Sandy lost his eyesight in 1961 from glaucoma while he was a student at Columbia. At that point, he promised God that he’d do everything he could for the rest of his life to make sure no one else should go blind — he has led a successful life full of purpose.
Just days ago, Johns Hopkins Medicine’s Wilmer Eye Institute established the Sanford and Susan Greenberg Center to End Blindness.
Sandy sheds light on the Center’s drive to support the next generation of researchers who have high risk, high reward ideas but lack funding and mentorship. The Center aims to raise $100 million and they have already secured half that amount.
Sandy also shares fascinating anecdotes, including how his college roommate (music legend) Art Garfunkel would read to him when he lost his sight; his emotions as he wrote his book ‘Hello Darkness My Old Friend”; and his relentless pursuit of education at Columbia, Harvard and Oxford.
If you want to hear a touching, personal story where optimism overcomes adversity and where purpose tackles blindness, this episode is for you.
Thank you for listening to The Do One Better Podcast. Please subscribe, follow and share with others. For information on nearly 150 episodes, please visit our website at Lidji.org
Ahmad Alhendawi, Secretary General of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM): Launching a new global strategy and tackling the SDGs
Frank Aswani, CEO of the Africa Venture Philanthropy Alliance (AVPA), on creating an impact ecosystem in Africa
Lynette Bell, President of the Truist Foundation, on strengthening small businesses, developing career pathways for economic mobility and why philanthropy is fueling the marketplace of ideas
Daniela Ligiero, CEO and President of Together for Girls and Co-Founder of the Brave Movement: working to end sexual violence against children and adolescents
Graham Macmillan, President of Visa Foundation, and Melissa Stevens, Executive Vice President of Philanthropy at the Milken Institute, on corporate philanthropy
Kate Grant, Chief Executive of the Fistula Foundation, on receiving $15M from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott and treating women with devastating childbirth injuries
Rose Caldwell, CEO of Plan International UK, on children’s rights, girls’ education, and localisation
Ebrima Saidy, Chief Impact Officer of Save the Children International: Everything you need to know about the increasingly-prominent role of the Chief Impact Officer
Iqbal Dhaliwal, Global Executive Director of MIT’s Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), and Vikrant Bhargava, Founder of Veddis Foundation: Following the evidence trail
Philippa Charles, Director of the Garfield Weston Foundation: philanthropy, family, and flexibility in funding
Don Howard, CEO of the James Irvine Foundation: Economic Mobility for California's Low-Income Workers
Andy Jarvis, Bezos Earth Fund's Director of Future of Food: Innovating for a Sustainable Tomorrow
Saleh Saeed OBE, Chief Executive of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC): Uniting for Global Humanitarian Relief
Sir Peter Wanless, CEO of the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children): Empowering Society to Protect Children
Delphine Moralis, CEO of Philea (Philanthropy Europe Association): Shaping the Future of Philanthropy in Europe
Tim Dixon, Co-Founder of More in Common: Bridging Divides in a Polarized World
Larry Kramer, incoming President and Vice Chancellor of the London School of Economics: reflections on his time at the Hewlett Foundation, lessons in philanthropy, and aspirations for the LSE
Maya Ziswiler, CEO of the UBS Optimus Foundation: Philanthropy, Social Investing and Creating an Impact Economy
Jim McCormick, CEO of the Robertson Trust: Venturing into Impact Investing
Championing Diversity in Impact Investing: Nora Bavey’s Vision for Unconventional Ventures
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Commercial Edge: Unleash the Power of People
The emPOWERed Half Hour
Advocacy Scoop Podcast
Social Dallas Podcast
Change Church Podcast
Six Degrees with Kevin Bacon
Nonprofits Are Messy: Lessons in Leadership | Fundraising | Board Development | Communications