MacKenzie Scott Gives $3.2M to Boys & Girls Clubs Of Manatee

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, a billionaire and the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has gifted $3.2 million to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County.

In 2020, Scott pledged that she would donate the majority of her wealth to nonprofit groups. Since then, she’s donated more than $8 billion to nearly 900 organizations, according to U.S. News & World Report. Her net worth is estimated to be more than $46 billion.

Calling it a “transformational gift,” the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County plans to use the funds to provide more access to high-quality youth programming, according to a news release from the organization.

“The impact of this investment is powerful,” said Dawn Stanhope, the organization’s president and CEO. “With so many families struggling to ensure that their children have the resources necessary to recover from multiple effects of the pandemic, this gift expands our ability to help kids, families and our community close the opportunity gap.”

The donation in Manatee County is part of a larger, collective gift of $281 million to 62 Boys & Girls Club organizations across the country and Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the national federation that oversees all clubs.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County plays a significant role in the lives of thousands of young people each year, offering homework help, STEM learning, sports and recreation, fine arts, leadership programs and more, the organization said.

The six club locations in Manatee County are designed to provide a sense of belonging and inclusivity while creating life-enhancing opportunities for kids and teens to thrive. Club members are supported by caring mentors and learn essential skill-building, both after school and during the summer.

“Thanks to the generosity of Ms. Scott and those who continue to invest in our programs, our youth can truly reach their full potential, knowing that society cares about them and is inspired by what they can achieve in life,” said Stanhope.