[1] Due to the Great Depression, Kellman left school in the 9th grade to work in his father's glass shop.
[3] An owner and breeder of Thoroughbred racehorses, as part of his bloodstock Joseph Kellman owned the broodmare, Lester's Pride.
[6] Kellman's aforementioned interest in boxing and his long-burning desire to put something back into his old neighborhood began his lifetime of civic involvement.
In 1961, with the help of Buddy Hackett, Kellman founded the Better Boys Foundation, currently named BBF Family Services,[7] to help one of the nation's most disadvantaged inner city neighborhoods.
As of 2019, the school is part of the Chicago Public Schools system and continues to offer its students unique learning opportunities by being a Technology Magnet Program, an Early Children's Literacy Program, by offering numerous educational support opportunities both in the classroom and online, and by granting each graduate a laptop or tablet.