Why I Give

Krystin Downes P’18, P’24 has seen the transformative impact of a Forman education firsthand—twice.

Krystin’s daughter, Alex Becker ’18, transferred to Forman as a junior. She was getting by at her previous school but lacked the proper support for her learning difference and was not reaching the potential Krystin knew she had. With the support she received at Forman, Alex quickly gained a renewed sense of confidence. Following in his sister’s footsteps, Krystin’s son, Tim ’24, attended Forman all four years and is now thriving at Eckerd College. 

“I absolutely believe in Forman’s mission. It is life-changing,” Krystin says. “And I love that most of the faculty have [a learning difference], so you have teachers who [understand how the students learn].” 

At Forman, Krystin says Alex and Tim learned more than academics—they developed self-advocacy and the ability to believe in themselves. 

“As a child feels better, they feel empowered, and they feel capable,” she says. “If you empower someone to use their beautiful brain, their creativity, and their passion, first of all, you know they love what they do. They’re going to be great at it, and they’re going to be able to go out and change the world.” 

That belief is at the heart of why Krystin has committed to a multi-year personal and foundational gift to the Cognition and Learning Building initiative. Through her contribution, she hopes Forman’s reach extends beyond its students and teachers. 

“My hope is that every person with ADHD learns to see it as a superpower,” she says. “It can be so frustrating if it’s not guided and if you don’t understand how you learn.” 

Krystin learned the value and power of education from her mother. “She would go into the local jail to teach reading to them,” she shares. “She was really dedicated to teaching and felt like everyone deserved a good education.” 

Her mother was also philanthropic and generously supported the Stern Center in Vermont, which established a separate branch in her name, the Cynthia K. Hoehl Institute for Excellence, where educators receive professional learning. 

As part of Krystin’s gift to Forman, she is naming the East Patio of the Cognition and Learning Building in her mother’s memory.

This article was originally published in Forman School's Fall 2025 Forman Letter magazine.