Mackenzie Scott, novelist, philanthropist, and ex-wife of Jeff Bezos, has made a donation of $122 million to the non-profit organization Big Brothers Big Sisters.
This is the biggest donation in the 118 years of Big Brothers Big Sisters.
The organization talked about the generous donation in an interview with TODAY.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is a non-profit organization aimed to support youth.
This works by matching adults with children on a 1-1 basis, where they will help a child fulfill their potential.
“Our one-to-one mentoring relationships support the critical social and emotional development needed to help build resilience and promote the mental health and well-being of thousands of children we serve across America,” the website states.
And now, thanks to the more than generous donation of MacKenzie Scott, the organization is “on path” to “transform mentorship in America.”
The organization’s CEO Artis Stevens appeared on TODAY expressing how grateful he is amid the $122 million donations from Scott who divorced Bezos in 2019, receiving $38 billion as a result of her involvement in Amazon.
“What I would want to say is first of all, thank you,” he said.
“And how proud we are of this moment, how proud we are of what this is going to mean for so many different communities,” he continued.
Steven, who was in his kitchen at the time he found out about Scott’s act of support, said that he just “started dancing,” expressing his excitement as to what this means for the future of Big Brothers Big Sisters, and other organizations like them.
“And here’s what we know, in this country, that no one organization, no one person, can do it alone. We see this investment as not just an investment in our organization, it’s an invitation. It’s an invitation for more people to join causes like ours to support local communities,” he said.
The organization released a statement detailing how the donation will ignite change in young communities.
“Today, nearly 11 million kids live in poverty and more than 13 million young people experience emotional, behavioral, or developmental conditions like depression. And during the height of the pandemic, 20 percent of youth served by Big Brothers Big Sisters lost contact with an important adult in their lives,” it read.
“Scott’s gift will support in expanding the organization’s ability to match more young people with caring, adult mentors,” it continued.
The statement then said that the donation will “assist BBBSA in closing the gap on the estimated one in three youth who lack a positive, sustained mentor in their lives.”
Scott’s donation will not only help the lives of young children, either.
“Our fastest-growing population today that we’re serving is 18 to 25 young adults because they’re graduating and they’re asking, ‘What’s next for me?'” Stevens admitted.
Big Brothers Big Sisters also emphasized in their statement that the $122 million investment will serve as a “catalyst” for young people of all backgrounds.
“This unprecedented investment is the largest donation from a single individual in the organization’s history and serves as a catalyst to create more innovative mentoring solutions for all kids from all backgrounds,” it stated.
Scott continues to be an incredible force in the eye of philanthropy work.
What an incredible gesture!