John “Jack” George to Receive 2025 Morrie Kellman Humanitarian Award

Little City is honored to recognize longtime board member and General Counsel John “Jack” George with the 2025 Morrie Kellman Humanitarian Award.

The Morrie Kellman Humanitarian Award, established to recognize those who embody Little City’s mission of creating a better world and more opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, will be presented to George at the annual Little City Invitational on June 16 at Twin Orchard Country Club in Long Grove.

Since he first began representing Little City in 1976, Jack has used his wealth of knowledge in the real estate and legal worlds to create communities. Little City now has 18 Community Integrated Living Facilities across seven different Chicagoland suburbs thanks in no small part to the leadership and legal real estate knowledge Jack has provided for decades.

Those homes allow residents to live in a safe and supportive environment where they can increase their independence, connect to their communities and enjoy the same resources as all residents.

Jack also played a key role in the 2016 merger with Countryside Association, which resulted in expanding adult day program services with locations in Schaumburg and Grayslake.

“We talk about building better futures for those we serve at Little City and Jack George is the reason we have been able to take our vision and build it into something real,” said Rich Bobby, Little City CEO. “We are blessed to have someone with his real estate and legal expertise to guide us, but it is his passion for our mission that makes him truly special.”

George has long been considered one of Chicago’s most respected real estate lawyers. He has served as a former Assistant Attorney General for the State of Illinois and Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago and has been in practice specializing in real estate and zoning with the law firm Akerman LLP.

George said he is truly honored by this recognition, which is named after his good friend Morrie Kellman, who he had known and worked with since 1976.

“I appreciate the recognition, but it is the staff at Little City who are working every day that really deserve to be honored,” he said. “I couldn’t be more impressed with Little City than I am right now. It’s extremely well respected throughout the entire state and the dedicated staff there are so knowledgeable and caring and working hard to advocate for the people they serve.”