Larry James, the chief executive officer of CitySquare, an inner-city non-profit that provides food and housing to the poverty stricken and homeless, was announced today as the 2017 recipient of the DFW Hospital Council’s (DFWHC) Distinguished Health Service Award to be presented during its 69th Annual Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, October 31 at the Arlington Convention Center.

James has been the chief executive at CitySquare since 1994. Under his guidance, the non-profit has grown into a broad community organization offering an array of social services that address four key areas related to the persistence of poverty: hunger, health, housing and hope. He is also the author of “The Wealth of the Poor” published in 2013.

Since 1948, DFWHC’s Annual Awards Luncheon has been an opportunity for North Texas hospitals to honor important friends of healthcare. The Distinguished Health Service Award has been bestowed annually for 69 years to DFW-area residents including Margaret Jordan (2016), Dr. Merlyn Sayers (2015), Dr. Wright Lassiter, Jr. (2014), T. Boone Pickens (2012), Ray and Nancy Ann Hunt (2009) and Ross and Margot Perot (2008).

“Larry is well known within the North Texas community for his dedicated work serving those in need,” said W. Stephen Love, president/CEO of DFWHC. “His life is an extraordinary example of service and he continues a long tradition of worthy recipients for this award. He’s not just a committed servant to residents in need, he is a man who has spent his entire career improving the community in which he lives. We are proud we can honor him.”

The luncheon’s keynote speaker will be Ann Curry, the award-winning journalist, long-time NBC News reporter and former co-anchor of the Today show. The reception begins at 11:00 a.m. followed by the luncheon and awards from 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. Recipients of the Young Healthcare Executive of the Year and the Kerney Laday, Sr. Trustee of the Year awards will be announced in August. Sponsorships and tickets will also go on sale in August.

For questions, please contact Chris Wilson at chrisw@dfwhc.org or call 972-719-4900.