Philanthropist Mackenzie Scott Donates $10M to United Way California Capital Region
SACRAMENTO (12/15/20) – MacKenzie Scott announced today that she
has made a donation to United Way California Capital Region.
The philanthropist chose the local United Way chapter
to receive a $10 million gift because of the group’s work to fill
basic needs while also addressing long-term systemic
inequities that have deepened during the pandemic.
“This is a game-changer for our local United Way and our
community as a whole,” said Stephanie Bray, president and CEO,
United Way California Capital Region. “With a gift like
this, we can expand our work to end poverty through our
Square One Project so kids can succeed in school. This gift
also will help us and our nonprofit partners provide more
relief and forge a path toward recovery and resilience for
our community. There truly are no words to express our
gratitude to Ms. Scott. We are humbled and honored that
she chose to invest in our work in the greater Sacramento
area.”
Scott’s gift to United Way California Capital Region is part
of the Giving Pledge she signed in 2019 to donate the
majority of her wealth. Her donations to organizations
across the country have focused in part on promoting
economic parity, racial equity, public health and education.
Scott is the former wife of Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of
Amazon.
“Last year I pledged to give the majority of my wealth back
to the society that helped generate it, to do it thoughtfully, to
get started soon, and to keep at it until the safe is
empty,” Scott said in a Medium article she published in
July. “There’s no question in my mind that anyone’s personal
wealth is the product of a collective effort, and of social
structures which present opportunities to some people, and
obstacles to countless others.”
United Way California Capital Region has invested more
heavily in addressing inequities this year with the onset of the
pandemic. The group raised $572,000 in three months
through the United Way COVID-19 Local Relief Fund to provide
1,145 families in need across the region with a
one-time $500 distribution to help offset costs of
rent, bills and other basic needs. Through a
partnership with the City of Sacramento,
United Way is working to bridge the digital divide that has
widened during the pandemic, with a focus on low-income
children and senior citizens. Through this Digital Equity
Program, the partnership is providing free
broadband access for up to 10,000 low-income Sacramento
households, and free computers and digital literacy training
for up to 1,000 Sacramento households. United Way also
joined a partnership with the County of
Sacramento to provide financial assistance to
individuals and families in Sacramento County who are
quarantined due to a positive COVID-19 test or are in
isolation from being exposed to someone who has tested
positive.
“Our team has been working tirelessly to stretch our
resources as far as possible to help families in our community
through this difficult year,” Bray said. “We cannot
thank our staff, donors and volunteers enough for their
investment in our work that is now being recognized on
a national stage. This gift has brought us to the next
level, and we are grateful to have our community of
supporters by our side as we expand our Square One Project
to create stronger, healthier and more compassionate
communities across the greater Sacramento region.”
United Way’s current work includes removing barriers to
success in school for low-income students, helping families
achieve financial stability and self-sufficiency, and
providing support to youth who are transitioning out of
foster care.
For nearly 100 years, United Way California
Capital Region has brought local people together to make
community change happen. Today, the nonprofit is bringing
people together across Amador, El Dorado, Sacramento, Placer
and Yolo counties for its Square One Project, a
20-year promise to significantly increase the number of
students in our region who graduate from high school ready
for success in college and beyond. United Way believes
ending poverty starts in school and is working to ensure kids
meet important milestones and their families receive support
and resources. To learn more and make a donation,
visit YourLocalUnitedWay.org.