‘Mama Dip’ honored for her service to the community

Thirty-six years ago, Mildred Council started Mama Dip’s with just $64.

More than three decades later, Council has dedicated her life — and her restaurant — to helping others.

On Tuesday, the Harvard Club of the Research Triangle honored Council, or “Mama Dip,” with the Roland Giduz award for community service.

“We chose Mildred Council for a variety of reasons, but primarily because she embodies the spirit of giving to the community that our former leader, Roland Giduz, also valued,” said Liz Brown, president of the club.

The award was named in honor of Giduz — a UNC alumnus, activist, and journalist who died in 2009.

The award was first given in 2010 to Bill Friday, the first president of the UNC system.

“This year, we wanted to find someone from the local community who came from a different walk of life,” said Bob Whyte, a Chapel Hill resident and former president of the Harvard Club.

“We wanted others to see that you don’t have to be the head of a huge corporation to change the world,” he said. “You can come from any walk of life.”

The selection committee also chose Council because of the way she serves the community.

Council said she employs teens and adults who need a helping hand — from fathers struggling to support their children to teens who seem to be on the wrong track.

“Mama Dip is like a mother to so many. She gives people the ability for a second chance, and she always sees the best in others,” said Hilda Albarabo, who has worked at Mama Dip’s for seven years.

“My father raised eight children by himself, yet we were never the only ones in the house,” she said. “My family always helped others, so it’s just what I was taught.”

In 2009, Council created the Share the Love Fund, which is designed to help financially disadvantaged youth in Chapel Hill.

And Council said she is also involved in countless other organizations to help out in the community.

“You don’t have to have a Ph.D. to impact the lives of people,” she said.

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