Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Liza Lowe. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
The COVID-19 pandemic revealed deep inequities between Los Angeles neighborhoods. A group of high schoolers decided to do something about it. And today, Liza Lowe serves as Chief Financial Officer of the organization they created, Level Up Los Angeles. This student-run nonprofit supports two under-resourced Title I elementary schools serving more than 400 students.
Over three years, Liza has personally raised more than $25,000 and helped grow the organization’s corporate partnerships from five to 12, beating a spring fundraising goal by over $82,000. But the numbers are only half the story. Nearly every week she’s on campus, coaching 5th graders on public speaking, designing after-school math and finance classes, leading a weekend beautification event, and even dressing as an elf to hand out holiday gifts to kids who might not otherwise receive any.
Level Up is what Liza calls “double impact:” the students it serves get funding and enrichment, while the high schoolers running it learn to fundraise, pitch, and lead. Having thrived in public school herself, Liza wants every child to feel that same spark. She believes there’s always a place for everyone in advocacy.
Do you want to make a difference in your community like Liza? Find local volunteer opportunities.