Business & Tech

Lorton Community Action Center Says Goodbye To Steve Rorke

He was executive director for nine years

Steve Rorke has helped feed thousands, and now he's leaving. Today, colleagues, community leaders and friends gathered to bid farewell to Rorke as the executive director at the Lorton Community Action Center. Rorke, who works in his Teva sandals during summer months, seemed at pease with his decision. 

"Steve has been an absolutely superb person behind the helm at the LCAC," said Mount Vernon District Supervisor Gerry Hyland. "He has taken a small organization to a first-rate non-profit organization serving the needs of people in this part of Fairfax County. Steve came in and really made this go in terms of the ability to raise funds, and he has the commitment of hundreds of volunteers who have donated their time, their money and their effort to make this an organization that can respond to human services needs. So, we owe him a large debt of gratitude for his leadership to bring this organization into its own and to be a first-class nonprofit agency serving the needs of others." 

Rorke, native of Buffalo, New York, has worked with nonprofits for 36 years. "The thing about a nonprofit is that everyone has to work at 150 percent because you never have the staff you need. I like to hire people who are self starters and who supervise themselves. I try to get staff to be as independent as I can be so that it doesn't tie up my time and the time of others," Rorke said. "I've been here nine years and I think the organization and I will benefit from a fresh perspective."

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The LCAC was founded in 1975, but it was only last year that the nonprofit opened a food pantry facility. "This building here is one of his greatest accomplishments," said Maryam Ulomi, LCAC's deputy director. "Steve is very laid back. He's definitely not a micromanager. He trusts the staff to do their work and lets them get it done, which is very rewarding." 

Last year, the LCAC gave food to more than 2,500 needy Fairfax County residents. The nonprofit also assists with clothing, financial aid, ESL classes, pro-bono legal assistance, tutoring and youth programs. Still, the new food pantry stands alone, said Rorke. "It's been quite a benefit to the organization. Food used to be distributed from the house, but now with the new building, everything is on one floor, which makes everything so much more efficient, with a walk-in freezer and refrigerator."

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Rorke, who lives in Alexandria, is married and has a daughter. He is also an Episcopalian priest, and plans on working more with his church. On his funraising abilities: "I've had a lot of luck. I think the Lorton community is very giving, and by telling them there is this tremendous need in the community they have responded, which is admirable in a community."

The LCAC Board will name the new executive director by January, said Lynn Swagger, president of the LCAC Board of Directors.

Swagger said that Rorke is a calming presence. "He has a quiet style of leadership," she said. "You never saw him upset or uptight, and he spent a lot of time in the community helping people. In his tenure, (the LCAC) has grown so much. We offer so many more services, what we offer, our contributions and how we are able to help people has increased dramatically." 

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One in a continuing series on how local residents are pursuing their version of the American Dream.


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