Foundation Down to Its Last Dollars

After donating $165 million over five decades, the publicity-shy Harry and Grace Steele Foundation is poised to write its final check.

Since 1954, the Newport Beach-based philanthropy has pumped money into an array of causes, including nautical museums, hospitals, contraception and abortion services, Christian groups, colleges and the arts.

In its first year, the foundation donated $2,119. In the last two months, it has bestowed $19.6 million -- mostly to buy and preserve 29 acres of the Dana Point Headlands.

“Their legacy exemplifies the true meaning of philanthropy,” said Shelley Hoss, executive director of the Orange County Community Foundation, a local philanthropy group.”

The Steele Foundation began as a tax write-off for the widow and children of Harry Steele, whose Los Angeles company built water-pump engines that helped irrigate the San Joaquin Valley.

But philanthropy also turned out to be immensely gratifying, said foundation President Audrey Steele Burnand, daughter of Harry and Grace, who died in 1943 and 1974, respectively.

The foundation has been one of the biggest philanthropic groups in Orange County, where members of the Steele family lived. But it also donated to such disparate causes as the Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecticut, restoration of the Statue of Liberty, Planned Parenthood and the National Abortion Rights Action League.

The foundation also gave small grants to groups considered to be abortion foes.

A big chunk of the foundation’s largesse was devoted to medicine, colleges and the arts. Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach received at least $10 million over the years. Public television stations in Orange County and Los Angeles got several million dollars.

And construction of the Orange County Performing Arts Center was underwritten in part by a $3-million grant, the first in a series of donations.

Foundation attorney Will Layman said about $250,000 remained in reserve. After final expenses, the remainder will be donated to as yet undetermined recipients, he said.