Former professor donates $1 billion to make college free for all students

Dr. Ruth Gottesman, former professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine has fulfilled her long-term dream of promoting medical research.

By

Radhika Agarwal

Oct 14, 2024

By Radhika Agarwal

October 14, 2024

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Photo credit: ABC World News – Cover Image Source: Facebook

What would you do if your entire tuition was waived? Probably heave a huge sigh of relief and thank heavens that you won’t have to bear the burden of student loans for the next few years. This is exactly what happened with the students of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx. The college waived the tuition of several students after receiving $1 billion as a donation from a former professor. Dr Ruth Gottesman, 93, used to be a professor at the institution and made a decision to make the medical school tuition-free as per Sunny Skyz. The students were obviously full of joy and gratitude when the announcement was made. It would be a big deal for the students as previously the tuition of the college came up to $59,000 a year.

The donation will not only help students who will start in August 2024 but also reimburse spring tuition for 2024 for those who are in their final year. The professor who has made it possible has a strong connection with the institution since she started her term there back in 1968 as per the outlet. This gesture reflects her commitment to the institution and her belief in the things medical research and training can accomplish. The professor and philanthropist also shared who inspired her to make such a big donation. She says that her late husband David “Sandy” Gottesman a known figure in the financial world who founded a prominent investment house and was one of the early investors in Berkshire Hathway, renowned businessman and investor Warren Buffet’s multinational conglomerate.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=rs6sJw0aPtQ%3Fsi%3DEieETy8vRlkdwk9l

The former professor expressed that her late husband had entrusted her with her whole Berkshire Hathway stock and told her to do whatever she saw fit with it. The big inheritance helped Gottesman fulfill her lifelong dream of supporting the institution and medical research in the most spectacular way. “I am very thankful to my late husband, Sandy, for leaving these funds in my care, and I feel blessed to be given the great privilege of making this gift to such a worthy cause,” Gottesman told the outlet. The announcement made the students and the faculty jump and break down in tears of joy. Such a big windfall is a rare thing to come by and a beyond happy moment for those who would benefit from the funds.

The professor is currently a part of the medical board at the college and left an entire auditorium cheering due to her generosity. One of the students shared that he felt extremely grateful for the day and the future felt brighter than ever to him. He says that it is a great blessing to be able to pursue something you are passionate about without having to worry about the debt that comes with it. The professor shared that she’s grateful to have the privilege to contribute to such a great cause. It is indeed wonderful that the professor is willing to go to such great lengths to enhance medical research and training.

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Photo credit: @ACurrentAffair9 on YouTube – A man was saved from being crushed under a car.

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Motorcyclist trapped under a 3,300 pound car saved by Australian car salesmen

“Man, I’m dying. This is it.”

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Tyler Wiebe was on his way to work on his motorcycle in Brisbane, Australia. Then a car approached in the wrong way in traffic, colliding with another car that then hit Wiebe. The accident threw Wiebe off his bike and under a car. He was trapped under the 3,300-lb. vehicle, doomed until a group of salesmen and onlookers came to his rescue.

“I was being dragged and when it stopped, my head and chest were under the car,” Wiebe said to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The crash and being pinned down under the vehicle gave Wiebe several injuries. He suffered broken ribs, a broken collarbone, and a collapsed lung.

But that would be diagnosed later. At the time, the car’s weight was crushing Wiebe to the point that he couldn’t breathe. His heart was also unable to beat, the pressure causing his eyes, mouth, and nose to bleed.

“Initially it was ‘can I get out?’ and then it was ‘man I am dying, this is it,’” recalled Wiebe. “[My] wife and two kids are not here, and this is it.”

Hope comes in the form of a car salesman

After being stuck for two minutes under the car, help arrived from the nearby Auto Request Kedron, a used car dealership.

“I was in the office at the time, so I heard the bang [and] came running to the doors,” Mick, one of the employees, said to A Current Affair.

“I realized there was someone trapped under the car,” fellow employee Rob added.

They rushed into action, recruiting other coworkers to help.

“[I] saw Rob running and he was just whistling out saying, ‘Hey, boys, hurry up,’ ” Corbin recalled. “I remember seeing him, just like two legs. They weren’t moving at that time.”

The salesmen tried to lift the vehicle up to get Wiebe to safety, but the car wouldn’t budge.

“We tried to lift it off. We couldn’t, and then on the second attempt, we had a couple of other good Samaritans come and help us,” said Brian, another employee of Auto Request Kedron.

Reportedly 15 people were finally able to lift the car and free Wiebe underneath. He was rushed to the hospital where he went under emergency operations. Under hospital care, Wiebe’s condition stabilized and he survived. Had he been under that car any longer, the worst would have happened.

Wiebe was humbled and grateful to the salesmen and others who stepped up to save him.

“I get more time with my daughters, I get more time with my family and a second lease on life, so just thank you, thank you,” Wiebe said in his hospital bed.

Certified legends

When he was discharged from the hospital, Wiebe set up a reunion with the employees of the used car dealership. He was able to introduce his family to his rescuers and thank them face-to-face. Wiebe presented them with matching t-shirts, each one with a logo reading “Certified Legend” on the front and an illustration of a person lifting a car over their head on the back.

“You guys are legends, but now you’re certified legends,” Wiebe said to his heroes.

A father and husband was saved thanks to the alertness and quick action of the nearby community.

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Ohio local news viewers spring into action after seeing an elderly woman threatened with jail time

Many reached out to help a complete stranger.

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Beverly Thomas was in trouble. The 79-year-old retired nurse in Willoughby, Ohio was summoned to court due to the state of her lawn. The judge told Thomas she could possibly be jailed for failing to maintain her property. Fortunately, Thomas was saved by people she never even met.

Thomas has arthritis and tremors, making yard work incredibly difficult for her to do. She also lives on a fixed income, unable to afford either landscaping or legal bills. She had no idea what to do.

“I went to court and heard [the judge] say that I can be put in jail over it, making it sound like a crime, then I got nervous and had trouble sleeping at night,” Thomas said to News 5 Cleveland.

Local news viewers reached out

After Thomas’ plight was reported on the local news, she had a knock on her door the following day. Standing right in front of her were the two people she needed most: a lawn care professional and an attorney offering their services.

“They said, ‘We don’t know each other, but we just showed up at the same time.’ Wow, good people at that same time, amazing and reassuring,” Thomas said.

The lawn care professional, Norburt Sanek, came across Thomas’ story while on Facebook. Since he was nearby and could do something, he felt compelled to act. He and the attorney weren’t alone.

Dozens of people reached out to News 5 Cleveland to see how they could help Thomas. Sanek organized volunteers to help. Some even took the day off work to drive down to Thomas’ home to cut grass, pull weeds, and haul trash.

The assistance goes national

While significant progress had been made on Thomas’ property, Sanek knew that Thomas still needed more help that couldn’t be accomplished through human muscle. So, he set up a GoFundMe for Thomas.

“We are asking for $6,000 to cover the cost of removing dangerous trees, a dumpster to haul away debris, paying her fines and court costs, installing a security system and building her a small garden that reflects her love of nature,” wrote Sanek on Thomas’ GoFundMe page.

When the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging caught wind of the story, they decided to chip in. The agency provides advocacy and assistance for senior citizens so they can live independently.

“I know that she has a GoFundMe account going on right now and we’re actually willing to match it up to $3,000,” said Christopher Hall, the chief operating officer for the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging.

As of this writing, Thomas’ GoFundMe is a little over $5,000 of its $6,000 goal. Many of the donations came from locals and people across the country alike. Thomas was astounded that so many strangers would show up to help her, whether it was through volunteer work or donations.

“I didn’t know there were kind people out there willing to help like this. I’m touched,” Thomas said. “I hope God blesses them for giving of their time to help somebody who can’t do it anymore. Thank you one and all.”

How to help the elders in your community with their lawns

If Thomas’ story speaks to you, you may notice a neighbor’s lawn growing neglected. It might be worth it to knock on their door and offer to mow or trim hedges.

If you’re not comfortable doing that or lack the tools, you can still help. Search online for volunteer groups in your area that can help this person. There are also national nonprofit organizations such as I Want To Mow Your Lawn Inc. that could provide the help your neighbor needs.

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Two 13-year-olds saved a woman’s life.

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It started like a typical summer morning for 13-year-olds, Gunner Skidmore and Kohen Chick of Fruitland, Iowa. Skidmore was eating a Pop Tart and scrolling through social media when Chick invited him for a bike ride. As they biked through a local trail, they noticed something off when riding past some houses. That’s when they found an elderly woman lying on the ground.

“I went to the trail and Kohen was like, ‘You see that lady back there?’ I was like, ‘No.’ Then, we went back and looked, and it took a little while to find her, and we found her. I said ‘Hey ma’am are you OK?’ She was like ‘Yeah, I need help. Call 911,’” Skidmore told 6 KWQC News.

What happened?

According to reports, the woman fell outside at 5:00 p.m. the previous day after feeding her horse. Unable to get up, she rolled herself from the backyard to the front yard in the hope to get help. She spent the night lying outside exposed with no phone, water, or food. She’d be lying there for over 16 hours until the boys discovered her.

“She was like scared. You could just tell because like her face, she was covered in all these bugs and stuff,” said Chick.

The teens were hesitant to approach the woman at first, but quickly called Skidmore’s mother. She immediately drove to their location and called 9-1-1. The woman had an ambulance quickly transport her to a nearby Muscatine hospital for treatment. While the extent of her injuries aren’t public knowledge, the intense summer heat and lack of water could’ve turned the woman’s fall into a fatal one.

“A few more hours and she definitely like wouldn’t have made it,” said Skidmore.

Skidmore’s mom has remained in contact with the injured woman’s family. She’s also caring for the woman’s horse and plans on preparing a lasagna dinner for her when she returns from the hospital.

The teen heroes were honored

The boys were congratulated and celebrated by the community for their actions. Skidmore and Chick were given a special award courtesy of Muscatine County Emergency Management.

“Today, I would like to recognize the extraordinary actions of two young men whose quick thinking and compassion helped save a life in Muscatine County,” the MCEM director stated in a speech posted on Facebook. “Without the prompt actions of Gunner and Kohen, the outcome could have been tragic. Their awareness, compassion, and willingness to help a person in need undoubtedly made a difference and may very well have saved her life.”

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“For their heroic actions and outstanding example of community service, Muscatine County Emergency Management is proud to present Gunner Skidmore and Kohen Chick with the Life Saving Award,” the speech continued. “Thank you, Gunner and Kohen, for your selfless actions and your commitment to helping a fellow citizen. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition.”

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