Know Your Neighbor: Jean Bello, White Plains
In every community, business or even social organization there can be found the rare individual who with much grace, personal strength, knowledge, dignity, patience and compassion, works to accomplish the goals of the group, sometimes taking on major challenges while always ensuring the job gets done, and done well.
Life-long White Plains resident, Jean Bello is one of those people.
Many of you may know her as the PTA mother of three sons who went to White Plains elementary schools or as the reporter who worked for the White Plains Watch and later the White Plains Times. Most recently Bello has been the president of the White Plains Beautification Foundation, her term as president ended this past June. She co-chairs the Foundation’s Adopt-a-Park program and soon will begin new work with the Woman’s Club of White Plains Foundation.
Bello was born in White Plains Hospital, spent her early years in the garden apartments at the corner of Post Road and Soundview Avenue and later moved with her family – she is the middle child in a family of five children – to what continues to be the family home in the White Plains Highlands neighborhood. Her maiden name is Lolis. You may recognize the name from one of her brothers, Lenny, who ran for Common Council a few years back.
In college Bello studied English literature and says she continues to enjoy writing of all kinds. Just two days after graduating college, however, Bello found a job at General Foods, working in their accounting department. She is a master of many talents.
Bello’s work with the White Plains Beautification Foundation began several years back when her neighbors asked her to become involved. “It’s not because I have a green thumb or anything like that,” she says jokingly. “I like working outdoors, raking leaves, doing things in the garden.”
Bello soon became involved as recording secretary and then president. I met so many interesting and active people doing this work,” Bello says. “These are all volunteers,” she continues, “and they make sure the 56 gardens they sponsor in the city are planned, planted, watered and cared for. It’s a year-round schedule of work. In fact the summer, when everything is blooming is when things slow down.”
This is a group of people who care deeply for White Plains, Bello explains. They work for the betterment of the entire community, not just for the gardens.
In the early days of the Foundation they worked with landlords in the city’s downtown to match not-for-profit organizations with empty storefronts where they could post banners to dress up the windows. This improved the look of the downtown and gave the not-for-profits visibility.
Whereas in the past volunteers did all the work, today the gardens are planted and maintained by local nurseries. Bello emphasized that while White Plains benefits from the beauty the gardens add to the general landscape and all the gardens are on public property, the city contributes nothing financially. “All those tulips you see in the spring were put there by volunteers and donations,” she said. “The city does lend us a water truck, but volunteers from the Youth Bureau do the actual watering. The city has also donated mulch from time to time, she added.
Bello claims the Foundation is doing well despite a tough economic climate and they are always looking for new garden sponsors. To be a garden sponsor the minimum donation is $250 and if a person or organization sponsors for at least three years in a row the Foundation places a sign in the garden with the sponsors name. “We will accept contributions of any amount,” Bello maintains. “For five or ten dollars you can feel a part of a garden when you see the flowers blooming.”
Thursday, October 25, the Foundation is holding its annual gala at Westchester Hills Golf Club. It’s a great social night, Bello explains. “There is no formal presentation or awards ceremony. We simply have fun and socialize.” Of course there is a silent auction and this year a custom painted Yankee-replica motorized child-size car signed by Mario Rivera is one of the sought after items. Walk-ins are welcome she says. The price is $90.
Bello says she is impressed by the involvement of White Plains residents in their city. “We have been approached by many other municipalities about our program, but no one has had as much success as we have.”
Bello plans to keep working on the Adopt-a-Garden program and will begin new work with the Woman’s Club of White Plains Foundation. “This is a new venture,” Bello says, established when the club received not-for-profit status. “I’m not sure exactly what we’ll be doing, but I want to work on projects with organizations like Grace Church, El Centro Hispano and the White Plains Youth Bureau.”
“I am lucky to be able to do this,” Bello concludes.
