Frank Batten Sr. Philanthropy
In Frank Batten Sr.’s decades of giving the gift of broadening possibilities and furthering character development through education, he has transformed the lives of thousands of students and the very schools that he has donated to.
His generous pursuits began when he founded Landmark Communications (currently known as Landmark Media Enterprises) of which he was the chairman and CEO for a number of years.
Frank Batten Sr.’s experience as a media and entertainment mogul covers newspapers, radio stations, televisions, and even a new cable station that became a household name (The Weather Channel). Other affiliations include the distinguished Associate Press for which he served as chairman from 1982-1987. He graduated from the Culver Military Academy in 1945, earned his undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Virginia in 1950, and attended Harvard University for his master’s degree in business administration in 1952.
At present, The Chronicle of Philanthropy ranked Frank Batten Sr. as 23rd in The Philanthropy 50: Americans Who Gave the Most in 2008. With a total commitment of $93 million in 2008, he earned the reputation of being one of the devoted leaders in education philanthropy.
• Frank Batten Sr.’s 2008 biggest beneficiary is Culver Academies, a private secondary school whose main thrusts are personal responsibility, leadership, teamwork and accountability. An emeritus member in the Culver Educational Foundation Board of Trustees, he has been a consistent financial pillar in his 24 years of being part of the committee. In 1984, he became Culver’s 17th Man of the Year.
• The Batten Fellows Program, established with his $20 million donation, aims to provide the faculty with opportunities for professional development as well as merit-matched salaries. The second part of Frank Batten Sr.’s commitment is The Batten Leadership Challenge, in which he will match the amount the fundraisers are able to pull in for as much as $50 million. This grant program will run until January 31, 2010.
• Hollins’ Batten Leadership Institute is also running on a $2 million gift from Frank Batten Sr. and his wife.
• Slover Library Foundation I Norfolk, Virginia received an endowment of $20 million for the city’s 2012-targeted $50 million library project in honor of Mr. Batten’s uncle, Col. Samuel L. Slover.
• In championing higher education, Frank Batten Sr. gave $100 million to create the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy in the University of Virginia, $60 million to Darden Graduate School of Business in Virginia, and $32 million to Harvard Business School.
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