Carol Butterfli-Tia Dunkley
Founder | Visionary | Legacy Builder | Woman of Worth
Born Carol Butterfli-Tia Dunkley but widely known and loved by her middle name, Tia. This powerhouse of purpose is a woman whose journey is as transformative as the lives she touches. Born on the sun kissed island of Jamaica and raised in Westchester County, New York from early childhood, Tia blends the rich heritage of her roots with the grit and heart of her community. A devoted daughter, proud mother, and glowing grandmother, Tia’s family is her foundation and her why.
In 2013, she birthed The Unlabelled Awards, a groundbreaking platform that dares to do what most don’t honor the invisible giants. The stylists, publicists, managers, assistants, coordinators and the behind the scenes warriors who move mountains with little to no recognition. “Everyone focuses on those in the front,” she says, “but rarely do we acknowledge those who tirelessly push from the back.” The Unlabelled Awards isn’t just an event. It is a movement. A shift in culture. A celebration of humility, hard work, and heart. Year after year, Tia curates a must attend experience that fuses elegance with purpose, turning gratitude into a standing ovation for the unsung.
But her commitment to service runs deeper than spotlights and stages. In 2005, Tia founded the Butterfli Wings Foundation, a nonprofit inspired by growth, transformation, and second chances. Its mission is simple yet profound. To support children, families, schools, and communities through educational resources, mentorship, and empowerment. Whether she’s equipping youth to succeed or walking alongside struggling families, Tia believes everyone deserves the chance to soar regardless of where they start. A woman grounded in faith, she is a firm believer that with God in the midst all things are possible, and she carries that truth into every space she serves.
Her love for her community is unmatched. Through her annual Community Pre-Thanksgiving Dinner in Peekskill New York. Inspired by her mom Mummy and celebrated in memory of the late Officer Greg Jones. Tia has helped feed over one thousand seven hundred people in one day. And with her beloved annual Kids Easter Brunch, she has created space for joy, unity, and celebration for hundreds of local families year after year.
Her unwavering commitment to service has not gone unnoticed. Over the years, Tia has been honored with multiple citations, proclamations, and awards from distinguished leaders including New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York State Senator Kevin Parker, New York State Senator Pete Harckham, Westchester County Legislator Colin Smith, and City of Peekskill Mayor Vivian McKenzie. These recognitions reflect what her community already knows well. Tia shows up, stands up, and pours love into every space she enters.
A proud Hampton University graduate with a degree in Criminal Justice, Tia has built a life defined by giving, growing, and glowing. She is a mentor, a connector, and a builder of platforms that not only elevate others but honor them while they rise.
When she’s not changing lives or orchestrating unforgettable events, Tia is a lover of simple joys, gardening, journaling, reading, or traveling the world to meet new souls and absorb new experiences. But her favorite place of all is home, surrounded by her children, grandchildren, parents, and intimate circle or curled up in bed with a good book and a heart full of dreams.
In 2013, she birthed The Unlabelled Awards, a groundbreaking platform that dares to do what most don’t honor the invisible giants. The stylists, publicists, managers, assistants, coordinators and the behind the scenes warriors who move mountains with little to no recognition. “Everyone focuses on those in the front,” she says, “but rarely do we acknowledge those who tirelessly push from the back.” The Unlabelled Awards isn’t just an event. It is a movement. A shift in culture. A celebration of humility, hard work, and heart. Year after year, Tia curates a must attend experience that fuses elegance with purpose, turning gratitude into a standing ovation for the unsung.
But her commitment to service runs deeper than spotlights and stages. In 2005, Tia founded the Butterfli Wings Foundation, a nonprofit inspired by growth, transformation, and second chances. Its mission is simple yet profound. To support children, families, schools, and communities through educational resources, mentorship, and empowerment. Whether she’s equipping youth to succeed or walking alongside struggling families, Tia believes everyone deserves the chance to soar regardless of where they start. A woman grounded in faith, she is a firm believer that with God in the midst all things are possible, and she carries that truth into every space she serves.
Her love for her community is unmatched. Through her annual Community Pre-Thanksgiving Dinner in Peekskill New York. Inspired by her mom Mummy and celebrated in memory of the late Officer Greg Jones. Tia has helped feed over one thousand seven hundred people in one day. And with her beloved annual Kids Easter Brunch, she has created space for joy, unity, and celebration for hundreds of local families year after year.
Her unwavering commitment to service has not gone unnoticed. Over the years, Tia has been honored with multiple citations, proclamations, and awards from distinguished leaders including New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York State Senator Kevin Parker, New York State Senator Pete Harckham, Westchester County Legislator Colin Smith, and City of Peekskill Mayor Vivian McKenzie. These recognitions reflect what her community already knows well. Tia shows up, stands up, and pours love into every space she enters.
A proud Hampton University graduate with a degree in Criminal Justice, Tia has built a life defined by giving, growing, and glowing. She is a mentor, a connector, and a builder of platforms that not only elevate others but honor them while they rise.
When she’s not changing lives or orchestrating unforgettable events, Tia is a lover of simple joys, gardening, journaling, reading, or traveling the world to meet new souls and absorb new experiences. But her favorite place of all is home, surrounded by her children, grandchildren, parents, and intimate circle or curled up in bed with a good book and a heart full of dreams.
