Philadelphia residents Joseph Batory (the retired superintendent of schools in Upper Darby, PA) and his wife, Joan (a retired environmental protection and recycling expert), have announced a $250,000.00 bequest in their names to the Rotary International Peace Fellowship program.

This bequest of the Batory’s, who have been involved with Rotary for a combined total of more than 60 years, will provide ample funding for one international Rotary Peace Fellowship certificate winner to study each year into perpetuity.

Rotary International awards up to 130 fully funded Peace Fellowships annually for caring and dedicated leaders from around the world to study at one of its peace centers. Through academic training, practice, and global networking opportunities, the Rotary Peace Centers Program develops and enhances the capacity of professionals and practitioners to become more effective catalysts for peace and violence prevention worldwide. These Rotary fellowships cover tuition and fees, room and board, round trip transportation, and all internship and field study expenses.

“Joan and I believe that the Peace Fellowship program has become a critical flagship for Rotary International,“ summarized Joe Batory. “For what could be more important in our turbulent and dangerous world then improving the skills and research-based expertise to those professionals who wish to dedicate their lives and careers to violence prevention, mediation, compromise and peace building.”

Joan and Joe have been heavily involved in Rotary, one of the top humanitarian organizations in the world, for three decades.  They have had “hands-on” involvement with literally hundreds of local service activities and outreach into the community.  And they have been mentors to 23 students from eight different countries who have studies at universities in Philadelphia.

Joan has served in numerous leadership roles including as Rotary International District 7450’s Governor heading up 50 Rotary clubs in this area.  She was also the first female president of the Rotary Club Philadelphia.

Joe Batory has also served as a Philadelphia Rotary president. Among his many accomplishments, he has recruited and supported four area professionals from Philadelphia — two lieutenants from the Philadelphia Police Department, and two assistant district attorneys — on their quest to winning Rotary International Peace Fellowships. This has resulted in each of them being able to study violence prevention, peace building, mediation, and compromise techniques in Rotary’s prestigious three-month certificate program at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand.

“Obviously, we are quite committed to the ideals of the Rotary’s Peace Fellowship program. Our bequest will help to ensure that this program will continue into the future, building skilled leaders in the forefront of violence prevention and peace building worldwide!” Said Joan Batory.