CDEL Impact Award

The CDEL Impact Award recognizes a volunteer, law firm, organization, coalition or corporation that has developed an initiative, program or services that profoundly impacts the lives of senior citizens and people with disabilities in Cook County.

2024 CDEL Impact Award Winner:

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has led the Cook County Board of Commissioners since 2010.  In her tenure, she has marshalled millions of dollars into Cook County communities.  She is dedicated to transparency and equity in her leadership and is known for her commitment to affordable housing.  President Preckwinkle previously served as the Alderperson of the 4th Ward for nineteen years.  

Over the past four years, President Preckwinkle has invested pandemic funds to increase equity in the courts.  The Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt (CCLAHD) provides free legal consultation for self-represented litigants in eviction, consumer, foreclosure and property tax cases.  Since the inception of the program, CCLAHD has provided over 29,000 referrals to legal aid partners, including CDEL. This innovative program has become a model for court systems all over the nation. CDEL has five staff members who are dedicated to the program.  In less than four years, CDEL has served over 3,000 clients, mainly in eviction and consumer debt cases. 

Previous CDEL Impact Award Winners:

  • 2023: Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough

  • 2022: Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin

  • 2021: Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation

  • 2020: The Consumer Fairness Act of 2019 Coalition: Hon. Barbara Flynn Currie, Retired Majority Leader, Illinois House of Representatives; Hon. Will Guzzardi, 39th Illinois House District, Illinois House of Representatives; Hon. Iris Martinez, 20th Senate District, Illinois Senate; Jody Blaylock, Heartland Alliance; Jeffrey D. Coleman and Vaishalee Yeldandi, Jenner & Block, LLP; Hon. Thomas Donnelly, Circuit Court of Cook County; Bob Glaves, Chicago Bar Foundation; Kevin Herrera, National Immigration Law Center; Matthew Hulstein, CVLS; Ashlee Highland, CARPLS; Steven Pflaum, Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP; Caroline Simon, Chicago Legal Clinic; and Heather Wier Vaught, Heather Wier Vaught P.C.

  • 2019: Hon. Thomas More Donnelly, Law Division, Circuit Court of Cook County

  • 2018: Hon. Robin Kelly, U.S. House of Representatives, Illinois 2nd District

  • 2017: Theresa Jaffe, Theresa Jaffe Consulting

  • 2016: Hon. Michael Quigley, U.S. House of Representatives, Illinois 5th District

  • 2015: Hon. Edward M. Burke, 14th Ward Alderman, City of Chicago

  • 2014: Hon. Timothy C. Evans, Chief Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County and Hon. Patricia Banks, Elder Law & Miscellaneous Remedies Division, Circuit Court of Cook County

  • 2013: Hon. Lisa Madigan, Illinois Attorney General

  • 2012: Kevin Hull, Hull Partners; Anthony O’Neill and Benjamin Whipple, Williams Montgomery & John Ltd.; Hon. Aurelia Pucinski, Illinois Appellate Court; and John Marshall Law School Students

  • 2010: Peter M. Shannon, Jr. and Peter Mone, Baker & McKenzie LLP

  • 2008: Hon. James Houlihan, Assessor, Cook County

  • 2005: Philip H. Corboy, Corboy & Demetrio, P.C.

  • 2000: Kerry R. Peck, Peck Bloom, LLC; Hon. Marvin E. Aspen, Chief Judge, United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and Hon. Donald P. O’Connell, Chief Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County