Liberia Renaissance Foundation

The Organization of Texas Mandingo

News and Activities

Liberia Renaissance Foundation, Inc.
Press Release
March 30, 2009
LRF founder, Dr. Dawn Cooper Barnes and board member, Dr. Lisa Cooper Green with Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah and her assistant, Ms. Theresa Kulula, in Monrovia, Liberia at JFK Medical Center Cancer Unit (March 5, 2009)

Washington, D.C. March 24, 2009: Liberia Renaissance Foundation, Inc, has contributed US$2000.00 to the Chemotherapy Unit of the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Monrovia, Liberia. Liberia Renaissance Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit U.S. corporation established in 2007 by Dawn Cooper Barnes, Ph.D., spouse of Liberian Ambassador to the United States, M. Nathaniel Barnes, to benefit Liberia and its people by raising awareness in the U.S. of the needs and opportunities within the Liberian nation.

The decision to make a quick impact donation towards cancer treatment at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center was prompted by a couple of reasons. First, Ambassador and Dr. Barnes had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Ann Marie Beddoe of Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York and learning of her incredible generosity in establishing the Cervical Cancer Unit in the Women’s Clinic at JFK Medical Center in Monrovia. Dr. Beddoe visited Liberia as a volunteer as was struck by the high prevalence of cervical cancer among the Liberian women she treated. With proper screening and early diagnosis, this type of cancer has been shown to have a high rate of success in treatment and cure. Dr. Beddoe encouraged Dr. Dawn Cooper Barnes and Liberia Renaissance Foundation board member, Dr. Lisa Cooper Green, to meet with Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah, who runs the OB-GYN Department at John F. Kennedy Medical Center, when they visited Liberia during the first week in March. As the daughters of the late Dr. Henry Nehemiah Cooper, the first Chief Medical Officer of the John F. Kennedy Medical Center and a cancer surgeon himself, both Dr. Barnes and Dr. Cooper Green wanted to carry on their father’s legacy in some small way.

Dr. Lisa Cooper Green, Professor of Internal Medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine (Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.) and the recipient of a prestigious MacArthur “Genius” Award in 2007, was impressed with both Dr. Beddoe and Dr. Jallah. She has committed to assisting them through Liberia Renaissance Foundation, Inc. in fundraising efforts to support the treatment and prevention of cancer in Liberian women.

According to Dr. Jallah, this quick impact grant will be used to purchase chemotherapy-related medications and supplies which are badly needed. Dr. Jallah expressed her thanks to Liberia Renaissance Foundation for the generous contribution. She stated, “Your donation will provide us with enough medications to provide treatment to our patients for nine months.”

Washington, D.C. March 24, 2009: Liberia Renaissance Foundation, Inc, has contributed US$1000.00 to the Jesus Christ’s Children Ministry International (JECCMI), of White Plains, Liberia towards paying teachers at the JECCMI School. Liberia Renaissance Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit U.S. corporation established in 2007 by Dawn Cooper Barnes, Ph.D., spouse of Liberian Ambassador to the United States, M. Nathaniel Barnes, to benefit Liberia and its people by raising awareness in the U.S. of the needs and opportunities of the Liberian nation.

The Barnes’ have supported the JECCMI since 2002 through the Aurora Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization incorporated in Liberia in 2001 by Ambassador and Mrs. Barnes to find and apply resources that will help facilitate the economic empowerment of Liberians. The Liberia Renaissance Foundation, Inc., which is based in the U.S. intends to work closely with the Aurora Foundation of Liberia in supporting Liberian orphanages, schools, clinics, cultural programs among other worthwhile projects.

According to Mrs. Martha Kpawolokpala, Executive Director of JECCMI, “Our ministry is soliciting monthly assistance to meet the demands of teachers who are threatening to seek for higher compensation than what we are presently offering due to our financial constraints.” She acknowledged the support of Aurora Foundation since 2002 and expressed sincere appreciation to Liberia Renaissance Foundation for the recent help rendered to “future leaders of our country