READING, Pa. – Two non-profit organizations that help the people of Berks County are getting a lot of help for themselves this holiday season.
United Way of Berks County and Goodwill Keystone Area announced Thursday that they have received a $ 10 million gift from author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
It is the largest donation any organization has ever received.
“This is a huge honor and we are humbled by Mrs. Scott’s generosity, along with her confidence in our organization’s mission and our role in leading community change,” said Joanne Judge, chair of the board. of United Way.
“We are humiliated and, beyond that, grateful for the generosity of MacKenzie Scott,” said Rick Hill, president and CEO of Goodwill Keystone Area. “We firmly believe that when people have the necessary job skills and support, they open the door to a bright future for themselves, their families and their communities.”
Local donations are part of the more than $ 4 billion Scott recently donated to 384 nonprofits in the 50 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, DC. The Keystone Goodwill Area said it is one of 47 goodwill agencies receiving funding.
“This gift will be used to support the priorities of our existing strategic plan,” Hill said. “In a year that has taken so many, we will use MacKenzie Scott’s generous donation to return the hope, dignity and independence to those we serve for years to come.”
Scott said his team of advisors used a data-driven approach to giving, identifying organizations with strong leadership and outcomes, specifically in communities with high food insecurity, racial inequality and poverty rates, “and little access to philanthropic capital “.
Berks United Way County said it was said to have been chosen to be an effective leader and collaborator investing funds that have the greatest impact on the most important needs in the Reading area.
“Mrs Scott’s gift comes at a critical time for the community as relentless demands for services due to last year’s social and economic upheaval and the ongoing health crisis of the pandemic continue to challenge the county of Berks, ”said Tammy White, president of United Way of Berks County. “We have a unique opportunity to fund initiatives and programs that will make a transformative impact and benefit the future of the community and future generations.”
United Way said it has set up a special committee made up of board members to develop specific strategies on fund management, program investment and grant-associated reporting practices.
Meanwhile, Scott said he is “far from fulfilling” his promise and urged others to follow it as much as possible: time, voice or money.