MacKenzie Scott Makes Transformational Gift to United Way of Broward County to Support the Community
United Way of Broward County is pleased to announce that we have received a transformational donation from writer and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. This donation is part of the $4.2 billion that Scott has donated in the last four months to 384 organizations across all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Washington D.C., amid the impacts of the pandemic.
Organizations receiving these funds, like United Way of Broward County, were part of Scott’s plan to accelerate her 2020 giving to immediately support people suffering the economic effects of the crisis.
A data-driven approach was taken to identifying organizations with strong leadership teams and results, with special attention to those operating in communities facing high projected food insecurity, high measures of racial inequity, high local poverty rates and low access to philanthropic capital.
In her blog, Scott writes passionately about her process, her deep desire to help others who are suffering, and the inspiration she has drawn from people helping others in need: “This pandemic has been a wrecking ball in the lives of Americans already struggling. Economic losses and health outcomes alike have been worse for women, for people of color, and for people living in poverty. Meanwhile, it has substantially increased the wealth of billionaires. It would be easy for all the people who drew the long demographic straws in this crisis to hole up at home feeling a mix of gratitude and guilt, and wait for it to be over — but that’s not what’s happening. The proliferation of community fridges, COVID relief funds, impromptu person-to-person Venmo gifts, viral debt relief campaigns, and mutual aid initiatives has been swift and uplifting.”
You can read her heartfelt blog by clicking here.
Last year, Scott committed to the Giving Pledge initiative. Launched by Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates, the program encourages the world’s richest people to donate a large portion of their fortunes to charitable causes.
“We are beyond grateful for this most generous investment in our work and in our community. MacKenzie Scott is an amazing visionary and philanthropist. Her donation will amplify our existing work and we will strive to make Ms. Scott extremely proud of how we utilize her gift to create and sustain long-standing change,” said Kathleen Cannon, President/CEO of United Way of Broward County. “A total of 6,490 organizations were vetted and her strong belief in our work is truly humbling. It is our hope that Ms. Scott’s belief in our mission will inspire even more people to join our effort.”
This donation is the single largest donation for United Way of Broward County and will go a long way to assist United Way of Broward County’s mission to fight for the health, education and financial stability of every person in Broward County.
