Jose and Lolita Eguiguren are organizing this fundraiser in honor of their father, Byron Eguiguren, who passed away on 11 September 2026. This fundraiser will support the Escuela de Educación Básica Especializada “Byron Eguiguren” in Loja, Ecuador, a school named after Byron that serves children with disabilities.

Byron was the first blind person to receive a university education from the Loja province and he earned scholarships that took him to graduate studies in Germany. His career was as a linguist at the Hadley School for the Blind in Winnetka, Illinois. Byron was fluent in seven languages, played multiple instruments, and was an avid ham radio operator. He also served multiple terms as President of the Glencoe Rotary Club during more than 30 years of membership. Byron was named Educator of the Year in Winnetka in 1984 and had previously received the Medal of Civic Valor from the Ecuadoran government.

The school in Loja has existed since 1966 with inaugural support from the Lions Club. As the school's mission has expanded beyond blind children to include a wider range of disabilities, its needs have also grown.

Today, the school needs help with funding teaching aids and infrastructure improvements. There is also a growing need for physical and occupational therapy resources.

The children at the school, along with its dedicated teaching staff, are the heart of this fundraiser. Several staff members are blind themselves, and they continue showing up for these students with commitment and care. I will personally manage the distribution of funds so the donations go directly to meeting school needs.

If you are able to help, please consider donating or sharing this fundraiser. Supporting this school is a way to honor my father while directly helping children and teachers who depend on it every day. Thank you for being part of that support.

Jose and Lolita Eguiguren