Greenwich United Way CEO To Step Down

Greenwich United Way President and CEO Stuart Adelberg has announced he is leaving the organization after 27 years to become CEO of the Bridgeport-based Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County.

Adelberg began his Greenwich United Way career in 1988 as communications director. He then served as Director of Community Planning and Agency Relations and senior vice president before his appointment as president in 1999.

Adelberg said, “It was not an easy decision to move on. I’ve been incredibly lucky and blessed with all that this organization has given me and what it has been able to do for the community. This is an incredibly strong organization that is well positioned to be even bigger and better.”

The Old Greenwich resident added, “I’m not leaving town — I know I leave this organization in a good place. I have been so privileged to work alongside an incredibly dedicated staff, volunteers and human services professionals.”

Adelberg said he will leave United Way in mid-June when he will assume leadership of Habitat for Humanity, the organization that helps provide affordable housing to families through its unique sweat equity programs.

Adelberg will replace Bruce Berzin, who was Habitat’s president until his retirement in April. Habitat CFC Board Chairman T. David Short said of Adelberg’s appointment in a statement, “He has a vast amount of experience working with non-profits and individuals in Fairfield County and brings with him a strong understanding of affordable housing.” said He added, “This year we celebrate thirty years of building decent and affordable housing in Fairfield County. I cannot think of a better individual to lead Habitat for Humanity as we begin our next thirty.”

Greenwich United Way Board Chair Karen Keegan said in a statement, “Not only has Stuart been the heart and soul of the Greenwich United Way, but he has earned the high praise and deep regard of countless town leaders in all areas of community service.”

Keegan added, “His dedication to meeting local human services needs over his accomplished tenure at the United Way has been a gift of immeasurable proportion to our town and beyond. His legacy of devotion to community service, his personal leadership, and his love of this organization is one of which the United Way family will forever be proud.”

First Selectman Peter Tesei said, “Stuart certainly has a deep and abiding sense of community and of the people who are most dependent upon the organizations the United Way supports.” Tesei praised Adelberg’s work as a member of the Selectman’s Housing Task Force of the Plan of Conservation and Development. “He continued to support the Community Development Partnership that was looking to establish incentives and a funding vehicle to create more affordable housing in Greenwich.”

Adelberg said it was that work that spawned his interest in affordable housing. He said it brought him to the realization that the success of United Way’s support of various town organizations that provide childhood education, youth services and mental health services would be more successful if there was more affordable housing in town.

He co-authored the Greenwich United Way’s Workforce/Moderate Income Housing Study that led to the proposal of new land use and zoning regulations that would encourage the development of below market rate housing in town.

“If people don’t have a warm, safe home, how can you resolve the other issues,” Adelberg said.

Adelberg said , “No one who knows me will be surprised that I have chosen to devote the next stage of my professional life to the issue of affordable housing. My work with the United Way has helped me recognize that the lack of a safe, affordable and secure place to call home is the most essential barrier that must be addressed before one can begin to address any other critical issue in a person’s life. It will be my privilege to work with Habitat for Humanity and help provide this very basic human need throughout Fairfield County, one family and one neighborhood at a time.”

Adelberg said he is proud that the Greenwich agency “transitioned from a traditional United Way, reliant upon corporate and workplace giving campaigns, to a nonprofit with diversified sources of revenue including the expansion of individual giving programs, grants, major gifts and special events.”

Adelberg said the United Way board and staff are working to plan a smooth management transition while conducting a search for his successor.

Adelberg said. “I can honestly say that I learned something new and valuable every single day that helped me to understand the importance of this wonderful organization, the value of its many partnerships, and the impact of its good work. Throughout the Greenwich community there are dozens of essential programs and organizations that I have had the opportunity to help create and sustain. I could not possibly be prouder.”

Photo: Stuart Adelberg. Credit: Greenwich United Way via Facebook.

*Editor’s note: This story was updated to include reaction for Habitat for Coastal Fairfield County.