The gardens at Weaver House in Weaverville provided a beautiful backdrop for an evening celebrating something at the heart of United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County (UWABC): the people who dedicate themselves to building a stronger community.
Surrounded by members of UWABC’s Alexis de Tocqueville Society, Dr. Leon Elliston received the 2026 Alexis de Tocqueville Service Award, recognizing his outstanding contributions to UWABC and its mission. Board members and longtime supporters gathered to share stories, reconnect, and celebrate Leon’s lasting commitment to the organization. As colleagues and friends took the floor to offer their tributes, the evening was filled with heartfelt words of appreciation, including remarks from former UWABC CEO David Bailey, Dr. David Brown, and Dan Leory.
Dr. Leon Elliston
For 40+ years, Leon served the community as a physician at Allergy Partners. His commitment to service, however, extended beyond his professional work. In his own time, he made significant efforts to call fellow physicians, introduce them to UWABC’s mission, and encourage their involvement. Through these actions, he helped others see the possibilities that emerge when a community invests in its people and works together toward a shared purpose.
In a quote to the Asheville Citizen-Times about United Way, Leon once said, “I want to make the world a better place and I love to be surrounded by people that want to do the same. We may not be able to change the whole world, but we can have a big impact on the lives of those who live and work here in Buncombe County.”
Leon’s contributions reflect the spirit of the ADT Service Award: a recognition not simply of individual generosity, but of the lasting difference one person can make by consistently showing up for their community.
Dr. David Brown spoke warmly about Leon, calling him “a renaissance man, a gifted poet, a sensitive soul, a terrific father, and an amazing human being…There are three G's to describe Leon - generosity, gratitude, and groundedness.”
Appreciation
- Howard Hanna Beverly-Hanks for their steady support and sponsorship of Tocqueville Society events, year-round
- The plaque engraving is generously donated by Jeffrey Griffiths of A&R Engravers
- The award was handblown by the skilled craftspeople of Lexington Glassworks
About The Tocqueville Society
The award carries a legacy of its own. Inspired by French political thinker Alexis de Tocqueville’s observations of civic engagement in Democracy in America, UWABC’s Tocqueville Society celebrates the power of people coming together to strengthen their communities. Tocqueville recognized the importance of Americans’ instinct to organize, volunteer, and work collectively toward the common good - a spirit that continues to guide UWABC’s work today.
From mobilizing staff and connecting grassroots nonprofits with Buncombe County government in the hours after Hurricane Helene to working alongside local public schools for the past decade to support students, families, and educators, UWABC has continually adapted to meet the changing needs of our community. Today, that work continues through our focus areas of Community Resilience and Youth Oppertunity- both encompassing the United for Youth network, Community Schools, Hurricane Helene Response, and our volunteer center, Hands on Asheville-Buncombe.
The work has shifted as our community’s needs change. What remains constant is the belief that lasting progress happens when people come together, invest in one another, and ensure their neighbors are treated with dignity.
That commitment depends on supporters who understand the value of both evolution and longevity. UWABC’s Tocqueville Society brings together people who pledge to invest in this mission annually, championing the organization as it responds to new challenges while remaining grounded in its values.
The 2026 Tocqueville Service Award Dinner honored Leon’s service, but the evening also served as a reminder of what makes UWABC’s work possible: people who believe in their neighbors, invest in their community, and continue to show up as its needs evolve.
Previous Awardees
- 2002 - Buddy and Marilyn Patton, Barbara Blomberg
- 2003 - Janice and Joe Brumit
- 2004 - Jerry Sternberg
- 2005 - Pam and Jim Turner
- 2006 - Heather and Bill Lee
- 2007 - Charlie and Eleanor Owen
- 2008 - John and Diane Teeter
- 2009 - Charlie and Cary Owen
- 2011 - Jim and Robin Stickney
- 2013 - Dot Hamill & Marla and Joel Adams
- 2014 - Barbara and George Groome
- 2015 - Barbra and Keith Love
- 2016 - Ann and Mike Young
- 2018 - David Bailey and Sherie Ryan Bailey
- 2019 - Taylor and Gary Foss
- 2020 - Tracy and Scott Buchanan
- 2021 - Jennie Eblen and Bobbie Eblen
- 2022 - Suzanne and David DeFerie
- 2023 - Bob and Glenda Burgin
- 2024 - Pat and Junius Grimes, Amy and Neal Hanks
- 2025 - Dianne and David Worley