Smith Senior Living Celebrates Employees With Dining Dollars Gift

ORLAND PARK, IL — Smith Senior Living in Orland Park, also located in Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood, is gifting employees cards to local businesses that they hope will drive over $23,000 into local economies, according to a new release.

Smith Senior Living is a not-for-profit organization serving older adults since 1924. The facility sponsors Smith Village in Chicago’s Beverly/Morgan Park neighborhood and Smith Crossing in Orland Park. They are the only life plan communities in the southwest sector of metropolitan Chicago, according to the release.

Smith trustees arranged for each employee to receive a gift certificate that is redeemable at one or more establishments in the area surrounding each senior living campus. The establishment said in total, this program will drive more than $23,500 into the local economies.

Smith said they collaborated with local businesses near both of the campuses to thank employees of both life plan communities for their "exceptional service" and "dedication to residents during this extraordinary time."

“We are so proud of how Smith staff members have risen to face unprecedented challenges this year. Keeping our residents safe during the COVID-19 pandemic has required a truly extraordinary level of commitment and care,” says Kay E. Thurn, chair of Smith Senior Living Board of Trustees. “We decided to reward our dedicated professionals while also supporting neighboring businesses during these challenging times for them. We believe our approach to spreading holiday cheer will have a ripple effect that benefits even more people.”

Thurn said that cancelling the board’s holiday party on each campus motivated trustees to find a fresh way to say thank you to staff members.

The collaboration with business associated, helped produce a custom Smith Crossing Dining Dollars certificate for the Orland Park community and to tap the popular "The Bucks Stay Here" program for the Southside neighborhood, according to the release.

“We are delighted to help organize this program with Smith Senior Living,” said Felicitas Cortez, executive director of Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce. “We recruited six restaurants who appreciate the opportunity to attract more customers. Helping businesses make connections to support each other is always important, but in a challenging year like 2020, it really does make a difference.”

Caroline Connors, executive director of the Morgan Park Beverly Hills Business Association, agreed with Cortez, saying “We are excited to see Smith trustees chose a program our association introduced this holiday season for establishments in the Beverly, Morgan Park and Mt. Greenwood neighborhoods. Now more than ever, it is essential all of us support small business.”

For more information, contact Smith Crossing at 708-326-2300 or SmithCrossing.org and Smith Village at 773-474-7300 or SmithVillage.org.