Acton Boxboro United Way receives largest gift in its history

Earlier this week, the Acton-Boxborough United Way received a check for $100,000 from the Steinberg-Lalli Charitable Foundation. To date, it is the largest single donation received in the organization’s nearly 40-year history.

AB United Way is a local nonprofit, focused on identifying and addressing the most pressing local social issues and needs. These include mental health, housing, hunger, domestic violence, and isolation, as well as emergency support, representing needs of local residents of every age.

Stephen Steinberg, Trustee of the Steinberg-Lalli Charitable Foundation, describes why the Foundation made this selection:

“I met Griet Dehandschutter, who had recently started as AB United Way Executive Director. Right away, I could she was a dynamic and entrepreneurial person with a big and bold vision. When I learned that she and her two other staff were only part-time employees, I was dismayed. There seemed to be so much potential for support out there, but not enough hours to connect with those people. This is a generous community. How could I help address the need to engage the people and organizations who are ready to give support?

I decided to make a gift to support more person-power to help AB United Way reach this potential. The Foundation has supported AB United Way for years, usually in the form of sponsorship, but never as much as this before. My hope is that we can see a tremendous increase in local support. “

AB United Way’s Executive Director Griet Dehandschutter asks, “How can we inspire residents to step forward?” She describes the challenge, “Many people in our local community do not realize how many neighbors are in need.”

In the last ten years, Acton-Boxborough schools went from 2.5 percent of kids needing free and reduced-price school lunch to more than 11 percent requiring that help. “Behind each of these kids are caregivers working hard but struggling to make ends meet,” says Dehandschutter. “To respond fully, we need to see that we belong to one another. We must strengthen our community’s can-do spirit and tackle barriers together.”

“I care deeply about this community,” says Steinberg. “I brought my businesses here fifty years ago. And this is a wonderful place. I’ve seen it grow into a decent, open community, accepting of new people. I like to do nice things for good causes. ”

Steinberg continues,” I like to give my grants to local needs so I can see how they turn out, rather than to big national groups where it may be hard to see the fruits. And I want to give to AB United Way because my business is in Acton and has been for the better part of fifty years. I owe a lot to this community that has given me my success. “

Steinberg is co-owner of Colonial Spirits and founder and owner of Acton Management, Inc. a real estate development company, both in Acton. Through the Steinberg-Lalli Charitable Foundation, Mr. Steinberg and his two children support multiple local initiatives. These include the community’s Miracle Field, providing kids with different abilities access to team sports and recreation. The Foundation also supports local affordable housing and donated the Hermel Breast Health Center and the Steinberg Wellness Center at Emerson Hospital. A graduate of Hamilton College, Steinberg provided a generous endowment to fund scholarships for Acton Boxborough High School graduates to attend the college.

Mr. Steinberg credits his parents for instilling in him the value of giving. “My parents were working people. They didn’t go to college and they weren’t wealthy. But they never refused anyone. They taught by example.

This grant has already sparked more generosity coming from local supporters to help the AB United Way lay the groundwork for a new stage in its organizational and community life.

AB United Way fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in Acton and Boxborough. It unites people to create partnerships to solve problems. For example, its “Annual Day of Caring” brings together more than 90 local volunteers working at 13 project sites.

Partners include human service agencies, schools, police, local business, government and lots of resident volunteers. Through an annual competitive grant process, residents connect with area nonprofits and provide community impact grants.

Founded 39 years ago, AB United Way is part of United Way Worldwide, channeling expertise through the worldwide network to the local community.

To receive the AB United Way monthly news updates, participate in the grant allocation process, attend workshops and events, or to donate or volunteer, contact abuw@abuw.org.