Geraldine Grimes
{{Short description|Educator in Denver, Colorado (1950–2022)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Geraldine Grimes
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1950|09|17}}
| birth_place = Aurora, Colorado
| death_date = {{Death date and age |2022|05|11|1950|09|17}}
| death_place = Denver, Colorado
| occupation = Educator
}}
Geraldine "Gerie" Grimes (née Butler, 1950–2022) was an educator and activist in Denver, Colorado, who advocated for better education for Black children and children with disabilities. She was CEO and president of Hope Center, and was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame in 2018.{{cite web |title=Geraldine Grimes |url=https://www.cogreatwomen.org/project/geraldine-grimes/ |website=Colorado Women's Hall of Fame}}
Biography
Geraldine Butler was born on September 17, 1950, in Aurora, Colorado, to parents retired master sergeant Alonzo and Elizabeth Jane Butler. She was one of seven children. She graduated from East High School in Denver in 1968.{{cite news |title=Obituaries and Memoriam |publisher=Denver Post |date=July 10, 2022}}
Grimes received her undergraduate degree in non-profit administration from Metropolitan State University in 1987. She received her graduate degree in non-profit management from Regis University in 2001.
Grimes married Kenneth Grimes and the couple were married for 52 years. They had two sons, Troy Del Ray and Aaron Dion Grimes. She and her family lived in the Park Hill neighborhood, where she focused much of her activities.{{cite news |title=Gerie Grimes |url=https://issuu.com/womenofdenver/docs/wod-mag-spring-quarterly_2018 |access-date=27 July 2023 |publisher=Women of Denver Magazine |date=2018}}
Grimes is best known for her work with Hope Center, where she served as president and CEO. She joined the organization in 1982 as a bookkeeper in the vocational program.{{cite news |last1=Davidson |first1=Joanne |title=Brimming with Hope - The center for gifted and special-needs children and adults marks 50 years of service |publisher=Denver Post |date=March 5, 2015}}
The organization serves children and adults who are labeled "at risk" by the state for their developmental disabilities. She worked for the organization for 36 years.
For 45 years, she was involved with numerous other community organizations, including: Center for African American Health, Denver Early Childhood Council, Holly Area Redevelopment Project (HARP),{{cite web |title=In Memory of Gerie Grimes |url=https://www.urbanlandc.org/in-memory-of-gerie-grimes/ |website=Urban Land Conservancy|date=2 June 2022 }} Falcon Youth Organization, and Colorado Special Olympics Volunteer.
She also had leadership roles in organizations; she spent two terms as the president of the Metropolitan State University Alumni board, was president of the Colorado Black Roundtable and the Colorado Black Women for Political Action.
In 2009, she was a Ph.D candidate and Buell Fellow at University of Denver.
Recognition
- 2013, Anna Jo Haynes Caring About Kids Award from Mile High United Way{{cite news |last1=Davidson |first1=Joanne |title=Davidson: Actress Anna Deveare Smith speaks at United Way leadership luncheon |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2013/09/19/davidson-actress-anna-deveare-smith-speaks-at-united-way-leadership-luncheon/ |publisher=Denver Post |date=September 19, 2013}}
- 2013, the Mary McLeod Bethune Legacy Award from the National Council of Negro Women{{cite news |last1=Davidson |first1=Joanne |title=Brunch honors students and longtime leaders and celebrates the Council of Negro Women |publisher=Denver Post |date=December 15, 2013}}
- 2013, Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Award from Metropolitan State University of Denver{{cite web |title=Gerie Grimes |url=https://www.msudenver.edu/our-past/gerie-grimes/ |website=Metropolitan State University of Denver}}
- 2014, William Funk Award for Building Stronger Communities from Colorado Nonprofit Association{{cite news |title=Hats Off To... |url=https://issuu.com/denverurbanspectrum/docs/dus_april_2014_32_pager_layout_1_op |access-date=27 July 2023 |issue=26 |publisher=Denver Urban Spectrum |date=2014}}
- 2022, Denver Preschool Program Legacy Award{{cite web |title=Denver preschool program recognizes two early childhood education leaders with inaugural award |url=https://yourhub.denverpost.com/blog/2022/11/denver-preschool-program-recognizes-two-early-childhood-education-leaders-with-inaugural-award/297462/ |website=Your Hub |publisher=Denver Post}}
References
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Category:Educators from Denver
Category:Metropolitan State University of Denver alumni
Category:American education activists
Category:Regis University alumni
Category:20th-century African-American women
Category:21st-century African-American women
Category:People from Aurora, Colorado
Category:East High School (Denver, Colorado) alumni
Category:20th-century American educators
Category:20th-century American women educators
Category:21st-century American educators
Category:21st-century American women