April 18, 2018

Steve Caldeira ’81 and his wife, Jane, are honored as Humanitarians of the Year 

Jane and Steve Caldeira ’81, center, are joined at the ceremony by family members, from left, Neil and Kathy Agate, Steve’s brother-in-law and sister-in-law; son Alexander Caldeira; Patricia Agate, Steve’s mother-in-law; and daughter Madeleine Caldeira.
Jane and Steve Caldeira ’81, center, are joined at the ceremony by family members, from left, Neil and Kathy Agate, Steve’s brother-in-law and sister-in-law; son Alexander Caldeira; Patricia Agate, Steve’s mother-in-law; and daughter Madeleine Caldeira.

The heartfelt advocacy, service, and compassion of Steve Caldeira ’81 and his wife, Jane, for some of Washington, D.C.’s most vulnerable people were celebrated when the couple was honored by So Others Might Eat (SOME) at the non-profit organization’s annual Harvest Gala.

The Caldeiras were presented SOME’s 2017 Father Horace McKenna Humanitarians of the Year award at a dinner and silent auction at the National Building Museum in Washington. Named for SOME’s late founder, the award recognizes people who continue the goodwill of the Jesuit priest.

Steve Caldeira '81 addresses the gala audience on behalf of his wife, Jane, and himself.
Steve Caldeira ’81 addresses the gala audience on behalf of his wife, Jane, and himself.

An interfaith organization, SOME aims to break the cycle of homelessness in Washington by offering food, clothing, healthcare, and an array of services to men, women, and children, including addiction treatment, counseling, job training, and affordable housing.

“We were very surprised and extremely humbled” when he and his wife were asked to accept the Father McKenna honor, said Caldeira. “You don’t get involved to receive an award; you get involved to try and make a difference.”

Caldeira, who is president and CEO of the Household & Commercial Products Association, assists SOME on multiple levels. He became involved with the organization in 2010 and joined its Corporate Advisory Board in 2012. He served as co-chair of the Harvest Gala’s silent auction in 2013 and 2014 and as chair of the gala in 2015 when the event raised $1.2 million.

Jane and he support and visit agencies and other entities that house and feed homeless families and offer activities for children, interacting with and advocating for these needy individuals. In addition, each November, Jane, Steve, and their children, Madeleine, 18, and Alexander, 16, support SOME’s annual Turkey Trot 5K, which raises much-needed funds. The Caldeiras live in Potomac, Md.

Caldeira, who is a member of the College’s National Board of Overseers, said SOME programs served more than 7,500 homeless men, women, and children in 2017. The services provided approximately 8,500 annual visits to a doctor or dentist, support for 200 homeless people with chronic mental illness, alcohol and drug addiction resources for 240 men and women, and safe and affordable housing for 150 families with 340 children, as well as 550 single adults.

“Just as importantly, these programs give our brothers and sisters a sense of worth and dignity,” said Caldeira.