Ninety-three-year-old billionaire widow Ruth Gottesman has bestowed a monumental $1 billion donation upon the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, liberating all medical students from the burden of tuition fees.
The widow of the late billionaire David Gottesman, an influential investor in Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate, Ruth Gottesman’s generous gesture aims to alleviate financial strain for aspiring medical professionals in the Bronx, one of New York’s most impoverished boroughs.
The substantial donation, a result of the late Gottesman’s bequest, consisted of a vast portfolio of Berkshire Hathaway stock. Mrs. Gottesman expressed her late husband’s wish for her to “do whatever you think is right with it,” as reported by The New York Times. Influenced by her extensive career at Einstein College, where she identified the financial struggles faced by medical students,Gottesman chose to direct the funds towards addressing the challenge of tuition costs.
“I wanted to fund students at Einstein so that they would receive free tuition,” she remarked.
This noble act reflects a deep understanding of the financial hurdles many students encounter, with a significant number still burdened by debts even after completing their education.
The philanthropist’s connection with Dr. Philip Ozuah, the U.S.-based Nigerian doctor who leads the Albert Einstein College and Montefiore Medical Centre, played a pivotal role in the decision. Mrs. Gottesman expressed her satisfaction with the impact of her donation, emphasizing the transformative change it will bring to both Montefiore and Einstein.
Ozuah, while initially desiring to keep Mrs. Gottesman’s identity anonymous, urged her to reveal herself as a source of inspiration for others her age. Praising her dedication to the welfare of others, he stated, “Here’s somebody who is totally dedicated to the welfare of others and wants no accolades, no recognition,” as reported by The Times.
