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Gerald Batten
Gerald Batten’s father passed away when he was only eight years old and, as the only child of a single mother, his childhood was not an easy one. However, even in the face of their many hardships, his mother, Marguerite, consistently stressed the importance of obtaining a college education, despite the expense. Many years later, as Gerald planned how his estate should be distributed, he decided to leave a legacy for Drexel students who, like him, had experienced loss through the death of a parent.
Attending Drexel was not an easy path for Gerald. While in class, he continued to work full-time to pay for his education. He had little time to do much else besides study. He pursued his Bachelor of Science in Business at what is now the Bennett S. LeBow College of Business. After graduating, he gained a position at the Farm Journal, where he worked his way up to become the Vice President of Marketing, before retiring at an early age. Jerry was a breath of fresh air—always with a thought and smile. For everyone that had the distinct honor to have had him in their lives, he was a precious addition. He touched so many people with his wisdom and ability to never judge and always listen.
In spite of the challenges and struggles he faced, Gerald was thankful that he had the opportunity to earn a college degree that would allow him to pursue a successful career and provide care for his aging mother. With the goal of helping to mitigate some of the financial hardship felt by students of deceased parents, Gerald made an estate gift to Drexel in 2011 to establish the Gerald H. Batten Endowed Scholarship Fund at the LeBow College of Business.
Through his Fund, Mr. Batten hoped to ensure that deserving young men and women would have the opportunity to earn a degree from one of the nation’s leading business schools, ultimately leading them into successful careers and allowing them to contribute positively to their communities. And just as importantly, he hoped to inspire grateful students to follow in his path of philanthropy for generations to come.