Lives of Generosity: Meet Steve

Steve grew up “on the wrong side of the tracks.”

He and his sister literally walked across train tracks to get to the school “where the rich kids went.” Steve was quiet. His sister had a disability. They weren’t noticed. They mostly tried to blend in. His parents didn’t quite have the capacity to care for the family. Steve took some of this on himself. After school, he’d go to the mom and pop store and get groceries for the family. He never paid. The store owner said “I’ll put it on your father’s tab.” Both Steve and the store owner knew this tab wouldn’t be paid.

Years later after having success in business and getting on various Boards of Directors, Steve recognized that the act that most defined his giving is the gift of season tickets for a favorite sports team he gives to a friend and his sons who are low income. “I don’t know if I can change the world, but I can change one person’s world. And trust me, that matters.”