Fred Eychaner
| Fred Eychaner | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1945 (age 78–79) DeKalb, Illinois |
| Nationality | United States |
| Occupation | businessman |
| Known for | Chairman of Newsweb Corporation |
| Parent(s) | Mildred and Howard Eychaner |
| Relatives | Rich Eychaner (brother) |
Fred Eychaner (born c. 1945) is an American entrepreneur and philanthropist.[1][2]
Eychaner is the Chairman of Newsweb Corporation.[3][4] He was included in Chicago magazine's 2014 list of the 100 most powerful Chicagoans.[5] In 2005, the Chicago Tribune estimated his wealth at $500 million.[1] In 2015, he was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame.[6]
Contents
Early life and education
Eychaner was born to a middle-class Methodist family in DeKalb, Illinois, the son of Mildred and Howard Eychaner.[1][7] His father owned a moving and storage business.[8] He has three siblings, including Iowa businessman Rich Eychaner.[1][9] He attended the Medill School of Journalism.[1]
Business interests
He founded Newsweb Corporation in 1971, which prints a wide variety of newspapers. A series of transactions led to his ownership of WPWR-Channel 50 in Chicago. In 2002, WPWR was sold to Fox Television for a reported $425 million. He launched WCPT-AM, Chicago's Progressive Talk Radio station in May 2005.[1]
Philanthropy
He is President of the charitable organization Alphawood Foundation which granted the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London £20m in 2013.[10] Eychaner has given the Clinton Foundation between $10 million and $25 million.[11] He is also credited with getting the long-delayed FDR Four Freedoms Park on Roosevelt Island in New York finally constructed.[12]
In November 2013, Alphawood announced a $2 million matching grant to help jumpstart construction of the Bloomingdale Trail in Chicago.[13]
Political activities
He has been a top Democratic donor for several cycles and in the 2012 election cycle was the top donor to Democratic Super PACs, giving more than $14 million.[1][14]
Boards
He serves on the board of the Joffrey Ballet,[15] and of the Art Institute of Chicago.[16] He is also a trustee of the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco.[17]
In September 2010, President Barack Obama appointed Eychaner a General Trustee to the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.[18]
References
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- ↑ National Journal: "Meet Fred Eychaner, the Most Mysterious Figure in Democratic Party Politics - Tracking down Fred Eychaner, one of the most reclusive—and powerful—donors in Democratic politics, was no easy task" by Daniel Libit May 8, 2014
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