Robert Elias

Partnership Architect
ABCD Hall of Fame Honoree 2025​

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Robert (Bob) Elias dedicated his professional career to serving at Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) for 56 years.  Elias has always been passionate about helping Boston’s low-income and underprivileged communities and over the years worked tirelessly to promote and support ABCD’s mission.

 

Elias started at the South Boston Action Center as a counselor in ABCD’s training programs.  He successfully implemented a new program where local companies hired ABCD trainees direct for jobs such as auto-mechanics and typewriter repair instead of going through DES.  This initiative saved the organization one million dollars and greatly increased employment opportunities for ABCD constituents.  ABCD President Robert Coard then hired Elias as a Special Assistant and then Director of Government and Industrial Relations.

 

Elias was the catalyst and creator of some of ABCD’s iconic events and programs, including the Community Heroes Celebration (formerly the Community Awards Dinner), the Seminar Series, Field of Dreams at Fenway Park, Hoop Dreams at TD Garden and the ABCD Hall of Fame.  The Community Heroes Celebration allows ABCD to recognize people from the neighborhoods who have made an impact in their communities.  Elias is most proud of the speakers who gave keynote addresses, without receiving an honorarium, including John Glenn, Jesse Jackson, James Baldwin, Andrew Young, Harry Belafonte and more.  The Seminar Series allowed people from the community to meet and ask questions of people who impacted their lives.  James Baldwin, Ralph Nader and Marcia Gillespie of Essence Magazine all were featured speakers.

 

Field of Dreams at Fenway Park was a groundbreaking fund-raising event at its inception and spawned Hoop Dreams at TD Garden.  Local businesses paid to play softball and basketball at two legendary venues on an annual basis with proceeds going directly to ABCD programs, such as Summer Works Job Program.  John Harrington, the former owner of the Boston Red Sox, who gave the go ahead for Field of Dreams once commented. “Bob Elias is a hard man to say no to”.