John Winthrop Wright

Award Nomination Form | Hold The Date 2012

The Ethics in Action Award honors a Connecticut leader who has authentically demonstrated ethical business or leadership practices.

Mr. Curtis R. Welling 2011 Ethics in Action
Award recipient speaking at SEE's Character Celebration
on May 4, 2011

Curtis R Welling, President and CEO of AmeriCares, received the John Winthrop Wright Ethics in Action Award on May 4, 2011 in New Haven, CT. In his keynote address during SEE's Character Celebration, Mr. Welling encouraged participants to recognize the challenge of ethical decision making, particularly as diverse cultures interact. He shared stories about his experiences with AmeriCares that have provided him the opportunity to witness how cultures will place different priorities on certain values and how those priorities will dramatically influence decision making.

Mr. Welling was nominated for the Ethics in Action award for his personal demonstration and commitment to ethics. Curt joined AmeriCares as President and CEO in 2002. Under his leadership, AmeriCares has become a leading humanitarian aid organization for delivering donated medicines and supplies to people in need. Committed to helping more people live longer, healthier lives, Curt has guided AmeriCares in the distribution of $6 billion in aid to health care institutions serving people around the world and in the United States. Since its founding in 1982, AmeriCares has delivered more than $10 billion in aid to 147 countries.

Mr. Curtis R. Welling receiving the 2011 John Winthrop Wright Ethics in Action award from Peter M. Donovan (Chair of SEE and Wright Investors') and Dr. John Ramos Sr. (Superintendent of Bridgeport Public Schools and 2010 Ethics in Action recipient).

Among his many accomplishments, Curt has directed AmeriCares relief efforts for several large-scale disasters, including the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the January 12, 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the Myanmar cyclone and China earthquake in 2008, the 2004 Southeast Asian tsunami, and in 2005, both Hurricane Katrina and the Pakistan earthquake. In 2004, Curt launched a program that continues to deliver medical aid to clinics serving displaced people in Sudan and neighboring Chad. Since that time, AmeriCares has delivered 11 airlifts to the Darfur region and additional shipments to Chad, bringing over $11 million in lifesaving medicines and medical supplies.

Prior to joining AmeriCares, Mr. Welling had a successful 25-year career in the investment banking and securities industry in senior executive roles, including president & CEO of SG Cowen Securities Corporation and senior managing director of global equity capital markets at Bear Stearns. He currently serves as a director of Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc., as a member of the Board of Visitors at the Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Public Policy at Dartmouth College and as vice chair of The Adirondack Council. He is a member of the Council of Foreign Relations. His past leadership roles include board chairmanships at Spence Chapin Services and the Donaldson Adoption Institute.

Curt is well deserving of the John Winthrop Wright Ethics in Action award as evidenced by his personal and corporate commitment to demonstrating ethical practice.

This is a man who made a successful transition from the hard charging investment banking world to head up one of the largest non-profits in the United States-- AmeriCares. He sought out this opportunity to "give back" to those less fortunate and now has been at AmeriCares for almost 10 years and continues to help administer a culture that seeks to leverage all of its donations to maximize benefit to those in need.

AmeriCares is recognized to have more than 98% of its total expenses go to program activities which is a remarkable testimony of ethical financial management for any non profit.

His ethical foundation guides his corporate and personal decisions both on the macro level (heading up AmeriCares which helps millions of people a year) and on the micro level (helping individuals at AmeriCares and elsewhere who need immediate assistance).

Examples of Curt's personal decisions include—

• Without seeking public recognition, he paid for hearing aids for an individual who couldn't afford them.
• He directed his AmeriCares team to work with a staff member who had a most difficult personal situation impacting the health of his spouse to come up with a solution that worked for AmeriCares and allowed this person to meet his family obligations.
• His personal commitment and support of adoption and resources to help others in the adoption process by helping found an institute that disseminates best research-based policy and practices in support of adoption. Curt has been cited as leading the charge to establish the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute with a passion fired by his own status as an adoptive parent.

» Nomination Form for the John Winthrop Wright Ethics in Action award [PDF Form; 51 KB]