Board of Directors
The management team consists of family and friends who share each other's dreams and passions to drive the Masiela Lusha Foundation forward.
Our team shares the philosophy that we have an inherent duty to the community to give back to the less fortunate. Masiela sees a unique opportunity to use her celebrity to draw attention to the cause and give back to the less fortunate. When she was visiting the Balkans to film "Time of the Comet," she saw the heartbreaking conditions of many orphans, some as young as five years old. These children were begging for food, homeless, and deprived of decent clothing. She felt that these children were robbed of their fundamental right to be loved, and receive the opportunities that society can provide. She came up with the idea of establishing a foundation to help children in need.
Our team has years of experience in general management, e-commerce, finance, marketing, publicity, law and operations. In addition, the strength of the team is fortified by Ms. Haglund and Ms. Lusha's own mother-daughter relationship, and Ms. Lusha and Mr. LoPiccolo's past success and commitment in working together on other ventures including Illuminary Pictures.
Our staff will be comprised of qualified live-in life coaches with experience in mentoring and rehabilitating the homeless and less fortunate. These coaches will go through a vigorous screening process to ensure their qualifications and commitment to the Foundation's mission.
Our staff will also be comprised of volunteers from the surrounding community. The Masiela Lusha Foundation seeks to create a strong network of support within the cities where it establishes its shelters. Community volunteers can provide material and service support by donating furniture, clothing, and time, including preparing hot meals and assisting with our life coaches' programs.
Directors
Daniela Haglund (CEO & Co-Founder). Ms. Haglund brings expertise in finance, operations, and management. Ms. Haglund started the Masiela Lusha Foundation along with her daughter to find quick and practical solutions to improve a family's circumstances. She lived in several countries before residing in Michigan, where she studied business law and worked for the Probate Court in her state until 1999. She is responsible for and has overseen the implemenation of several ventures including G & D Publishing and Ora, America's first four-color Albanian magazine, where she also served as Editor-in-Chief. In 2004 Ms. Haglund established a real estate investment company to assist homeowners facing foreclosure.
Masiela Lusha (President & Co-Founder). Ms. Lusha has won numerous awards
throughout her acting career. She is best known for her role as Carmen Lopez in
the long-running ABC primetime series "The George Lopez Show." The talented
Ms. Lusha has also starred in feature films, written several books of poetry, a novel,
and founded a production company, Illuminary Pictures. Ms. Lusha decided to
create the Masiela Lusha Foundation while filming a movie in Macedonia, where
she was moved by homeless children begging and sleeping in the streets. She
immediately felt a new responsibility and purpose. Says Masiela, "My passion is to
entertain the world with hope and humanity. I think every one of us wants to be a
better person; and if I am to contribute one thing of myself, it would be compassion."
Nicholas LoPiccolo (Executive Director). Mr. LoPiccolo has expertise ranging from
corporate law to consulting, launching, optimizing, merchandising, and managing
entertainment companies. He is known for his creative marketing campaigns which
included the USA launch of Sharp Aquos TV and a partnership with the Miami
Dolphins. Mr. LoPiccolo has a BS in Business Administration from the University
of Delaware, a JD from the Villanova University School of Law, and he is a candidate
for an LL.M. in Media Law from Southwestern University. He has performed pro
bono legal work for the Legal Clinic for the Disabled and has raised several hundred
thousands dollars for causes including ALS research and urban music initiatives. He
has been Ms. Lusha's partner and President of Marketing & Production at Illuminary
Pictures, Inc. since May 2008.
Robert Holmes
Franz Ondrasheck
Gary Haglund