Steve Edwards, former Black & Veatch chairman and CEO, and his late wife, Jenifer Edwards, have been recognized for a remarkable legacy of generosity, servant leadership, and lasting community impact in Kansas City. The couple recently received the 2026 Adele Hall Spirit of Caring Award at United Way of Greater Kansas City’s annual WaymakerTM Awards, cementing their decades-long commitment to strengthening the region.
A Legacy Built on Servant Leadership
Chris Edwards, the couple’s son, learned the meaning of servant leadership by watching his parents dedicate their lives to community service, volunteerism, and philanthropy across Kansas City.
“They are my biggest heroes,” Chris said. “Just giving me the opportunity to be here today, by adopting me. They’ve given so much. But I’ve seen them help people my entire life. They’ve always been giving back.”
Steve Edwards’ leadership at Black & Veatch reflected his deep commitment to community. When he became Chief Operating Officer in 2013 and later Chairman and CEO, philanthropy became a cornerstone of his corporate vision. From championing Christmas in October to aligning the company’s engineering expertise with community needs, Steve consistently mobilized support for United Way and other Kansas City organizations.
Building Momentum for Community Impact
Steve’s partnership with United Way leadership created powerful momentum for community change. Brent Stewart, former United Way of Greater Kansas City president and CEO, witnessed this collaborative approach firsthand.
“There were many times that Steve and I had a chance to go out and kind of build some momentum for the United Way campaign,” Stewart said. “And through that, we were able to bring to the table more hands and more hearts to help us achieve what we needed to achieve in that year’s campaign.”
At Black & Veatch, Steve set an example for employee-owners about the importance of giving back to the communities they serve.
“At Black & Veatch, Steve really set an example of what it meant for our employee owners to give back to the communities that we serve, whether that be through donations or participating in events through United Way or other organizations,” said Andrea Bernica, president and chief people officer at Black & Veatch. “He and Jenifer have inspired so many of us through their leadership and generosity.”
Humble Heroes Who Shied from Spotlight
Despite their extraordinary giving and impact, Steve and Jenifer consistently avoided public recognition, believing good deeds shouldn’t seek attention. This humility made their accomplishments even more remarkable.
“I think of him as an expert leader, a servant leader,” said Martha Gershun, former executive director of Jackson County CASA. “Steve’s humility means this kind of recognition is long overdue.”
The Legacy They Leave Behind
Chris reflected on the lasting impact of his parents’ example: “The legacy I think they’ll leave is just to always strive to be a better person and to help as many people as possible. And the warm, loving feeling they passed on to everyone they ever came into contact with.”
The 2026 Adele Hall Spirit of Caring Award
The Adele Hall Spirit of Caring Award recognizes individuals who exemplify exceptional compassion, leadership, and commitment to community service—values that Steve and Jenifer Edwards embodied throughout their lives.
“They absolutely exemplify and epitomize everything Adele Hall stood for,” Stewart said. “I can’t imagine, at this point, anyone more worthy of this recognition.”
The award was presented at United Way of Greater Kansas City’s annual Waymaker AwardsTM, which celebrates donors, volunteers, and community partners making meaningful impact across the region.
Steve’s Tribute to Jenifer’s Legacy
Sadly, Jenifer Edwards passed away in 2025, but her impact continues to shape Kansas City’s nonprofit landscape. During his acceptance speech, Steve shared a deeply personal tribute to his wife’s character and commitment to helping others.
“I was really touched by the comments everyone shared and I really appreciate the recognition,” Steve said. “I only wish Jenifer was here. But I know she’s looking down now and grinning with a big smile. She’d be very proud of this.
“We’ve been long time donors to United Way because of the great things they do for our community. It’s wonderful to see year after year all the great things they do around Kansas City and the impact they make. Knowing that makes it easy to help keep moving the program forward. It meant a lot to both of us.
“Jenifer was constantly looking out for who needed help—whether it be family, neighbors, extended family, people she’d worked with, she was just that kind of person. She was in fact, a much better person than I and made me into a better person. So thanks to all of you. We really do appreciate it.”
Continuing the Legacy Through Tocqueville Society
Even in retirement, Steve Edwards remains deeply invested in Kansas City’s future. As a member of United Way of Greater Kansas City’s Tocqueville Society, Steve continues to invest in community initiatives in Jenifer’s honor, ensuring her legacy of giving back continues for generations to come.
The Tocqueville Society represents Kansas City’s most committed philanthropists—individuals who give $10,000 or more annually to United Way and remain deeply engaged in community transformation work.
Why Their Impact Matters
The Edwards’ decades of service demonstrate how philanthropic leadership creates ripple effects throughout communities. Their commitment to United Way, Black & Veatch’s community programs, and Kansas City nonprofits has:
- Strengthened nonprofit capacity and programming
- Mobilized corporate resources for community benefit
- Inspired thousands of employee-owners to give back
- Created lasting change in health, youth opportunity, and financial security
- Modeled servant leadership for the next generation
Honoring Kansas City’s Changemakers
United Way of Greater Kansas City’s impact is made possible thanks to compassionate leaders like Steve and (the late) Jenifer Edwards. The 2026 WaymakerTM Awards celebrate donors, volunteers, and corporate partners who exemplify this spirit of community service and collective impact.
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FAQs About Philanthropy & Community Impact
Q: Who was Adele Hall?
A: Adele Hall was a legendary Kansas City philanthropist and community leader whose values of compassion, service, and generosity continue to inspire the award bearing her name.
Q: What is the Tocqueville Society?
A: The Tocqueville Society is United Way of Greater Kansas City’s most committed donor circle, representing individuals who give $10,000 or more annually and remain actively engaged in community leadership.
Q: How can I get involved with United Way?
A: You can support United Way through financial contributions, volunteering, corporate partnerships, or by joining the Tocqueville Society. Visit UWGKC.org to learn more.
Q: What impact does philanthropy have in Kansas City?
A: United Way’s donors and partners fund critical programs across health, youth opportunity, financial security, and community resilience—helping support 1 in 3 Kansas Citians who struggle to afford the basics.
Q: How did Black & Veatch support community initiatives?
A: Under Steve Edwards’ leadership, Black & Veatch championed programs like Christmas in October, aligned company engineering expertise with community needs, and actively supported United Way campaigns.Today, Black & Veatch is consistently among United Way’s top corporate partners for the number of dollars raised in its annual campaign, and the number of employees who engage through advocacy and volunteerism.