Mainstreet Realtors honors 2025 Good Neighbor Award winners

Mainstreet Realtors has announced the winners of its 2025 Good Neighbor Awards, honoring Realtors whose volunteer service has made a significant difference in their communities throughout Chicagoland. The awards were presented during Mainstreet’s Installation Gala on Sept. 9, 2025.

Each year, nominees for the award are recognized for their personal contributions of time and resources to a program that strengthens a local community in the area Mainstreet serves. This year’s honorees reflect a deep commitment to strengthening a variety of Chicago suburbs.

• First Place: Amy Philpott, Coldwell Banker Real Estate Group, Arlington Heights — representing Gerry’s Café

Philpott is co-founder of Gerry’s Café, a community destination café staffed by adults 22 and older with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The café provides meaningful employment, skill-building and community connections while honoring Philpott’s late Aunt Gerry, for whom it is named. Accepting the award on behalf of Gerry’s Café was General Manager John Will.

• Second Place: Doreen Booth, Baird & Warner, Naperville — representing Meals on Wheels of Will County

Booth has volunteered extensively with Meals on Wheels, delivering food and companionship to senior citizens since the pandemic. Her service provides nourishment along with much-needed social interaction. Booth also serves on the board of Ride Assist Naperville and donates a portion of her real estate commissions to nonprofits selected by her clients. Accepting the award on behalf of Meals on Wheels was Jennifer Russell.

• Third Place: Patricia Smarto, Lakes Realty Group, Fox Lake — representing Fox Waterway Agency

Smarto has dedicated more than seven years to the Fox Waterway Agency Advisory Committee, working on cleanup efforts, long-term water quality planning and pollution prevention education. Her leadership and hands-on contributions help protect and preserve the Chain O’ Lakes and its surrounding watershed, one of northern Illinois’ most treasured recreational areas. Accepting the award on behalf of Fox Waterway Agency was Executive Director Joe Keller.

“Mainstreet’s Good Neighbor Awards spotlight the very best of our profession,” said John Gormley, CEO of Mainstreet Realtors. “This year’s winners remind us that Realtors don’t just sell homes — they help strengthen the fabric of the communities we serve.”

As in years past, each winner received a check in their name to the charity or organization of their choosing. However, this year, awardees were kept secret until the evening of the installation, adding an extra element of surprise for the members and organizations chosen.

“The Good Neighbor Awards are a reminder that Realtors are deeply connected to the communities we serve,” said Kinga Korpacz, the newly installed president of Mainstreet Realtors. “This year’s honorees show us what it means to lead with purpose — whether it’s protecting our environment, delivering meals to seniors or creating opportunities for people living with disabilities.”