Humanitarian of the Week: Telma Hopkins

I was raised by a grandmother who told me I could do whatever I wanted to do, as long as I was willing to work hard for it...
--Telma Hopkins

Telma Hopkins’ face and voice have been staples of the American culture for four decades. This talented singer and actress first came to widespread attention as a member of the 1970s singing group “Tony Orlando and Dawn.” Miss Hopkins solidified her permanent place in American pop culture by starring in a host of television sitcoms, including Bosom Buddies, Gimme a Break!, Family Matters, Getting By, Half & Half, and most recently on the TBS sitcom Are We There Yet?


Hopkins’ career in entertainment began in Detroit, Michigan when she started working as a backup singer on many of the Golden World/Motown hits. This lead to steady employment with legendary acts such as The Four Tops and Marvin Gaye. Her beauty and comedic timing made her the perfect addition to any cast and Miss Hopkins soon found that many acting roles were coming her way.

In addition to acting and singing, Hopkins can now add the title of “producer” to her ever-growing list of credits. In 2008, Miss Hopkins launched a creative partnership, “A New Dawn Entertainment,” with writer-producer Joseph Burton.

You’d think that her many creative ventures would occupy all of Miss Hopkins’ time. Yet, she still makes room in her busy schedule to help her community. Among the many charitable causes for which Hopkins volunteers are: Caring For Babies with AIDS, and Act on Arthritis. She also spends a great deal of time working as a mentor for children so that they, too, can learn that they can be whatever they want in life.