A life well lived.

Who is Ben Ortiz?

A son, brother, uncle, and friend whose compassion for others became the foundation for the way we carry his memory forward.

ROOTS IN MORRIS, ILLINOIS

A hometown foundation

Ben was born on September 6, 1994, in Morris, Illinois, where he was raised his entire life. He graduated from Immaculate Conception and Morris Community High School before continuing on to Lake Forest College as part of their basketball team.

After graduating from college, the mountains and nature called him west. He moved to Denver, Colorado, where he built a career in technology at the cybersecurity company Sumo Logic.

A loyal son, brother, cousin, friend, and Uncle Ben

Ben’s love for his family and friends was unwavering. He had an exceptionally large group of friends, many of which were lifelong. Few roles meant more to Ben than being an uncle. He adored his four nieces — Addisen and Erin Woolsey, Quinn and Charlie Hershman, and his nephew, Miles Woolsey.

Mountains, music, and Carl

Life in Colorado brought a new passion: skiing. Ben was happiest in the mountains, especially alongside his beloved dog, Carl. They bonded over their love of snow and being outside. He loved music, too, and built lasting friendships around it. A music festival or a live show was where he felt most at home. Ben’s love language was sharing music with others.

A life on the court

From the time he was one year old, Ben had a basketball in his hand. Whether it was a pick-up game with friends or a competitive travel game, he played with integrity and a love for the game that carried him onto the basketball team at Lake Forest College.

WHERE THE NAME COMES FROM

Ben’s Way Forward

When Ben passed, his family knew they had to find a way to carry on his legacy and bring to life the kindness he always hoped to share. Ben's Way Forward was born from both his compassion for others and his love of basketball, where he proudly played as a forward throughout his career.

Ben was compassionate, and he cared deeply about those less fortunate, listening to them, and shouldering their challenges.

Carry Ben’s Way Forward

Every gift and every act of kindness helps us honor Ben's memory by making a direct, meaningful impact in the lives of others.

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See Our Iniatives

Moments with families and friends

IN PICTURES

A group of twelve people, including children and adults, posed on the front steps of a house for a photo, smiling.
A wedding ceremony with a woman in a black dress and a man in a suit walking down an aisle decorated with candles and rose petals, surrounded by seated guests in a rustic, industrial-style venue with exposed beams and chandeliers.
A man wearing a face mask holding a baby, both indoors in a living room.
A young boy with curly hair, wearing a red and black plaid shirt, sitting at a table with an open book in front of him, in a colorful room with a yellow wall, pink curtains, and a television in the background.
Three people sitting at a table with drinks, smiling at the camera, in a restaurant with gray and blue walls, and a television mounted on the wall.
Three young people sitting on a bed in a bedroom, smiling at the camera. The room has a white wall, a bookshelf, and decorative black and white window curtains.
A young man and woman hugging each other and smiling at the camera. The woman has face makeup and a headband, while the man is in a gray T-shirt. They are indoors, with a window behind them showing an outdoor setting.
Two men on a boat, one standing and the other sitting, with a body of water and trees in the background. The standing man is smiling and wearing a t-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops. The sitting man is smiling, shirtless, with a towel around his shoulders, and is being handed a drink.
Three men sitting together at a restaurant table, smiling for the photo.
A young man and woman smiling for a photo outdoors at night with greenery in the background.