About the Scholarship
In 2014, the HEAR Foundation lost a very special friend and supporter, Mr. William J. Flatley. Bill Flatley touched all of us during his lifetime in positive and profound ways as a personal friend, colleague, and neighbor. We would like to continue his legacy by establishing The William J. Flatley Student Scholarship.
The HEAR Foundation can think of no more appropriate memorial to Bill than an effort that supports students striving for a better life. Bill’s first job was a position as a schoolteacher on Chicago’s Southwest Side, the area where he was born and raised. He embraced his role as a mentor to young students, particularly from low-income families, and according to Beth he valued his ability to help young people fight and overcome difficult obstacles in their lives.
We want this journey to continue.
If you would like to be a part of this effort, donate now or send an inquiry to vera@hearfoundation.org.
Mr. William J. Flatley
Bill was born in Chicago, IL in 1947, and his formative years were spent in the greater Chicagoland area. He attended St. Laurence High School in Burbank and graduated from Lewis University in Joliet, IL with a degree in Business Administration. After graduation, Bill taught elementary school for two years in the inner city of Chicago.From here Bill went on to spend his career in advertising sales at Newsweek and Forbes. He joined Forbes in 1989 as the West Coast Sales Manager of the magazine, and after relocation to New York to become Advertising Director, was named VP of Worldwide Sales in 1996. He was instrumental in the launch of four critical Forbes ventures, leading the Sales teams and the creation of Forbes.com, Forbesauto.com, The Forbes Conference Group and Forbes Custom Media. From 2001-2006, he served as Vice President and Chief Advertising Officer of Forbes.com.
Bill was a member of the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and a board member of the Online Publishers Association (OPA). He also served on the Advisory boards of a number of Internet start-ups and philanthropic boards. Bill served as an Elder at Noroton Presbyterian Church.
The greatest joy in Bill’s life was his family. He was a devoted and loving husband, and together, he and his wife Beth of 38 years embraced and enjoyed their retired life traveling and maintaining good friendships. He could always be seen on the sidelines supporting his kids at their sporting events. Bill was loved and admired by his children and grandchildren and described as endlessly patient, always encouraging, and thoroughly adored.
His family misses him every day.
Meet the 2016 William J. Flatley Student Scholar
“Receiving the family scholarship from the HEAR Foundation has truly been part of a life-changing and humbling experience. I am truly grateful to the family for their selfless act which aids me in pursuing my dreams”.
Daisy Evariz
Harvard University
Meet the 2017 William J. Flatley Student Scholar
Dennis graduated a semester early from Lewis University with a BSc Biology and is now working as a laboratory technician in the Chicago area.