Planting Trees for the Future

When Jill Waldman was first diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) shortly after meeting Scott, neither of them could have imagined that decades later, both of their sons would share that same diagnosis. What they also couldn’t have imagined is just how far they’d go to change that story.

For more than 30 years, the Parkland, Florida, couple’s connection to the Foundation Fighting Blindness has continued to evolve. Years after Jill’s diagnosis, both of their sons, now 28 and 25, were also diagnosed with X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP), a reality that brought new urgency. What began as a personal diagnosis grew into a shared family mission, one that continues to shape how they show up today and in the future.

“We don’t dwell on what has already happened,” says Scott. “We focus on what we can do.”

This spring, that mindset is coming to life in a new way. The Waldmans are launching the South Florida Scramble for Sight: A Day of Golf and Games at Parkland Golf and Country Club, bringing their community together to advance research toward treatments and cures. Designed to welcome both golfers and non-golfers, the event reflects Scott’s passion for the game and Jill’s lifelong career in fundraising, while expanding the circle of support.

But for the Waldmans, this event is just one part of a much broader commitment.

As longtime supporters, they have also taken steps to ensure their impact continues for generations to come as members of the Reintsma Legacy Society, including the Foundation in their estate plans. For Scott, a wealth management executive, and Jill, a retired fundraising professional, legacy giving was a natural extension of both their personal and professional lives.

“We’ve seen how far research has come since Jill’s diagnosis,” says Scott. “Including the Foundation in our plans was about paying it forward, so future families have access to treatments we didn’t have decades ago.”

That long-term perspective shapes everything they do. Scott often reflects on a simple idea: "The person sitting under a tree now is benefiting from someone who planted that tree many years ago.”

In the same way, the Waldmans are investing in progress that extends far beyond today, while staying grounded in the urgency of now. Their sons’ experiences continue to fuel that balance. Their older son, now a successful attorney, recently stopped driving—an emotional milestone the family has faced with honesty and resolve.

“We tackle each obstacle as it comes,” says Scott. “And we want others to know they’re not alone.”

With plans to bring Scramble for Sight back to South Florida in 2027, the Waldmans are helping grow a community of support that advances progress at every level, from events happening today to commitments that will shape the future.

“Research has come such a long way, and the  best is yet to come,” says Jill. “We’re hopeful, truly hopeful, for meaningful treatments in the near future.”