Ann Lopez worked in a myriad of capacities in the entertainment industry. She spent five years in regional theater before moving to Los Angeles, where she appeared in more than 60 national and regional commercials.

I loved being in front of the camera but I had been acting since I was 11 years old and wanted a change, Ann said. She was offered a job in casting at Disney, where she met her future husband, George Lopez, during an audition. Always up for a challenge, Ann started producing television specials and movies, most recently Speedy Gonzalez, a feature film production with New Line Pictures. She continues to act and recently appeared on The Black Swan episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm and filmed a pilot for an ensemble talk show with Telepictures.

Anns most recognized and respected role may never be in front of the cameras, however. In 2005, she donated a kidney to her then husband George. Later that year, she and her daughter placed a rose in his name on the Donate Life Rose Parade Float. Soon after, Ann became a national spokesperson for The National Kidney Foundation.

I feel so blessed to have been able to give George the gift of life, said Ann. My goal is to help garner attention to organ donation, especially living donation, as well as education about prevention and screening for kidney disease.

It is with this in mind Ann launched The Ann and George Lopez Foundation. As the co-founder and principal of the foundation, Ann guides and approves the foundations strategic goals, helps develop the organizations overall direction, and advocates for and focuses public attention on the foundations key goals.