Boys & Girls Club of Wooster honors Steve Shapiro with Founder’s Award

Steve Shapiro is the 2025 recipient of the Boys & Girls Club of Wooster's Founder’s Award.

Each year board members choose a community member to receive the award in honor of its founders John Moritz, Chuck Cooper, Jim Roberston and Mike Mann. The Founder’s Award recognizes an individual for his/her positive impact, innovation and service within the club’s organization.

Shapiro has been a resident of Wooster for most of his 80 years, apart from his time in college and military service. He attended Dean Junior College and American University and served in the U.S. Army Intelligence Corps, stationed in Akron. Now retired, Shapiro was formerly the chief executive officer of Metallics Recycling Company and chairman of the board of Wooster Iron & Metal Company.

Throughout his career and retirement, Shapiro has demonstrated an enduring commitment to civic and nonprofit service. He has served as chairman of the board for The Village Network, the Wayne Economic Development Council and Wayne County Alcoholism Services. In addition, he has held leadership roles as president of the Wooster Rotary Club and Knesset Israel Temple and as trustee of the Wayne County Community Foundation, the Boys & Girls Club of Wooster and the Viola Startzman Clinic. He also has co-chaired several successful capital campaigns supporting key community initiatives.

Shapiro and his wife Cheryl have been married for 54 years. They are the parents of three married children — Bill, Josh and Rachel — and grandparents to eight grandchildren. An avid nature photographer, Shapiro has traveled extensively, capturing wildlife on safaris in Africa and India.

Shapiro has long been passionate about organizations that support children and help them overcome obstacles to reach their full potential. His involvement with the Boys & Girls Club of Wooster was inspired not only by his dedication to youth development in his own community, but also by his observation of the success of the Boys & Girls Club of Sarasota, where his brother Tom served as chairman of the board. That experience reinforced his belief in the power of these organizations to transform young lives.

Shapiro will be presented with his award at the upcoming Make a Difference Gala on Nov. 7 at Greystone Event Center in Wooster. Tickets are $65 each or a table of eight for $500 and can be purchased at bgcwooster.org/mad-gala.