MacKenzie’s millions: See how much Jeff Bezos’ ex just gave to six Miami nonprofits
Miami Herald
By Madeleine Marr
This article originally appeared in The Miami Herald.
3/5/2018 - FILE - In this March 4, 2018, file photo, then-MacKenzie Bezos arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills, Calif. Scott, philanthropist, author and former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has married a Seattle science teacher. Dan Jewett wrote in a letter to the website of the nonprofit organization the Giving Pledge, on Saturday, March 6, 2021, that he was grateful to be able to marry such a generous person and was ready to help her give away her wealth to help others. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File) (Photo by PA Images/Sipa USA) *** US Rights Only *** PRESS ASSOCIATION PA Images/Sipa USA
Thank you, MacKenzie Scott!
The 54-year-old philanthropist is really sharing the wealth, recently giving a bunch of money to six nonprofits in Miami-Dade County.
Congrats go out to Branches; Bridge to Hope; Catalyst Miami; Florida Immigrant Coalition; M.U.J.E.R., Inc.; and Overtown Youth Center.
All were chosen as “community led organizations and groups met with discrimination and other obstacles,” as per a press release for Scott’s Yield Giving campaign. Applications came from 38 states in the open call launched last March.
In a twist, many recipients were surprised to find themselves awarded $2 million, instead of the $1 million initially promised in the grant.
Even luckier: The funds are unrestricted, meaning all the organizations will have full control over how to spend them. This is considered the “holy grail” of philanthropy, insiders say.
The dollars can be used for whatever they need: to support operations, construct buildings, purchase equipment and more.
The winners are already making plans. For example, M.U.J.E.R. in Homestead will establish a permanent endowment to address domestic violence within Latino families.
Bridges to Hope, helping individuals facing severe economic challenges, is on the hunt for improved wheels.
“We are driving a 2004 truck with no A.C.,” said BTH’s executive director Vanessa Tinsley. “That’s about to change.... Now we can get what we need to get the job done.”
Talking about getting the job done. Scott truly is making good on her promise she made soon after her 2019 split from Bezos, of giving away at least half of her wealth over the course of her lifetime.
As part of her divorce settlement, the mother of four acquired 25 percent of the ex couple’s Amazon stock, and roughly 4 percent of the online company.
This isn’t the first time she’s shown some love to Florida and the 305 (the area code of her ex husband’s hometown). In 2021, the San Fran native handed over $100 million in total to three Florida schools, Florida International University in Miami, the University of Central Florida in Orlando and Broward College in Fort Lauderdale. In the case of UCF, the gift was the largest in its history.
As of Thursday, as per Forbes, she was worth $34 billion, making her the 48th wealthiest person in the world (Bezos, the Palmetto grad, is ranked at No. 2).
By Madeleine Marr
This article originally appeared in The Miami Herald.
3/5/2018 - FILE - In this March 4, 2018, file photo, then-MacKenzie Bezos arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills, Calif. Scott, philanthropist, author and former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has married a Seattle science teacher. Dan Jewett wrote in a letter to the website of the nonprofit organization the Giving Pledge, on Saturday, March 6, 2021, that he was grateful to be able to marry such a generous person and was ready to help her give away her wealth to help others. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File) (Photo by PA Images/Sipa USA) *** US Rights Only *** PRESS ASSOCIATION PA Images/Sipa USA
Thank you, MacKenzie Scott!
The 54-year-old philanthropist is really sharing the wealth, recently giving a bunch of money to six nonprofits in Miami-Dade County.
Congrats go out to Branches; Bridge to Hope; Catalyst Miami; Florida Immigrant Coalition; M.U.J.E.R., Inc.; and Overtown Youth Center.
All were chosen as “community led organizations and groups met with discrimination and other obstacles,” as per a press release for Scott’s Yield Giving campaign. Applications came from 38 states in the open call launched last March.
In a twist, many recipients were surprised to find themselves awarded $2 million, instead of the $1 million initially promised in the grant.
Even luckier: The funds are unrestricted, meaning all the organizations will have full control over how to spend them. This is considered the “holy grail” of philanthropy, insiders say.
The dollars can be used for whatever they need: to support operations, construct buildings, purchase equipment and more.
The winners are already making plans. For example, M.U.J.E.R. in Homestead will establish a permanent endowment to address domestic violence within Latino families.
Bridges to Hope, helping individuals facing severe economic challenges, is on the hunt for improved wheels.
“We are driving a 2004 truck with no A.C.,” said BTH’s executive director Vanessa Tinsley. “That’s about to change.... Now we can get what we need to get the job done.”
Talking about getting the job done. Scott truly is making good on her promise she made soon after her 2019 split from Bezos, of giving away at least half of her wealth over the course of her lifetime.
As part of her divorce settlement, the mother of four acquired 25 percent of the ex couple’s Amazon stock, and roughly 4 percent of the online company.
This isn’t the first time she’s shown some love to Florida and the 305 (the area code of her ex husband’s hometown). In 2021, the San Fran native handed over $100 million in total to three Florida schools, Florida International University in Miami, the University of Central Florida in Orlando and Broward College in Fort Lauderdale. In the case of UCF, the gift was the largest in its history.
As of Thursday, as per Forbes, she was worth $34 billion, making her the 48th wealthiest person in the world (Bezos, the Palmetto grad, is ranked at No. 2).
