Spirit of CARIE Awardees 2020

ADA BELLO

Born in Havana, Ada left Cuba in 1958 after the university she attended was closed following student protests. She continued her education at Louisiana State University, graduating with a degree in chemistry. In 1962, Ada relocated to Philadelphia, working first at the University of Pennsylvania and later at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Ada recounts that “in Philadelphia, I came to know a group of lesbian women who became early leaders in the homophile movement.” She became a founding member of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Daughters of Bilitis and of its successor, the Homophile Action League (HAL). Reporting for the HAL Newsletter, Ada covered the Annual Reminder demonstrations, a series of early pickets organized by LGBTQ organizations that took place each July 4 at Independence Hall in Philadelphia from 1965 – 1969.

Ada’s trail-blazing activism included volunteering with the American Library Association’s Gay Task Force, providing early support for the Gay Community Center, for which she served as Co-Chair, serving on the board of the Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force and helping to organize From All Walks of Life, the first walk-a-thon for AIDS funding. In addition, she was one of the founding members of the LGBT Elder Initiative, serving on the Board of that organization until 2019. In 2015 she received the David Acosta Revolutionary Leader Award from GALAEI, Philadelphia’s queer Latino social justice organization.

Upon her professional retirement, Ada sought a volunteer opportunity where she could make a difference and found it as a long-term care ombudsman. As she notes, ‘it gave me the opportunity of exploring the challenges of aging while perhaps helping others in the process.” Ada advocated for elders in long term care for 20 years, helping to find solutions to problems, promoting residents’ rights and “recognizing them in their full entitlement as human beings.”    

Ada stands with ground-breaking pioneers Barbara Gittings, Kay Lahusen, Frank Kameny, and John James as a champion of LGBTQ equality and rights. For her courage and compassion, her lifelong advocacy in behalf of the LGBTQ community and her commitment to improving the lives of the most vulnerable older adults, CARIE is privileged to honor Ada Bello with the 2020 Spirit of CARIE Award.

JOHN BUTTS

CARIE’s Board and staff are privileged to honor John Butts with this year’s Spirit of CARIE Award. John’s abiding concern for the well-being of older adults is evidenced in the many ways he has supported CARIE’s work throughout the years. Recognized by communities across Philadelphia for his commitment of time and energy as well as his philanthropy, John has a long history of action in behalf of social justice issues including anti-racism and issues of diversity and inclusion affecting the LGBTQ community.  

In addition to having served on CARIE’s Board, John has been a member of the Boards of Mercy Neighborhood Ministries of Philadelphia and Action Wellness.  He serves as a facilitator for the Sisters of Mercy – Mercy Associate Program and volunteers for many of their outreach ministries and social justice activities. John’s focus on community service has extended as well to his work previously at Independence Blue Cross where he was one of four founding associates to help launch The Blue Crew, IBC’s Corporate Volunteer program and, currently, at PerformRx,  where he is an active member of Care Crew, AmeriHealth Caritas Family of Companies Associate Volunteer Program.

In 2004, after participating for many years in Action Wellness’s Annual Dining Out for Life, John founded Cocktails for a Cause (formerly Dining ln), over the years raising a total of approximately $200,000 for Action Wellness.

As significant as John’s service activities are, he is perhaps even more appreciated for the way he inspires others to service.  In John’s words, “We each have the opportunity to make a difference and change a life or many while we are here, but you have to take the opportunity.”  John’s many awards and recognitions include IBC’s G. Fred DiBona, Jr. Leadership Award, Action Wellness Friend for Life award, PerformRx President’s Award of Excellence, the 2019 Citizens Award from the Philadelphia Inquirer and The Lenfest Institute’s Annual Corporate Philanthropy Conference and the 2019 LBGTQ Leadership Award from the National Diversity Council – Pennsylvania Chapter.

In recognition of the depth and generosity of his spirit, effort, passion, and support for social justice and for improving the lives of others, especially the vulnerable, CARIE is pleased to honor John C. Butts with the 2020 Spirit of CARIE Award.

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