Gbolo Lighthouse Project

The Gbolo Lighthouse Project is a living testament to the extraordinary legacy of service, compassion, and resilience embodied by Dorii and William Gbolo. Their journey began in the mid-1970s, when Dorii, a trailblazer from rural Illinois, left her small-town roots to pursue a life of purpose. A born nurturer with an adventurous spirit, Dorii found her calling in Liberia, where she worked in religious service and met her husband, William Gbolo. Together, they forged a partnership rooted in faith and a shared commitment to serving others. Dorii’s life was defined by her ability to see potential in everyone and to nurture it. After relocating to Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Gbolos raised their family with the steadfast support of Dorii’s grandmother, Dorothy Pickens—affectionately known as "Boodles"—while keeping alive their dream of returning to Liberia. In 1986, they fulfilled this dream, courageously moving back to Liberia with their four children—Simone, Bono, Prince, and Simeon—and a fifth on the way, Dorthy. Even amid the chaos of Liberia’s civil war, Dorii’s heart for service remained unwavering. Forced to flee back to Minnesota with her family, she channeled her relentless determination into founding the Christian Lighthouse Mission School in 1995 with her husband William, providing education and stability to children and families devastated by the conflict. Dorii’s work was characterized by her deep belief that kindness and care were transformative forces—a belief that drove her to become a “mother to all” in the communities she served. As the Star Tribune once noted, Dorii was the epitome of selflessness and compassion, a woman who “made everyone feel seen and loved.” These values continue to inspire the Gbolo Lighthouse Project, an initiative founded by Dorii and William’s children to carry forward their parents’ vision of empowering underserved children, families, and women across the globe. The Gbolo Lighthouse Project is more than a mission—it is a movement to honor the values Dorii championed throughout her life: faith, education, empowerment, and unconditional love. By supporting this initiative, you are not just investing in brighter futures; you are ensuring that Dorii’s lifelong mission to care for others lives on, lighting the way for generations to come. Together, we can expand the reach of her legacy and build a world that embodies her unwavering spirit of compassion and service.