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.

2023 CDEL Impact Award Winner:

Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough

Since 2018, Karen Yarbrough has been the Clerk of Cook County, coordinating the election procedures for Cook County, overseeing the recording process of deeds, other property documents and business forms, and administering the maintenance of Cook County vital records. She was the Cook County Recorder of Deeds from 2012 from 2018 before the office was incorporated into the Cook County Clerk’s Office. She previously served as Assistant Majority Leader in the Illinois House of Representatives. Her office was key in establishing the Cook County Clerk’s Help Desk, a monthly, in-person space where Cook County residents can receive no-cost assistance with common questions on documents frequently recorded at the Cook County Clerk’s Office that are unable to be addressed by the Clerk’s Office because of restrictions. Her office assembled a coalition of partners to craft the shape and timing of the Help Desk. The Clerk’s office provides the space to host the Help Desk, contributes supplies to the Help Desk including permitting access to vital computer systems and continues to promote the Help Desk through multiple mediums.

Previous CDEL Impact Award Winners:

  • 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