Service to Humanity Award

The Service to Humanity Award is intended to recognize those individuals who are giving, or have given of themselves in significant ways for the betterment of humanity, without thought of recognition or compensation. Their efforts have helped to provide support or resources to people who would otherwise go without.

2026 Service to Humanity Award Recipient

Thomas K. Jager: A Legacy of Service, Compassion, and Community Transformation

Thomas K. Jager dedicated his life to the belief that meaningful change begins with service, compassion, and a commitment to the well-being of others. A proud graduate of Blackburn College, where he studied history, Thomas carried forward the values of curiosity, empathy, and civic responsibility that shaped his remarkable journey. He later earned a Master of Arts in Film Studies from Northwestern University, but his true life’s work was found in building stronger communities and creating opportunities for those in need.

Thomas’s commitment to service began during the early years of the Peace Corps, when he volunteered in Ghana from 1962 to 1964. Immersed in a new culture and community, he dedicated himself to helping others and expanding understanding across borders. This experience became a foundation for a lifetime of humanitarian work, inspiring a career centered on advocacy, social justice, and community empowerment.

After returning to the United States, Thomas became a social worker and served as director of the Des Plaines Valley Community Center outpost of Hull House, now known as Pillars Community Health, from 1968 to 1980. In this role, he worked directly with individuals and families, providing support and strengthening the social fabric of the communities he served.

Thomas’s greatest impact came during his 25 years as executive director of Evanston United Way from 1980 to 2005. Under his leadership, he helped bring people together around shared goals and lasting solutions. He was instrumental in co-founding the Evanston Community Foundation and Evanston’s Connections for the Homeless—two organizations that continue to transform lives and strengthen the Evanston community he called home. Through these efforts, Thomas helped create systems of support that continue to provide resources, stability, and hope for generations of residents.

Beyond his professional achievements, Thomas lived his values every day. Tom was long active with Evanston Friends Meeting. He embraced a life rooted in service, humility, and care for others. Alongside his wife, Judy, Thomas was deeply involved in the founding of Northside Friends Meeting, fostering a community of faith and connection that extended to their family and beyond.

Thomas Jager’s life was defined not by titles or accolades, but by the countless lives he touched. His vision, kindness, and dedication helped build stronger communities and inspired others to serve. His legacy endures through the organizations he helped create, the people he supported, and the enduring example he set of a life lived in pursuit of the greater good.

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Past Service to Humanity Award Recipients