Foundation honoring Indio Marine killed in Afghanistan hopes to raise money for Marine families, local students

Cpl. Hunter Lopez was killed in action during an airport attack in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2021 at the age of 22, but his family is looking to ensure his memory lives on through a fundraiser for the foundation that bears his name on Jan. 17.

Lopez was born in Palm Springs and raised in Indio and was one of 13 U.S. service members killed during the airport evacuation in Kabul, Afghanistan on Aug. 26, 2021. To honor his legacy, his family set up the Hunter Lopez Memorial Foundation which ensures no service member stands alone and helps local students follow in a path of service.

The foundation started with a simple, heartbreaking observation. When Lopez graduated from boot camp in 2017, his family noticed something: dozens of young Marines stood alone on graduation day because their families couldn’t afford the trip to San Diego. 

To date, the foundation has sponsored 40 families, provided flights, hotels, and rides to MCRD San Diego, funded service animals for veterans and first responders, and given out awards for character to students at Amelia Earhart Elementary and John Glenn Middle School.

The foundation also offers a scholarship to graduating high school seniors pursuing a path in public service. At first, the scholarship was only open for La Quinta High School seniors, but the foundation said the applications for the scholarship were so overwhelming, they opened up the opportunity to all graduating seniors in Desert Sands Unified School District.

On Jan. 17 the foundation will hold its third annual “To All Who Lead the Way” memorial fundraiser. Tickets for the event start at $100. Students can apply for the scholarship starting Jan. 15 and the deadline is March 31.

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