Colorado Goodwill also received funds.
MacKenzie Scott (ex-wife to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos) has donated $20 million dollars to Mile High United Way as part of her 384 Ways to Help. Scott posted a public essay earlier this week detailing why and how she donated almost $4.2 billion dollars to help others this year.
Scott worked with a team of advisors to help provide immediate support to people suffering from the effects of the COVID-19 economic and health crisis. She donated to 384 different organizations, with the funds being directed towards filling basic needs and long-term inequities and problems. Read her full blog post here, as well as learn more about the organizations she donated to and how they were selected.
The donation to the Mile High United Way was the largest single donation the organization has ever received. The Denver of the United Way was the first chapter to open, in 1887. Today, there are more than 1,800 chapters all over the world.
Christine Benero, President & CEO of Mile High United Way gave a statement about the historic gift:
“Ms. Scott’s transformational gift in support of our work tells us that she, too, believes in Mile High United Way. She believes in the vision of our Board of Trustees. She believes in the meaningful work of our staff, partners and volunteers. She believes in the generosity and commitment of our donors and is adding her support to stand alongside them in the meaningful work they fund each year in the hopes that it will inspire others to join us.
We are humbled and thankful for this show of confidence in our work and are thrilled with the knowledge that this gift will allow us to continue to invest in our programs and positively impact Colorado’s children and families.”
Mile High United Way works to support the Colorado community with both immediate and basic needs, as well as implementing long term change. They run a statewide community resource center that connects families and individuals to critical resources, (call 2-1-1 for that information), works to bridge the gap for youth exiting the child welfare system, and helps low-income families. This donation will greatly increase the impact they can have and will make a tremendous difference in thousands of people’s lives.
Scott also donated to Goodwill of Colorado, and a statement will be released soon, according to a spokesperson for that organization.
This money is an incredible gift to the communities of Colorado, in a time when many in the state are struggling to stay afloat.
"We each come by the gifts we have to offer by an infinite series of influences and lucky breaks we can never fully understand. In addition to whatever assets life has nurtured in me, I have a disproportionate amount of money to share. My approach to philanthropy will continue to be thoughtful. It will take time and effort and care. But I won’t wait. And I will keep at it until the safe is empty," MacKenzie Scott via givingpledge.org.
What organizations are you donating to this year? Share with us in the comments.
