As a long-time veteran of Sharing Montgomery, Stew Edelstein says he is constantly amazed of how much there is to learn about the community where he lives.
"I've done this for five years,” Stew shares. “Every year I learn more and more about the nonprofits in Montgomery County and the incredible work that they're doing; for me it's a tremendous learning experience."
Learning is what brought Stew to Montgomery County, in the first place. An educator by profession and by nature, Stew came to the region in 1979 to work at the University of Maryland and follow his life motto – changing the world through education.
“People that have education can change not only their lives, but the world in which we live,” Stew reflects.
Stew Edelstein with students from each of USG’s partner universities.
This philosophy guided his career as he worked as an associate dean in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences and later, in 2002, became the Executive Director of the Universities at Shady Grove (USG). At USG, he oversaw a multi-campus regional center bringing together nine universities to offer educational degrees at the baccalaureate level, providing local access to higher education for community members.
"Education for me is a moral and social obligation we have for people to realize their dreams and advance their skills and have a good life," Stew explains. "The community benefits from people who are able to contribute their skills; it makes a difference for individuals and communities where individuals live."
From Scholarship Champion to Community Advocate
It was during this time that Stew became involved with The Community Foundation thanks to Clifford (Cliff) Kendall, a successful businessman and philanthropist who helped create USG and was instrumental in launching The Community Foundation in Montgomery County and the Sharing Montgomery initiative.
Cliff and his wife Camille were generous supporters of education and – utilizing The Community Foundation, as a philanthropic vehicle - provided scholarships for low-income students to finish their education at USG.
As an administrator, Stew gained firsthand insight into the complex challenges facing many of these scholarship recipients. "When I interacted with students, I learned it wasn't just about the money," he reflects. "There was so much more going on – outside of the classroom – their family and work responsibilities, among others - that was impacting their ability to succeed and get ahead."
Stew Edelstein receiving the 2015 Advocate of the Year Award at the Montgomery County Executive Hispanic Gala in recognition of his work to expand access to advanced education for minority and first-generation college student populations.
This realization led him to engage with local nonprofits to learn more about the needs that students face, and how USG could collaborate to meet those needs. Among those organizations was Identity, Inc. – a long-time Sharing Montgomery nonprofit partner based in Gaithersburg that serves and creates opportunities for Latino youth and their families.
“What I admire most about Identity and our Sharing Montgomery partners, is the level of trust that they have within the communities they serve,” Stew shares. “Many of the people that work at these organizations come from the community they serve. They have a deeply personal understanding of the challenges that individuals face and a desire to help others succeed.” (Stew would go on to serve on Identity’s Board of Directors).
These insights helped Stew and other administrators collaborate on important initiatives such as Achieving Collegiate Excellence & Success (ACES) – a partnership between Montgomery County Public Schools, Montgomery College, and USG to provide individualized academic coaching, scholarship opportunities, and career readiness to high school students with diverse backgrounds, for a seamless and supportive pathway to a bachelor’s degree.
In 2020, Stew was invited to join The Community Foundation’s Montgomery County Advisory Board and participate in Sharing Montgomery – where he learned even more about the important work of nonprofit organizations across Montgomery County.
The Power of Sharing Montgomery – A Partnership for Community Development
Stew with Dr. Freida Lacey, member of the Montgomery College Board of Trustees at the 2023 Celebration of Giving in Montgomery County.
"Sharing Montgomery is a unique effort because of the diversity of nonprofits that it supports," Stew says. "It's focused on particular issues every year that are important, it covers the gamut and touches all kinds of people within the county.
Stew highlights the critical role played by Anna Hargrave, The Community Foundation’s Executive Director for Montgomery County, and her predecessor Sally Rudney. "Their ears and eyes are focused on identifying community needs and helping nonprofits to cultivate the resources and relationships they need to meet those needs."
The Sharing Montgomery committee consists of several dozen people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives from across Montgomery County. Facilitated by The Community Foundation team, the Committee reviews grant proposals and conducts site visits to learn more about nonprofit partners and their impact on the community.
"I find the on-site visits to be really insightful,” Stew reflects. “We get the chance to ask these incredible nonprofit leaders direct questions about what motivates them? What challenges do they face? What are their plans for the future? And – most importantly – how can we help grow their efforts?"
“Sharing Montgomery isn’t charity,” Stew adds. “It’s a partnership for community development- it’s about giving agency, voice, and a pathway to growth for people and communities that don’t have access to opportunity.”
A memorable example of this for Stew is The Upcounty Hub, a rapidly growing Sharing Montgomery partner serving residents in Northern Montgomery County. What started as a grassroots Mother and Son food distribution during the pandemic, has quickly evolved to a 15-person organization serving about 1,200 families a week.
Grace Rivera-Oven, Founder of The Uptown Hub, explains the impact of their work in the Middlebrook Mobile Home Park to Stew Edelstein, Anna Hargrave and other Sharing Committee members.
Stew and other Committee members got to see the organization in action when they were invited to meet with organizers and residents at a food distribution site at the Middlebrook Mobile Home Park in Germantown.
“Many of us had no idea that people were living in mobile homes in a county as affluent as Montgomery County,” Stew remembers. “We learned so much – not only about the challenges that these residents face, but more importantly about the inspiring work that The Upcounty Hub is doing to empower residents to achieve their dreams.”
A Personal Commitment to Giving Back
Stew's involvement with Sharing Montgomery has profoundly influenced his personal philanthropy. Last year, he established an endowment at The Community Foundation, and recently he designated a significant portion of his estate to support Sharing Montgomery's efforts.
While he currently serves as Vice Chair on the Montgomery County Advisory Board and has no plans to ‘retire’ anytime soon, Stew’s experiences on Sharing Montgomery have made him more reflective about the challenges of creating lasting change – and his personal connection to the ongoing work and mission of The Community Foundation.
"Whatever my wealth is, I want my wealth to go back to the Sharing efforts of the Foundation," Stew says. "Because everybody in the world – and especially in Montgomery County -- needs someone to help them.”
“So many people have helped me, over the course of my life and my career. I want to make sure that my legacy can do the same for others.”