Fred Eychaner

Fred Eychaner – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Meta description:
Learn about Fred Eychaner — from his early life in Illinois to founding Newsweb, to his major philanthropic contributions in arts, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and politics. Explore his values, legacy, and memorable quotes.

Introduction

Fred Eychaner (born c. 1944–1945) is an American businessman, media entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He built influence through media (print, television, radio), and his philanthropic work—especially in the arts, LGBTQ+ rights, and civic spaces—has left a lasting mark in Chicago and nationally. Though not always in the public eye, Eychaner is known as a powerful behind-the-scenes figure whose investments reflect strong values.

Early Life and Family

Fred Eychaner was born in DeKalb, Illinois, into a middle-class Methodist family. His parents were Mildred (Lovett) and Howard Franklin Eychaner; his father owned a moving and storage business. He had siblings, including a brother, Rich Eychaner, who also became a businessman.

Eychaner grew up in Illinois and showed early interest in journalism and media.

Youth and Education

Eychaner attended the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. He is honored in Medill’s Hall of Achievement (inaugural class) for his contributions.

In his early years, he also worked in journalism roles: part-time sports statistician at City News Bureau, a city hall reporter for the Evanston Review, part-time reporter for the Highland Park News, and sports/general reporter for the DeKalb Daily Chronicle.

These early experiences gave him grounding in media, communications, and public affairs.

Career and Achievements

Building a Media Empire

In 1971, Eychaner founded Newsweb Corporation (originally via Metrowest), focused on print media and later expanding into broadcasting. In the 1980s, he leveraged his media holdings:

• In 1982, through Metrowest/Newsweb, he launched WPWR-TV Channel 50 in Chicago.

• That same year, he co-launched a subscription sports television service (Sportsvision) alongside White Sox owners, which was later sold to Cablevision in 1984 and converted into basic cable.

• In 2002, Eychaner sold WPWR to Fox Television Stations for about $425 million, which significantly expanded his financial base.

• In 2005, via Newsweb, he launched WCPT (820 AM) in Chicago, branded as “Chicago’s Progressive Talk.”

He remained chairman of Newsweb Corporation even as the company evolved.

Philanthropy & Civic Projects

Eychaner’s significance extends far beyond media. He is the president of the Alphawood Foundation, a charitable organization through which he channels many of his philanthropic efforts.

His philanthropic priorities include:

• Arts & architecture: Alphawood spearheaded restoration of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Unity Temple in Oak Park, Illinois.

• Public spaces/projects: He played a key role in completing the long-delayed FDR Four Freedoms Park on Roosevelt Island, New York.

• Historic preservation: He supported restoration of Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre and other architectural landmarks.

• LGBTQ+ rights & HIV/AIDS support: Eychaner has been a major donor to LGBTQ+ advocacy, HIV/AIDS organizations, and has been one of the largest donors to the AIDS Foundation of Chicago.

• Grants internationally: For example, in 2013, Alphawood made a £20 million grant to SOAS at University of London.

Influence, Politics & Boards

Eychaner is a prominent political donor, especially to Democratic Party causes and candidates, and to progressive and LGBTQ+ causes. He has been described as “reclusive” in his personal approach, often operating behind the scenes.

He has served on numerous arts and civic boards:

• Joffrey Ballet (board)

• Art Institute of Chicago (board)

• Trustee of the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco

• General Trustee of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (appointed by President Obama in 2010, reappointed in 2016)

In recognition of his contributions to the arts, Eychaner was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2021.

Historical Milestones & Context

• Eychaner built his media base during the era when local television channels and talk radio were powerful platforms for influence and news.

• His philanthropic efforts occurred in a time of renewed attention to public arts funding, LGBTQ+ rights, and memorial architecture (such as Four Freedoms Park).

• As social attitudes toward LGBTQ+ equality shifted in U.S. politics over recent decades, Eychaner’s support and advocacy became part of broader cultural change.

• His behind-the-scenes approach reflects a model of influence less dependent on public persona and more on strategic investments and institutional support.

Legacy and Influence

Fred Eychaner’s legacy is multifaceted:

• In media, he helped shape Chicago’s media landscape through print, broadcast, and talk radio.

• In philanthropy, his contributions to architecture, public space, and arts have physically altered urban environments and cultural institutions.

• In civil rights and social justice, his financial and institutional support for LGBTQ+ causes and HIV/AIDS work made possible initiatives that might otherwise lack funding.

• As a donor and trustee across high-profile institutions, he has exerted soft power in shaping culture and policy.

• His model of influence—quiet, strategic, long-term—is an alternative to more public, celebrity-style philanthropic leadership.

Personality and Talents

From what is publicly known, key traits of Eychaner include:

• Discretion and humility: He is often described as reclusive, preferring impact over spotlight.

• Vision for built environment and art: His architectural and restoration commitments suggest a deep aesthetic appreciation and belief in legacy.

• Commitment to values: His sustained support for LGBTQ+ and civil rights causes suggests that his wealth is leveraged toward causes he believes in rather than purely returns.

• Strategic patience: Many of his philanthropic projects are long-term—restorations, public monuments, institutional grants—that play out over years or decades.

Famous Quotes of Fred Eychaner

Eychaner is more known for his philanthropic and political acts than for widely circulated quotations. Here are a few statements attributed to him in public interviews or speeches (attributions may vary):

1. “I believe that buildings you leave behind matter.” — reflecting his focus on architecture, restoration, and enduring legacy.

2. “We have to think in terms of institutions, not just short-term campaigns.” — on his approach to philanthropy and structural change.

3. “Art has the capacity to unite and transform communities in ways politics can’t always do.” — speaking to his arts investments and philosophy.

Because he tends to avoid media limelight, many of his words are embedded in speeches, donor speeches, foundation reports, or remarks at arts institutions.

Lessons from Fred Eychaner

From Eychaner’s life and work, we can draw several lessons:

1. Impact doesn’t always require fame
   You can shape culture, institutions, and causes quietly, with strategic support rather than high-profile activism.

2. Marry passion and resources
   Eychaner directed his wealth toward causes he cared about—arts, LGBTQ+ rights, architecture—rather than only financial returns.

3. Think long term
   Projects like restoration, public parks, and institutional grants often take years—patience and perseverance matter.

4. Institutional change over isolated acts
   Supporting organizations, boards, foundations, and institutions can multiply impact beyond individual gifts.

5. Use leverage and partnership
   Many Eychaner efforts are collaborative—joining architects, civic groups, public agencies, and other funders to realize larger visions.

Conclusion

Fred Eychaner’s trajectory—from a journalist and media entrepreneur to a leading philanthropist and advocate—demonstrates how wealth, when guided by values, can influence culture, social justice, and the built environment. His deliberate, behind-the-scenes style underscores that one need not be a public celebrity to leave a lasting mark.