“We make a living out of what we do, we make a life out of what we give.”

– Winston Churchill

The Rising Lotus Foundation was founded by three generations of women who believe in the importance of providing opportunities that help women and their families not just survive, but thrive.

How many people will you lift out of poverty this year?

If you are interested in getting involved or supporting partner organizations, please reach out to Loreal LeGate, Co-founder and CEO, Rising Lotus Foundation at Loreal@risinglotusfd.org.

Loreal LeGate

Co-founder and CEO

Even as a child, Loreal LeGate was driven, understanding from a young age that she had to make her own way to make her dreams happen. Money was tight—she and her brother were raised by a single mother—so she focused on academics, earning an undergraduate degree in multinational business operations and, two decades later, a Master’s in International Business.

Her focus on global business was deliberate, fueled by a desire to travel and a fascination with different countries and cultures. After spending most of her career at a Fortune 100 financial services company, she founded i3MKTG, a consulting practice that provided marketing strategy and communications for global nonprofits and trade associations.

Throughout her corporate and consulting career, Loreal developed her personal passion for ending poverty. She focused on raising awareness and funds for nonprofits and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) with a mission to support women’s economic empowerment in underserved countries. The goal is to break the cycle of poverty by enabling opportunities for ongoing income through employment, agribusiness, or microbusiness.

Loreal’s passion, combined with her business acumen, led her to serve on advisory councils and a board of directors. She has traveled internationally to visit field projects and earned a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Harvard’s Extension School.

Loreal has an adventurous spirit, having visited 65 countries and all seven continents between her professional and personal travels. Her impressive achievements have earned her the nickname “Wonder Woman” among family, friends, and colleagues, who continually add to her Wonder Woman collection in recognition of her boundless energy and dedication.

Gloria Versurah

Co-founder

Gloria Versurah grew up in a small coastal town in Florida where helping family, neighbors, and community was second nature. As she embarked on her career, she moved to big cities working for Southern Bell Telecommunications (current day AT&T), the State of Georgia’s Department of Industry & Trade, and the State of Florida’s Department of Administration.

As a single mother, Gloria understood the importance of income opportunities to support her two children. Despite financial challenges, she always managed to help those in need, instilling in her children the values of compassion and community service.

Driven by desire to learn financial literacy, Gloria educated herself on investing and entrepreneurship. Today, she is an advocate for financial training and income opportunities for women. She is committed to breaking the cycle of poverty through employment, agribusinesses, or microbusinesses, aiming to help women and their families not just survive, but thrive.

In her personal life, Gloria is a Master Gardener, growing herbs, vegetables, and flowers. She loves cooking for family and friends. Once an avid tennis player, she now enjoys the game as a spectator.

Lauren Moore

Co-founder

Lauren Moore learned the importance of a strong work ethic early on, excelling in school and sports. Raised by a mother who worked in the financial industry, she was educated on financial management along with the importance of helping others. At just 13, after seeing an ad for Save the Children, Lauren used her babysitting earnings to sponsor Luis, a child her age in Guatemala, for four years.

While studying at Florida State University, Lauren helped pay her way by for the university. As a Resident Assistant, she built leadership, relationship management, and communication skills, leading educational and social programs for 70 female residents. She collaborated with housing colleagues, acted as a liaison between students and university agencies, and responded to crisis situations for 700 campus residents, earning several awards for her dedication.

After earning her Master’s Degree in Information Management Systems, Lauren worked in technology for several major corporations. Her organizational and relationship-building skills have been instrumental in leading project management for complex projects with large cross-functional teams.

Grateful for her educational and career opportunities, Lauren is dedicated to helping young women in underserved countries by providing access to financial training and resources. She believes that income opportunities will break the cycle of poverty and enable food security for women, their families, and entire communities.