Actor Jimmy Smits was awarded the Ackerman Leadership Award on Tuesday at the Moving Families Forward Gala at the Waldorf Astoria. The actor was given the accolade for his contributions to Latino communities.

"They're acknowledging my work with young people," Smits told Latina Magazine after receiving the award.

Smits noted that a great deal of the credit for the work should go to the Ackerman Institute and their initiatives in serving Latin families and communities. He noted a new component "Dimelo en Espanol," which deals with helping Latin American immigrant families that face difficulties after arriving in the U.S. He added he is happy to call the Institute a place that these families can turn to for help.

Smits' resume of advocacy includes work for the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, the Red Cross, New York Cares, and Stand Up To Cancer.

Smits founded the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts in 1997, alongside Sônia Braga, Esai Morales, Merel Julia and Felix Sanchez, with the mission of promoting Latino talent in front and behind the camera. The organization is also intent on providing Latino talent with resources through scholarships and other programs.

Smits, a native New Yorker, is a prominent television and film actor best known for his work on "NYPD Blue," for which he won a Golden Globe award for Best Performance by an Actor in a TV-Series in a Drama. He was also nominated for "NYPD Blue" in 1997 and 1999, and he received another Golden Globe nomination for his work in "L.A. Law."

Smits has also received 12 Primetime Emmy nominations, including five nominations for "NYPD Blue" and six nominations for "L.A. Law."

The actor also won three American Latino Media Arts Awards, two for his work in "NYPD Blue" and one for "The West Wing."

Smits also appeared as Sen. Bail Organa in two Star Wars films: "Episodes II: Attack of the Clones" and "Episode III: Revenge of the Sith."