Joseph and Geraldine 鈥淕erry鈥 Taylor met in the late 1930s while studying at what is now Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at 星空传媒. Their courtship led to 64 years of marriage, throughout which they remained dedicated to improving the lives of others and their community.
Joseph led an award-winning child welfare treatment center in Philadelphia and taught social work at the University of Pennsylvania. Gerry served individuals coping with tragedies, such as the Great Depression and World War II, in addition to working as a marriage and family counselor.
Now, more than 90 years after the couple鈥檚 story began, their daughter, Barbara Taylor, and her husband, John Hermanski, are honoring their legacy by establishing the Joseph L. and Geraldine M. Taylor Memorial Scholarship Fund for Mandel School students.
鈥淭hey both made a huge impact on so many lives,鈥 said Barbara Taylor, 鈥渁nd they would be happy to know that impact will continue in some small way.鈥
Taylor and Hermanski recently made their first payment toward the five-year pledge. Once endowed, the partial scholarship will help reduce the burden of tuition for social work students, allowing them to focus on their studies and community outreach.
鈥淚 want to help give others the opportunity to make a positive difference in the world鈥攍ike my parents did.
鈥淚鈥檝e been thinking of a way to honor them for many years,鈥 Taylor continued, 鈥渁nd now I can sleep better knowing I鈥檝e taken the first step.鈥