The Balancing Act on Lifetime with Mario Lopez

The Balancing Act

The following segment aired on “The Balancing Act” on Lifetime Television. Joining the show were Mario Lopez and his mother to discuss the Boys and Girls Club.

The Balancing Act: Well, you may know our next guest for the smile, those dimples, who could forget those dimples, right, the dancing and the hosting skills.  But, Mario Lopez is known for more than just his good looks or his job.  Mario also gives back to his community and organizations all across this country.  This morning, Mario and his beautiful mom, Elvia, join “The Balancing Act” from Glendale, California to talk about how to give a very special gift this holiday season.  All right, so this is a project that you and your mom have teamed up to work on together.  How special is that?

Mario Lopez: Well this is real important to my mom and I because I am a former member of the Boys and Girls Club and proud to say in their alumni hall of fame and their current fitness ambassador for all the clubs.  We just want to use “The Balancing Act” to raise the awareness level and have people consider making a simple donation this holiday season because there’s no greater gift of a great future and it had such a positive impact on my life and I don’t know where I’d be without it.  And we can help thousands of kids by simply making a donation, either financially or with your time, and you can find out all the information you need over at greatfutures.org/give or the Facebook page.  You’ll see that a lot of great companies are involved behind it like Amway, Elmer’s or Sony stores who are donating five percent of their proceeds today and so it’s a very special place for me and we want to help a lot of kids out there.

The Balancing Act: You know, I love the fact that you and your mom are doing this together.  Mrs. Lopez, tell “The Balancing Act,” how proud are you of what your son is doing?

Mrs. Lopez: Oh my god, I couldn’t be more proud, sweetie.  You know, both my husband and I worked and I wanted to find a place with a good environment, positive people, positive mentors, and a good influence for Mario.  And, I believe that boys and girls club really helped me get Mario there.  Without them, I don’t think he’d be the person that he is now.

The Balancing Act: Well, you know, I’m just so proud of everything you do both on and off camera, big fan, personally and professionally.  But, you know, for our viewers of “The Balancing Act,” when we talk about the holidays and we talk about the fact that it really is, Mario, a perfect reminder as we give all of our gifts, right, and we eat with our families and have dinner and just enjoy the time, that sixteen million children in this country are living in poverty.  How can we give them the gift of a great future this holiday season and beyond?

Mario Lopez: Well, again, by either donating your money or your time.  Because it’s a non-profit organization, you’ll know that your kids are safe; you’ll know that they have positive influences.  There’s going to be people there that are going to be great mentors and taking care of them, exposing them to things from the arts to all kinds of sports and that’s pretty priceless, if you ask me.  So, you can really help yourself by helping these kids and our future, again, by just going to the website greatfutures.org/give.

The Balancing Act: And, Mrs. Lopez, you talked about the fact that, of course Mario had a safe place, a place that he could go and be nurtured, how do you think this experience helped him and now look at all the things that he’s done in his life?

Mrs. Lopez: Oh, it helped him in so many things, sweetie.  You know he’s been working in this business since he was ten years old, so it was hard juggling my daughter and him, you know, her in San Diego and him here.  So, The Boys and Girls Club was there for him whenever I couldn’t be there and I felt very safe with him there.  And, they don’t turn anybody away, I want you to remember that and I recommend them to anybody.

The Balancing Act: And, with just about a minute left, I do want you to tell “The Balancing Act” about your little girl.  You have a little girl yourself, how old is she now, Mario?

Mario Lopez: She’s about thirteen months right now.

The Balancing Act: She is absolutely beautiful.  I have to tell you and when you think about her future, what do you hope that she learns from your experiences at the Boys and Girls Club and all of the giving back that you do?

Mario Lopez: Well, I want to get her involved and I want to expose her to that and what the club’s all about.  And, I want her to not forget where she came from, in the sense that she needs to come from a place of love and learn to help others and to not ever take anything for granted.  So, and the club helps you do that.

The Balancing Act: All right, sounds good, guys.  And, Mario, Mrs. Lopez, thank you so much for joining “The Balancing Act.”  Enjoy that beautiful family of yours and enjoy the holidays.  Keep up the great work you’re doing!

Mario: Thank you.

Mrs. Lopez: Thank you, sweetie, thank you.  Take care.

The Balancing Act: Sure, and, again, for more information, simply head to the website, greatfutures.org/give.

The Balancing Act is the only morning show in America produced by women specifically for women. Every morning, The Balancing Act on Lifetime hosts Danielle Knox and Kristy Villa tackle the issues that face today’s woman. Popular show segments include live weather updates with Mark Mancuso, surprise celebrity visitors, and news about the latest trends affecting your life, home, career and family. The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television airs daily on Lifetime at 7 a.m. ET/PT. For more information, visit The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television’s website at www.thebalancingact.com.