November 24, 2009
The Civic Federation is teaming up with the Motorola Foundation to present the 18th Annual Excellence in Public Service Award next month. After reviewing nominations for some of the best and brightest public servants throughout Illinois, the award advisory committee selected Judy Erwin, Executive Director of the Illinois Board of Higher Education, as the 2009 honoree.
Ms. Erwin has dedicated nearly thirty years to serving the residents of Illinois as a staff member of the Illinois Senate, as a state elected official, and especially during her tenure as the leader of the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE). As Executive Director, Judy Erwin manages a $2.7 billion higher education budget and works with colleges and universities across the state to coordinate and map out the state’s post-secondary education policies and goals. Since taking over IBHE, Ms. Erwin has led initiatives to expand the affordability of higher education to lower income and minority residents and instituted programs to improve the academic preparation of Illinois’ high school students.
The Excellence in Public Service Award has for 18 years recognized a non-elected government employee who has made an extraordinary impact on the quality of government services in the Chicago area and State of Illinois. The award honors individuals who show dedication to a vision of quality management, leadership and innovation that leads to more effective governance. Illinois Governor Patrick Quinn, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and many previous Motorola honorees, including Ron Huberman, Lori Healey, William Holland, Terry Peterson, Paul Vallas, Sister Sheila Lyne, Mary Dempsey, James Joyce, Ruth Rothstein, Pam McDonough, Jess McDonald, Richard Wagner and Lois Weisberg are serving as the honorary co-chairs of the event.
In these difficult times, the Motorola Foundation and the Civic Federation recognize a need to celebrate the outstanding achievements of so many of our public servants. The goal of the Excellence in Public Service Award is to increase public awareness of Illinois' many excellent public servants and promote their accomplishments. For the 115 years of its existence, the Civic Federation has never lost its faith in government and the good it can do for the residents of Illinois. For the 18 years the Excellence in Public Service Award has existed, Motorola and the Motorola Foundation have never stopped believing in Illinois’ public employees.
The Civic Federation and the Motorola Foundation heartily congratulate Ms. Erwin for her lifetime of dedication to public service and urge you to reserve the morning of Wednesday, December 9, 2009 to attend the awards breakfast. Visit civicfed.org/events for more details and to download an invitation to the event.