Jimmy Smits Honored For His Work With The Latino Community

Puerto Rican actor, Jimmy Smits was honored during the Moving Familes Forward Gala, receiving the Ackerman Leadership Award for his work with the Latino community.

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Smits along with fellow actors, Sonia Braga, Esai Morales, Merel Julia and attorney Felix Sanchez created the National Hispanic Foundation For the Arts back in 1997. The Foundation increases access for Hispanic artists and professionals while fostering the emergence of new Hispanic talent in the media, telecommunications, and entertainment industries.

 

“Now they have a component called Dímelo en Español, which is talk to me in Spanish,” said Jimmy Smits to Latina. It deals with the first and second generation Latino immigrant families that come to the United States and the problems that they face. He added that the immigrant experience is so varied in the U.S. and is happy that this organization offers a place where families can turn for help. “I do feel very blessed and lucky to be doing something I love doing,” he said.

“We are delighted to honor Jimmy Smits with the Ackerman Leadership Award,” says Lois Braverman, President & CEO, Ackerman Institute for the Family. “A born and raised New Yorker, Jimmy understands the needs of his community and is an outstanding example of someone of major success giving back to the next generation. His advocacy of the importance of education and his dedication to providing opportunities and college scholarships for underrepresented Latinos through the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, alongside his work with organizations like the Red Cross, New York Cares, and Stand up to Cancer is a fine example of being of service and making a difference for those most in need.”

It’s great to see that even though the Puerto Rican actor is busy on screen, he also has time to help young Latinos that look up to him as a role model.

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