INDIANAPOLIS – Actress/social activist America Ferrera will speak at 7:30 p.m. March 20 in Butler University’s Clowes Memorial Hall as part of the spring 2012 Celebration of Diversity Distinguished Lecture Series.
America Ferrera is perhaps best known for her Emmy Award-winning portrayal of Betty Suarez on the ABC hit comedy “Ugly Betty,” but she is also a devoted humanitarian who dedicates her time, energy and star power to generating attention to the causes that are near and dear to her heart, particularly those impacting children and their education.
A gifted and fearless actress, Ferrera received a Special Jury Award for acting with her debut in “Real Women Have Curves,” a performance she followed up with roles in such films as “Lords of Dogtown,” “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” and the Oscar-nominated animated film “How to Train Your Dragon.” Most recently, she appeared in “The Dry Land,” which premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and which Ferrera also executive produced.
A staunch believer that one person can truly make a difference, Ferrera, an artist ambassador for Save the Children, helped raise more than $44,000 to build a new elementary school in Mali, an accomplishment that garnered her the 2011 Global Action award for Childhood Development and Education. She also recently traveled to India with New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof to take part in the PBS film “Half the Sky,” which draws a compelling picture of the trials and triumphs of women worldwide as they struggle for opportunity and equality.
In 2010, Ferrera was awarded the Hispanic Heritage Foundation’s Inspira Award, which recognized her contributions as a role model through her work as an actress and activist. She is also the recipient of the 2011 Global Action Award for Childhood Development and Education for her work with Save the Children in Mali. In March 2011, Ferrera was named the 2011 national recipient of the Cesar E. Chavez Legacy Award for her commitment to helping lead underprivileged families and youth to a better life and education.
Ferrera will be followed in The Celebration of Diversity Distinguished Lecture Series by newsman Dan Rather (April 23).
Admission is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. They are available at the Clowes Hall box office and through Ticketmaster. (Fees apply for phone and online orders through Ticketmaster.) There is a limit of two tickets per person.
For more information, call (317) 940-6444.
