Jenny From the Block...
September 25, 2010
"Jennifer hasn't even sent us a CD," Principal Claire La Tempa said. That's surprising, since J.Lo probably has plenty of extra copies of "Rebirth" and "Brave" stacked up in her garage.
It's also surprising for other reasons. J.Lo's mother, Guadalupe, was a kindergarten and gym teacher at Holy Family, which repeatedly gets four stars academically on greatschools.com.
"Lupe was wonderful, a sweetie, and wonderful with the kids," said La Tempa, who over her 34 years at the school taught Lopez's sister, Emmy-winning newswoman Lynda Lopez, and watched Jennifer grow up.
"When Jennifer became famous, I asked Lupe if Jennifer could donate a scholarship in her name, and Lupe just said, 'Uh-uh! That's her money and that's it.'"
And boy does she have money.
Depending on whether you read Forbes or Fortune, Lopez is worth anywhere from $110 million to $260 million - and that's before her "Idol" payday.
In 2004, Fortune declared Lopez the richest female under 40 in showbiz. In 2007, Forbes said she was the richest entertainer of Hispanic descent.
But most of her cents come from scents. With a 16th perfume coming out next month, Lopez is the celebrity fragrance queen, selling $1 billion worth since 2002.
Nothing for the 'hood, though, and that stinks.
Hey, I'm not saying Lopez should give $100 million, as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is doing with Newark's schools - and he's not even from New Jersey!
But J.Lo has used our street - Blackrock Ave., where I lived at 2064 and later, Lopez lived at 2210 - to promote her "Jenny From the Block" image, and she doesn't give back.
She didn't even give autographs to the kids in 2002, when she rolled up in the back of a black Lincoln Navigator with Diane Sawyer.
"She doesn't represent," one kid said then.
Sadly, families there are hurting now more than ever.
"The recession has hit parents hard. Many of them are single mothers. A lot have lost their jobs," La Tempa says. "I have one mother who worked at St. Vincent's Hospital for 25 years - and she's out of work now. It's hard for families to make the tuition" - $300 to $400 a month from pre-K to eighth grade.
"We have many of the children from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. They have breakfast, lunch, and dinner here. They do their homework here. If they don't speak English when they come, we teach them."
In 2000, I asked Lopez's reps if she'd auction off the infamous Versace plunger she wore to the Grammys and give the cash to Holy Family. Never heard a word.
"I keep praying she'll donate the pink diamond engagement ring Ben Affleck gave her," says La Tempa, only half in jest.
Last year, Lopez and her sister Lynda started the Maribel foundation. The website does not say whether they've made any donations. Lopez spokeswoman Leslie Sloane said she doesn't discuss her clients' financial matters.
On the site, Marianne Wright Edelman tells Lopez about the sad state of education for poor minority kids. Lopez says, "It's a tragedy."
Lopez told Larry King she wants to bring health care "to children all over the planet," and help with education.
How about starting in the Bronx, Jenny?
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/09/24/2010-09-24_block_that_jenny_forgot.html#ixzz10YkuFDJT
Joanna,
Thank you for your front page splashdown for conscience yesterday in appealing to our former parishioner Jennifer Lopez to remember her block. If she comes out of hiding and contacts you let her know we would love to make her a Goods of Conscience™ dress in our parish workshop which you covered last December. The Irish poet Patrick Kavanagh said there were two simplicities in life: leaving home and coming back. The latter he said was the hardest. I might add that it potentially is the sweetest. We have a garden here at the school now and produce honey on the roof. The children would rush to give welcome gifts of peace and healing. Maybe if she knew that Tory Burch will again host a Christmas gathering for our younger children at her West 19th Street offices she might discover reasons to be bullish about the Bronx instead of dissing it.
Your the best,
In Christ,
Fr. Andrew O'Connor
