A former teacher's unexpected donation to her students that went viral: a “historic gift”

A 93-year-old former professor at a private medical school in New York City Donated a billion dollars to the University To make it free for students. He announced in a press conference that his donation was such that no student would have to pay fees or tuition fees again. The students' screams of joy were captured in a video that went viral.

This donation, one of the largest ever made to an educational institution in the United States, will make annual tuition of about $60,000 without a discount free for students.

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“this Historical gift – the largest ever undertaken for a medical school in the country – will ensure that There are no students from Albert Einstein College of Medicine You will never have to pay your tuition fees again“, according to the educational center located in the Bronx, one of the most modest neighborhoods in New York.

The school issued a statement of gratitude, in which they noted that Gottesman's donation is “transformational” for the school and that they hope Attract students “With talent Who otherwise would not have been able to think about studying medicine. “This donation radically revolutionizes our ability to continue attracting students committed to our mission, And not just those who can afford itThey explained.

Gottesman was Einstein's professor of pediatrics Her husband, David “Sandy” Gottesman, was a Wall Street financier who amassed a huge fortune Wealth of $3 billion. They have been important donors to the Education Center throughout their lives.

Sandy, to whom Ruth was married for 72 years, died in September 2022 at the age of 96. “He left me, without my knowledge, an entire portfolio of Berkshire Hathaway stock.” Multinational conglomerate Warren Buffett“, the teacher told the newspaper New York times. The instructions were very simple: “Do what you think is right with money.

For years, the teacher has interviewed hundreds of potential students, so He knew firsthand what major difficulty they faced: High fees that have become a heavy burden on those who opt for university loans or directly prevent them from pursuing a degree. According to school figures, more than half of the students They owe more than $200,000 by the time they graduatehe pointed out BBC.

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The generous gift “It will liberate and encourage our students, allowing them to pursue projects and ideas that might otherwise be extravagant.”University Dean Yaron Yomer said.

Gottesman hopes that this donation will open the school to many students “whose financial situation does not allow them to even think about attending medical school,” as he puts it. The New York Times.

The emeritus professor said she felt very grateful to her late husband for leaving her this money and because he “had the great honor of making this donation to such a worthy cause.” About half of Einstein's new students are from New York and About 60% of them are women. Statistics issued by the school indicate that about 48% of its students are white, 29% are Asian, 11% are Hispanic, and 5% are black.

Gottesman said she sometimes wonders what her late husband thought of her decision. “I hope he's smiling and not frowning,” she laughed. He added: “But he gave me the opportunity to do it, and I think he would be happy; I hope so”.