera and the Armory Arts Center and is also on the Board of the Florida Atlantic University. She received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the Timothy J. Nugent Award presented to outstanding individuals that have significantly influenced the spinal cord injured community of America, and the Health Care Heroes Award from the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. She received an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from her alma mater, Chestnut Hill College and an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from the Rabbinical College of America. Mrs. Pope was awarded the 2010 Starfish Award, the 2009 WXEL Women with Wings and Wisdom Award and the American Red Magen David for Israel Award (ARMDI), all of which honor outstanding community service.

Mrs. Pope was named a Daily Point of Light recipient by President George H.W. Bush. She received the James E. Van Zandt Award from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, President's Medallion for Distinguished Service from Florida Atlantic University, and the Lizette Sarnoff Award for Volunteer Service from Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University.