From the Archives: 1973 – James Brown IV & the Community Service Award

April marks National Volunteer Month, celebrating those who dedicate their time and resources to community service. Few in the Trust’s history embody volunteerism more than James Brown IV. His 24 years of leadership at the Trust have helped elevate our foundation and inspire nonprofits improving Chicagoans’ well-being.

Brown’s first acquaintance with the Trust was as a consultant in child welfare while on the faculty of the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago. It was his civic-mindedness and experience addressing a complex social issue that made him a natural choice to take over the Trust’s leadership after the retirement of Frank Loomis. He served as the Trust’s second executive director from 1949 to 1973. Under his leadership, the Trust increased its assets eightfold from $9 million to $77 million. During his tenure, he also oversaw investments in outdoor spaces, public television, mental health, and medical research.

A survivor of childhood polio, Brown showed genuine compassion for those in need that he brought to his work with business and philanthropic leaders. One day, he would host the city’s top philanthropists to discuss their interests, and the next, he would visit Cook County Hospital to cheer up patients. He avidly believed in the healing power of gardening since childhood, when he regained the use of his hands through caring for plants. He brought this love of green spaces to the Trust, where he advocated for the creation of Grant Park and the Osaka Garden of the World’s Columbian Exposition. His relationship with Clive and Mary Runnells led to the creation of the Mary W. Runnells Fund at the Trust, which supported the Chicago Horticultural Society’s transformation of 300 acres of land in Northern Cook County into the Chicago Botanic Garden. Many years later, he had a hand in the creation of a gardening program for youth from disadvantaged areas of the city.

As Brown neared retirement, the Trust honored his public service with an award. The James Brown IV Award for Outstanding Community Service was established in 1973 and given annually until 2005, recognizing groundbreaking nonprofits in metropolitan Chicago with a cash prize. When the award was announced, Philip D. Block Jr., Trust executive committee chairman, stated, “For the past 24 years, one could not speak of the remarkable success of The Chicago Community Trust without also referring to its outstanding executive director. Jim Brown has been as responsible as any individual for the significant growth of the Trust for more than two decades and for its invaluable contributions to the well-being of our community.”

The first James Brown IV Award was presented in 1974 to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, the same year Brown retired from his position at the Trust. Block presented the $5,000 gift to James O. Hayworth, the Institutes’ president, during the Trust’s annual meeting on February 19, 1974.

Over the next 31 years, the James Brown IV Award supported some of Chicago’s most impactful nonprofits in the fields of journalism, social services, healthcare, and the arts. In 2005, the award that honored one of the Trust’s most influential executive directors came to an end with a gift to Family Rescue. Just as James Brown IV made an indelible mark on the Trust’s history, the award created in his name left a legacy strengthening the ecosystem of nonprofits that worked tirelessly to improve the lives of Chicagoans.

After retiring, Brown continued to volunteer at the Rehabilitation Institute, where he spent many weekday mornings working with outpatients and encouraging them to keep their therapy appointments. As Chairman of the Institute’s Arts Committee, he selected colorful pieces of needlework and whimsical figures to brighten the Institute’s corridors and children’s floors. Besides serving as Director of the Horticultural Society and Chairman of the Building Committee for the new Botanic Gardens, he volunteered as Vice President of the Field Foundation and the George M. Pullman Educational Foundation, a Director of the Chauncey and Marian Deering Foundation, and an honorary governing life member of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Over 50 years later, the Trust continues James Brown IV’s spirit of volunteerism by offering opportunities for our staff to contribute to the work of organizations serving Chicago. All Chicagoans can get involved with nonprofits that are working to improve the communities we live in. In the spirit of James Brown IV, we encourage you to explore volunteer opportunities that spark your interest and can contribute to a stronger Chicago.