On Feb. 5, the L.E. Phillips Senior Center Board of Directors announced that it received the largest donation in its history: $2.4 million. The donation was made by the estate of the late Sylvia Steiner, a member of the senior center, who passed in April 2023 and left the proceeds to the organization in her will. 

Steiner was a longtime member of the senior center, and a decades-long faculty member at UW-Eau Claire, where she taught in the Communications Disorders Department for over 30 years before retiring in 2002.

Below is an excerpt from the published obituary of Sylvia Steiner:

Sylvia enjoyed puzzles, games (including those on the computer), mystery books, and spectator sports, particularly baseball and football. She liked to play bridge and played for many years at the Senior Center in Eau Claire.

Of significant value to here were: friendships, learning, accomplishing goals, dedication and loyalty, honoring responsibilities, striving for improvement, and rationality. She liked good company, good conversation, and good food.

In a recent media release, L.E. Phillips Senior Center Board President Bryan Bessa stated the donation will allow the center to accelerate progress on existing priorities – including those identified during the strategic planning process the board has been pursuing since the summer of 2024 – while also freezing the existing fee structure ($30 single, $50 couple) for the foreseeable future. 

Sylvia Steiner. (Photo from Steiner's obituary)

"This donation will further the mission of the senior center and benefit its members for years to come, which was Sylvia's intention," Bessa said. 

“This gift will allow us to accelerate progress on an existing list of priorities and continue to meet the growing and evolving needs of current and future members,” Bessa continued. “It will allow us to strengthen and expand our programs and services, which is part of the center’s vision."

The donation will be placed in an endowment managed by a professional financial firm, so that it can maximize its impact on current and long-term goals for the senior center. Bessa also stated that they are working on a permanent way to recognize Steiner's legacy.

The L.E. Phillips Senior Center's funding comes from a mix of member dues, revenue from insurance wellness programs, donations, and support from the city and county. 

Visit the L.E Phillips Senior Center at 1616 Bellinger St., Eau Claire • (715) 839-4909 • Learn more about the senior center at lep-sc.org