On Tuesday, June 29, the Civic Federation will celebrate the outstanding civic and philanthropic contributions of Roosevelt University trustee Maurice Smith during the 2021 Annual Civic Awards virtual program. The awards are presented annually to a Chicagoan and a Chicago-area business that best exemplify the vision of civic involvement espoused by the Civic Federation founders for whom the awards are named: Lyman J. Gage, Jane Addams and Bertha Honoré Palmer.
“Each year, the Civic Federation has the privilege of honoring a corporation and an individual who are world-class not only in their business accomplishments but also in their ability to drive change in the community,” said Civic Federation President Laurence Msall. “I believe I can speak for the entire region when I say we are especially fortunate that Ariel Investments and Maurice Smith each call the Chicago community their home.”
Maurice Smith is the President and CEO of Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC). He will receive the Lyman J. Gage Award for Outstanding Civic Contribution by a Chicagoan for his commitment to expanding access to health care resources in underserved communities and his longtime involvement with Chicago cultural, philanthropic and educational institutions.
Smith began his career at a division of HCSC as an accounting intern in the mid-1990s. After excelling in various roles there, he was named President and CEO of HCSC in 2020, the same year he was recognized as one of Modern Healthcare’s 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare.
Under Smith’s leadership, HCSC’s Illinois health plan has established several multipurpose facilities on Chicago’s south and west sides, providing wellness programming and health education resources to historically underserved populations. In addition to creating hundreds of local jobs, the Morgan Park, Pullman, Pilsen and South Lawndale neighborhood centers prioritize improving the physical and economic health of surrounding communities.
Smith believes that being a responsible citizen is a moral imperative and works to dedicate resources to neighborhood-wide strategies that lift Chicago communities and improve health outcomes. He serves as a Civic Federation Trustee and on the boards of Ventas, Inc., the Economic Club of Chicago, Executives’ Club of Chicago, the Art Institute and World Business Chicago.
For his civic and philanthropic contributions, Smith has been honored by the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and the Academy of Urban School Leadership and has been recognized as a Chicago United Business Leader of Color, among other designations.
“We are committed to collaborating with nonprofits, civic organizations, providers, the local business community and other stakeholders to create an outsized impact in the communities we serve and create a pathway to better health,” said Smith. “I’m honored by this recognition and look forward to continuing our work with dedicated organizations like the Civic Federation to foster greater economic opportunities and help individuals live healthier lives.”