Joe Kellman (1920-2010) grew up in the North Lawndale community on Chicago’s West Side. Rising from humble beginnings, Joe helped to build his family glass business, The Globe Group, into the largest privately owned auto glass replacement company in the nation. Joe’s achievements in business were rivaled only by his charitable endeavors for which he was honored with numerous awards including the first Socially Responsible Entrepreneur of the Year Award given by Inc. Magazine, Loyola University’s Civic Award, and the American Red Cross Hero Award.
Joe, who remained dedicated to his community throughout his lifetime, founded the Archie Moore Boxing Gym, an after school boxing club for young men, in 1961. The gym soon evolved to become the Better Boys Foundation, a youth services agency offering after school programming to both boys and girls in North Lawndale.
Now in its 55th year and renamed BBF Family Services, the organization has grown into a multifaceted agency offering comprehensive programming for all ages. From the Empowering Heroes Mentoring Program for at-risk youth, to beatLAB and tapLAB performance arts classes, to “Eat Right, Get Tight” health and fitness programming for seniors, the legacy of Joe Kellman lives on through BBF. Joe’s son, Jack Kellman, currently serves as Chairman of the BBF Board of Directors and several of his grandchildren are involved with the agency.
On July 9, 2016 at 10am, a ceremony to honor Joe Kellman and celebrate the 55th anniversary of BBF Family Services will be held at the BBF Family Center at 1512 S. Pulaski Road. During this ceremony, the new street sign in honor of Kellman will be unveiled. Local community leaders, including Alderman Michael Scott, Jr. will be in attendance as well as several members of the Kellman family.
This event is part of the “Making the West Side” series, made possible through a partnership with the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum and a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. “Making the West Side: Community Conversations on Neighborhood Change” situates the historical and contemporary West Side of Chicago in a national dialogue on race, gentrification, and the American city.
For additional information, please visit the BBF Family Services website at www.bbffamilyservices.org.K
