MacKenzie Scott has mentioned it could be simple for herself and the remainder of the sector’s tremendous rich to “hole up at home” and look forward to the pandemic to finish.
Instead, Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is freely giving her billions, together with to a number of Chicago philanthropic organizations.
United Way of Metro Chicago introduced this week Scott has donated $25 million, the one greatest donation within the group’s historical past.
“This amazing investment from MacKenzie Scott speaks to the incredible work being done across our community,” Sean Garrett, president and CEO of United Way of Metro Chicago, mentioned in a observation.
“I will’t thank her sufficient for believing in our dedication to spend money on entire households and neighborhoods. With this present, we will be able to propel our paintings ahead to construct again a more potent, extra equitable Chicago area for all our neighbors.
Scott mentioned in a put up this week on medium.com that she has donated a complete of about $four billion in presents to 384 organizations around the United States and in Puerto Rico.
In her put up, Scott cited a Chicago teen as a part of the muse for her giving.
“In March, a 19-year-old girl in Chicago sent a group text to her friends, suggesting they buy supplies for people in their neighborhood who had lost their jobs,” Scott wrote. “She posted two Google forms — one for people who needed help and another for people with help to give — and by two days later, they’d raised $7,000. ‘We’re really excited,’ she said. Me too.”
Scott famous the pandemic has hit already suffering Americans like a “wrecking ball.”
“Economic losses and health outcomes alike have been worse for women, for people of color, and for people living in poverty,” she wrote. “Meanwhile, it has substantially increased the wealth of billionaires.”