Bea Gaddy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bea Gaddy
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| Born |
Beatrice Frankie Fowler
1933 |
| Died | October 3, 2001 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
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| Known for | Social work, Community activism |
Beatrice "Bea" Gaddy (1933–2001) was an amazing woman from Baltimore. She was a city council member, which means she helped make decisions for the city. Bea was also a strong helper for people who were poor or didn't have homes. Many people called her the "Mother Teresa of Baltimore" because she cared so much. In 2006, she was honored in the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame.
Her Early Life
Bea Gaddy was born Beatrice Frankie Fowler in Wake Forest, North Carolina, in 1933. She grew up facing many challenges, including poverty. By the time she was 25, she was a mother of five children.
Bea and her children moved to New York City, where she worked as a housekeeper. In 1964, her family moved to Baltimore. While working and raising her children, Bea went back to school. She studied mental health at Catonsville Community College. Later, she earned a bachelor's degree in human services from Antioch University in 1977.
Helping Her Community
In the early 1970s, Bea Gaddy started working with the East Baltimore Children's Fund. She even let people use her own home to give out food and clothes to those in need.
In 1981, she started the Patterson Park Emergency Food Center. Bea would personally collect food from local churches. She used a shopping cart to bring the donations back to her center. She then gave the food to her neighbors who needed it.
That same year, she won $250 in the Maryland State Lottery. Bea used this money to serve a Thanksgiving Day dinner to about 40 of her neighbors. This kind act grew into a huge yearly event. It's now called Bea Gaddy's Thanks for Giving Campaign. Hundreds of volunteers help serve 3,000 meals on site. They also deliver 50,000 more meals to people who cannot travel.
Bea's food center also collected and gave out toys to children at Christmas. Each winter, they distributed hundreds of pairs of shoes. In the 1990s, she started a furniture bank. She also created a program to fix up empty houses for families in need. Bea even became a minister. This allowed her to perform marriages and burial ceremonies for poor people for free. She also helped with voter education and summer programs for young people. In 1999, Bea Gaddy was elected to the Baltimore City Council.
Awards and Recognition
Bea Gaddy received many awards for her amazing work. These included the Unsung Hero Award in 1972. She was named Afro American Woman of the Year in 1984. She also received Baltimore's Best Award in 1984. In 1988, she got the National Council of Negro Women Humanitarian Award. The Mayor gave her a special citation in 1988. She also received the Baltimore City Council Award in 1987 and 1989.
In 1992, President George H. W. Bush recognized Bea Gaddy. He named her one of his "Thousand Points of Light." This award honors people who make a difference in their communities. That same year, The Baltimore Sun newspaper named her Marylander of the Year. In 1993, she received an honorary doctorate from Towson State University. This is a special degree given to honor her achievements. In 2000, she received the Frederick Douglass Award. This award came from the University System of Maryland.
Her Lasting Impact
Bea Gaddy was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1998. She passed away on October 3, 2001, at the age of 68. Her important work continues today. The Bea Gaddy Family Centers, Inc. carries on her mission. Her daughter, Cynthia Brooks, also helps lead these efforts. Bea Gaddy's legacy of kindness and helping others lives on in Baltimore.
