Marblehead Resident Makes $1 Million Donation To Benefit Northeast Arc

DANVERS, MA — For the second time in five years, Marblehead resident Steven P. Rosenthal is making a million-dollar donation that will help change the lives of North Shore residents that rely on Northeast Arc programs.

Rosenthal, whose first $1 million donation helped establish the Changing Lives Fund in 2017, recently made the second $1 million donation, which will assist Northeast Arc's workforce investment, ArcTank and expand successful programs and services.

"When Steve made his initial $1 million donation it was a real game-changer for us," said Jo Ann Simons, President and CEO of Northeast Arc. "Since that time Steve has been actively engaged with the Northeast Arc and has encouraged us to look beyond what we are currently doing and find new and exciting opportunities.

"This second gift solidifies his belief in what we are doing to change lives for people with disabilities and their families every day."

Rosenthal's first donation helped establish the Changing Lives Fund, which allowed Northeast Arc to expand services in creative and innovative ways that traditional funding had not allowed. It also led the organization to raise additional visibility, supporters and funds.

The Northeast Arc supports North Shore residents with disabilities and who are at risk of developing disabilities. The Center for Linking Lives at Liberty Tree Mall in Danvers, which opened in 2020, serves thousands of people in nearly 200 Massachusetts cities and towns each year.

"I've been incredibly impressed with the work that Jo Ann and her team have done with my initial donation and I'm confident they will continue to be innovative with these additional funds," said Rosenthal, Chairman of West Shore, a multifamily real estate investment firm. "I urge others who are looking at organizations to support to talk to the folks at Northeast Arc.

"I know they will be equally impressed and want to be part of changing lives in a very positive way."

The latest gift will go toward Northeast Arc's Pathways to Opportunities program, help the Arc execute bold ideas for community services, and expand the Center for Linking Lives into a wider geographical area while also expanding the use of technology for people the agency serves.

Rosenthal earned his bachelor's degree at Harvard and a law degree at Boston University.

He practiced corporate law for 25 years and served as a co-managing director at Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo. Prior to forming West Shore, he served as president and president and CEO at Northland Investment Corporation.

The Changing Lives Fund at Northeast Arc to support innovation, positive disruption and workforce solutions was established by Rosenthal's first $1 million donation,000,000 to support innovation, positive disruption, and workforce solutions. Learn more about the fund here.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza)