The Foundation

Board Members

Founder, MacDella 'Mackie' Cooper	Finance Director, Rosanna Scarpati
Director, Elizabeth Stern	Advisory Board, Pamela Brogden, Beatrice Pillet, Sheree Chang, Miata Jones, Ron Pobuda and Liz Whitman

MCF Story
From the Founder

I was born in Monrovia, Liberia on March 13, 1977. In early 1990, a brutal civil war started in Liberia. The nation's economic, political and social systems were decimated. Businesses and homes were looted. The United Nations estimates that 250,000 people were killed and one million were displaced. More than 700,000 Liberians fled to neighboring countries to avoid the war. I am one of them.

Less fortunate refugees have been living in camps for more than 10 years. Children suffered the most damage; a high percentage of them were recruited as child soldiers – the boys were taken to fight and the girls were taken as sex slaves. Other children were abandoned or orphaned.

I escaped to the bordering Ivory Coast after the death of my stepfather at the end of 1990. I watched the country go from peaceful and quiet to chaotic and dangerous. In November 1993, I finally got clearance to come to the United States and was reunited with my family. I received a full academic scholarship to college, where I obtained a degree in Electronic Communication. After graduating, I moved to Manhattan to pursue a career in fashion and corporate events planning. I never forgot how much suffering my fellow Liberians endured. To help those back home in Monrovia, I began donating to individuals, orphanages and women's groups five years ago. Those efforts grew into the MacDella Cooper Foundation.

In 2004, I started The MacDella Cooper Foundation (MCF), a 501c3 international charitable organization devoted to empowering Liberian youth, especially orphans and abandoned children, by providing education and basic necessities.

Today, Liberia has democratically elected the first female president on the continent of Africa. Since her inauguration in January 2006, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, with the help of the United Nations and the international community, has done an incredible job restoring order and peace to Liberia. President Sirleaf is working tirelessly to weed corruption out of government and create transparency. Former rebel leader Charles Taylor is now on trial for war crimes. Many Liberians who fled the country are now returning to help rebuild the country's infrastructure and economic strength.

Public schools in Liberia remain closed but most private schools are open. Foreign aid groups, relief teams, religious groups and other organizations are in Monrovia assisting in the rebuilding of the country. Despite the progress that has been made, there are still many in need who are not being reached. 85% of the population in Liberia lives well below the poverty line.

My dream is to educate as many Liberian children as MCF can support, so that they can later contribute to the economic redevelopment of the country and to make sure Liberia's history is not repeated. I believe that education is the saving grace of Liberia and Africa as a whole. But to promote education, we must first provide the basic needs -- shelter, food, clothing and security.

In just a few short years, we have assisted foster homes and five orphanages in Monrovia. MCF has also reunited families and aided a young Liberian orphan needing medical treatment for cancer (he is now cancer-free). Additionally, in December MCF holds an annual children's Christmas party at the Susie Gunther Orphanage in Monrovia for more than 500 orphans. Each child receives a warm meal on Christmas day and a gift bag filled with toys and other necessities. MCF also holds an annual benefit to raise funds and awareness of the plight of Liberia.

By supporting MCF, you will impact the lives of children who would not otherwise get an education. You will give women hope, stability and the ability to support their children.

We are very excited and honored to be part of the world community assisting in Liberia's recovery. Our ultimate goal is a strong, educated, and economically sound Liberia.

Sincerely,
MacDella Cooper
Founder

Visit Liberia's Angel - The Story of MacDella Cooper for more information.