July 19,  2024

By Joseph Batory

During my years as Upper Darby Superintendent of Schools )1984-1999),  I  collected a great many memories that I cherish to this day.

And here is just one more magical one which occurred in the midst of great adversity,

During the 1990’s, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania began to annually under fund its fair share of public education as required by its own State Constitution.

Over the years, the School District of Philadelphia was denied more than $1 billion of State funding.  And my school system, Upper Darby, lost more than $50+ million due to this abdication of responsibility by the State.

In 1998 in response to this funding crisis, as Upper Darby Superintendent of Schools, I inspired and led the formation of the Upper Darby Arts and Education Foundation (UDAEF), a coalition of community and school people hoping to raise funds for educational purposes that could not otherwise be afforded. BUT HOW TO DO THIS?????

Subsequently, at a lunch with all the school system’s system music teachers, I explained that the school district now had a foundation… but I wondered aloud “now what?” 

• Suddenly, one of the teachers, reminiscent of a Judy Garland/Mickey Rooney movie, jumped up and exclaimed “we’ll have a show!”

Well, I had no idea what to expect. But for more than two decades, this “show,” entitled the GALA, was magical…stupendous! And there is nothing like it, nothing that has ever come close to it, in any school district anywhere.

Sponsored by the Upper Darby Arts and Education Foundation (UDAEF), the GALA annually featured spectacular performances by many hundreds of Upper Darby School District students of all ages. It has played to sold-out audiences and numerous standing ovations in the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center every year since 1998. These student performances were stunningly wonderful artistically, classic demonstrations of group and individual mastery of music.

The proceeds from these GALA events (that’s a grand finale above) over more than two decades provided more than $2 million distributed by the UDAEF via 900+ mini grants to Upper Darby teachers for educational enrichment and enhancement projects which would never have occurred. 

Sadly, the GALA is no more. But the UDAEF, in spite of questionably losing support in some quarters,  continues to thrive with a superb array of programs for young people.

As examples,  the Upper Darby Arts and Education Foundation has operated five very successful programs for youth.

Upper Darby Summer Stage

Schoener Music Man Academy/Summer Camp

Butterfly Buddies

Summer Stage Shooting Stars

Upper Darby School District Grants and Scholarships

Student Service Club

Typical Annual Numbers:

• Total participants served: 800+
• Total staff employed: 180+
• Total audience served: 25,000

The UDAEF exists today as a true miracle, making significant positive impacts on young people, via the relentless efforts of its dedicated staff and its Board of Directors.

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Joseph Batory was honored/recognized as the “Father and Founder” of the Upper Darby Arts and Education Foundation on its 20^th anniversary in 1998.