Min. Dale Edwards Executive Director Call and Post
In a time when many young people are worried about college costs, jobs, and an uncertain future, one Cleveland businessman has delivered a powerful message to the city’s graduating seniors:
Cleveland believes in you.
Local entrepreneur Mark Stepowoy, CEO of Stepowoy Enterprises, is donating nearly $1 million to the Cleveland Metropolitan School District’s Class of 2026 — providing every graduating senior with a surprise $500 cash gift.
The extraordinary donation will benefit nearly 2,000 graduating students across Cleveland Metropolitan School District and stands as one of the most personal and impactful gifts ever made directly to CMSD graduates.
Stepowoy, a 1978 graduate of James Ford Rhodes High School, said his decision to make the donation came from both gratitude and loyalty to Cleveland — a city he says shaped his life and career.
“I just want them to have a chance to start off on the right foot and give a little boost,” Stepowoy told reporters.
The businessman, who became the nation’s largest private owner of Roto-Rooter plumbing franchises, said he understands the challenges facing young people today, especially students growing up in a city that has battled decades of economic hardship and population decline.
“My father moved to Cleveland in 1954,” Stepowoy said. “Cleveland was the butt of jokes in the ’70s, and I resented that. I’m protective of our city, and that morphed into wanting to help these kids.”
For many students, the money will help cover graduation expenses, college supplies, transportation, rent, food, or basic family needs. Stepowoy said one student tearfully told him she had been praying for financial help because her family was struggling.
CMSD CEO Warren Morgan praised the donation as more than just financial support.
“This gift is more than a financial contribution; it is a powerful statement of belief in our students and the future they are building,” Morgan said.
The donation continues Stepowoy’s growing legacy of giving back to Cleveland schools. In previous years, he donated $25,000 for a new scoreboard at Rhodes High School and personally gave each Rhodes graduate $1,000 last year.
At a time when headlines often focus on violence, politics, and division, Stepowoy’s gift offered something different — hope.
For Cleveland’s Class of 2026, the surprise donation was more than a check. It was proof that someone who once walked the same hallways, faced the same struggles, and came from the same city believes they can succeed.
And for one unforgettable moment, thousands of Cleveland students were reminded that their city has not forgotten them.
