A Billion Dollar Ask
By Michael Goldenkranz
Listening to Barenaked Ladies “If I had a Million Dollars”, adding some extra zeros to the song, as I re-read for the third time, how 93-year-old Ruth Gottesman just donated $1 billion to a Bronx medical school, the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, with instructions that the gift be used to cover tuition for all students going forward. The donation is notable not only for its staggering size, but also because it is going to a medical institution in the Bronx, the city’s poorest borough. The Bronx has a high rate of premature deaths and ranks as the unhealthiest county in New York.
Having been extensively involved with legal pro bono services for 20 years, both in the trenches and on committees, I wonder how we could replicate this for our law schools housed in Washington and make it a collaborative venture. In return for free law school tuition, all law students upon graduation or within a few years after (when they’ve developed some skills), commit to (1) practicing for (a duration to be set up) in a venue in the state severely lacking legal help; (2) doing the same through our existing (or new) legal public interest, low bono, pro bono and modest means entities.
Perhaps we can approach or convene leading local super philanthropists with a viable plan and a copy of the story about Ruth Gottesman’s benevolence and impact (we have many super donors and ultra wealthy individuals in our state). Perhaps we can approach the Washington State Association of Trial Lawyers and see if they’d be interested contacting their uber successful plaintiff’s trial lawyers about committing a certain percentage of their contingent fee to local law school tuition — free access to justice programs. Same for the highly successful class action attorneys in our state. Is it ethical and acceptable for attorneys who handle well-endowed clients’ estate plans to make a suggestion if asked by their clients? What about applying the mega damage returns from an AG lawsuit?
Having been surprised and blessed to be the 2023 Pro Bono and Public Service Award recipient by both the Washington and King County Bar Associations, I feel obliged to share this dream inspired by the courageous, compassionate and thoughtful actions of 93-year-old Ruth Gottesman and Dr. Philip Ozuah, the pediatrician who oversees the medical college and its affiliated hospital, Montefiore Medical Center, as its CEO.
I encourage you to read their story and listen to BareNaked Ladies for inspiration.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LV8N5JP29q0
www.nytimes.com/2024/02/26/nyregion/albert-einstein-college-medicine-bronx-donation.html#:~:text=Ruth%20Gottesman%2C%20a%20longtime%20professor,to%20all%20students%20going%20forward
https://apnews.com/article/free-medical-school-tuition-ruth-gottesman-11eec429784776027161bcd1b6ea1905
Michael B. Goldenkranz — retired, neighborhood curmudgeon and volunteer.
