WOMAN WITH A VISION

Sandy Forsythe wishes her husband of 51 years had been standing beside her when The Chicago Lighthouse officially christened its headquarters on Roosevelt Road as “The Forsythe Pavilion.” The honor commemorated the Winnetka couple’s dedication to The Lighthouse; a dedication born of their commitment to furthering research, rehabilitation, and assistive technology programs for people with low vision or blindness. The Forsythes have funded a macular degeneration research laboratory at Northwestern University, helped fund the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University, and supported many programs at Winnetka’s Hadley Institute for the Blind. Through this philanthropy, the Forsythes are generally recognized as one of the premier funders of low vision programs and research in the United States.

Sadly, Rick passed away in December 2022. Through the Forsythe Family Foundation, Sandy is continuing the work she and her husband began helping people with vision impairments and funding low vision research. In addition, Sandy remains active on the boards of The Wilmer Eye Institute, Hadley Institute, and The Chicago Lighthouse.

“When both my husband and brother were diagnosed with macular degeneration, I became determined to help people with vision issues,” Sandy says.

Rick and Sandy’s commitment has made an enormous impact at The Chicago Lighthouse. Sandy’s involvement with the organization began shortly after Rick’s diagnosis. Rick, an entrepreneur who founded a multimillion-dollar computer leasing and solutions business, was despondent that his diagnosis might keep him from many of the daily activities he enjoyed. At a meeting for Hadley Institute, Sandy met The Lighthouse’s then-executive director Jim Kesteloot, who knew The Lighthouse’s services would be a big help.

“When Rick returned home from his appointment at The Lighthouse, things were different,” Sandy recalls. “I asked him how it went, and he responded, ‘Well, now I know, even though I might go blind, I have hope that I can continue doing things that I enjoy.’”

From that moment on, Sandy was all in. She joined The Lighthouse’s board in 2003 and played an instrumental role in establishing the organization’s North Shore satellite location in Glenview.

“Sandy has been an invaluable guide in expanding our programs and services, particularly in the areas of assistive technology and employment,” says Janet P. Szlyk, Ph.D., President and CEO of The Chicago Lighthouse. “Her presence can be felt throughout the organization.”

In addition to the Forsythe Pavilion, The Lighthouse’s programs include the Forsythe Center for Comprehensive Vision Care, the Sandy Forsythe Assistive Technology Center, and the Forsythe Entrepreneurial Center, which helps people who are blind start and maintain their own businesses. In April 2022, the Forsythes contributed $10 million to The Lighthouse’s endowment fund to ensure the organization’s programs would continue to meet the growing needs of Chicago’s blind, visually impaired, disabled, and veteran communities.

Now the leader of the Forsythe Family Foundation, Sandy plans to continue the good work she and her husband began. “My family has experienced how frightening losing your sight can be,” Sandy says. “I want people to understand that they can live a full life, regardless of their visual function. You can have a vision for your life’s path without having the ability to see.”

For more information, visit chicagolighthouse.org and hadley.edu.