CHICAGO, IL — August 20, 2026 — All Chicago is proud to recognize Ben Applegate Sr., attorney, former managing partner, and founding partner at Applegate & Thorne-Thomsen, a law firm dedicated to community development projects, as the winner of the 2026 Norman H. Stone Award.
The award will be presented at the annual Breakfast with All Chicago on October 8, 2026.
The Stone Award recognizes individuals who seek out and create solutions to problems facing their communities, encourage collaboration among peers to serve the community, and practice or support philanthropy throughout the Chicago area. Mr. Applegate specializes in providing legal and financial expertise to the affordable housing projects of for-profit and non-profit developers and investors. His experience makes him a trusted advisor throughout the process of structuring and negotiating housing development transactions, especially when problems arise.
Throughout his career, Applegate has demonstrated a deep commitment to using his legal expertise to support nonprofits and create positive change for Chicagoans. This commitment is exemplified by his longstanding involvement with Mercy Housing Lakefront, where he has served as an attorney, volunteer, and board member since its founding in 1986. In these roles, Applegate helped support the organization’s development of a unique housing and service delivery model designed to meet the needs of low-income individuals while preserving single-room occupancy housing in Chicago.
Applegate has also served in several leadership roles related to affordable housing, including serving as a former president and current Executive Committee Member of the National Housing and Rehabilitation Association, Director and Founding President of the Illinois Housing Council, past chair of the American Bar Association Forum on Affordable Housing and Community Development, and member of the Board of Directors of the Chicago Continuum of Care.
With his tireless dedication to affordable housing in Chicago, Ben Applegate embodies the values of the Stone Award. All Chicago is thrilled to present him with this honor at Breakfast with All Chicago on Thursday, October 8. Learn more about the annual fundraiser and purchase tickets at the links below.
About All Chicago
All Chicago Making Homelessness History’s mission is to unite our community and resources to provide solutions that ensure and sustain the stability of home. All Chicago prevents and ends homelessness through four signature approaches: Emergency financial assistance, community partnerships, data analytics, and training/research. By bringing our partners together and using data to inform decisions, we are creating an effective system in Chicago, so that all of our neighbors have a place to call home.
Media Contact Hank Sartin, hsartin@allchicago.org, 872-291-127
