Barrington Hills’s Sue Hyde raised two children with her husband Sheffield, a local periodontist, but has nurtured so many more through philanthropy and mentorship. From her involvement with the Barrington Junior Women’s Club, she founded Teens for Teens with her son, Andy, and another mother-son duo.
The mission was to introduce 8th grade students to all aspects of volunteering. From this endeavor came Blessings in a Backpack—an initiative co-chaired by Hyde that is responsible for feeding more than 500 at-risk students each weekend of the school year who might otherwise not have any food to eat over the weekend. Nearly 75,000 backpacks have been packed since the program began five years ago. And that’s just the beginning of the impact Hyde has made on the community. Here is how she stays on trend.
Sue Hyde. PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBIN SUBAR
From Her Mobile
“My weather app lets me know what’s happening in my favorite travel places or my upcoming destinations. My travel apps allow me to plan whenever and wherever I am. Traveling to different places is my passion. Last year I logged 50,000 air miles. I also use Venmo, a great app which allows you to transfer money between friends (and my kids Andy and Emily). Notes is indispensable because I am involved in a variety of things—volunteering, freelancing, traditional home stuff—and it helps me remember what I need to accomplish.”
On Her Nightstand
“I have two books I am reading right now. Spare Parts by Joshua Davis. It’s a wonderful, true story about four undocumented teenagers who work together with their teachers to build a robot and enter a national underwater robot competition. It’s about overcoming insurmountable odds and is truly inspiring. I am also reading Ten Conversations You Must Have A With Your Son: Preparing Your Son for A Happy and Successful Life by Tim Hawkes. It focuses on topics ranging from love to leadership, achievement, and resilience. ”
In Her Earbuds
“I am a huge Bon Jovi fan, so he is always on my iPod in addition to a mix of classic ’80s rock. I also love Bruno Mars and other contemporary artists like The Weekend, Chainsmokers, and Taylor Swift. Over 50 percent of the time, I am not listening to music. Instead, I am listening to News/Talk radio like WBBM. I am a news junkie, and my son Andy works for CBS Radio.”