Billionaire’s ‘transformational’ gifts to benefit local Goodwill, Easterseals chapters

Posted on December 17, 2020
MacKenzie Scott, former wife of Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos. (Photo courtesy: Heart of Illinois ABC)

By Heart of Illinois ABC

BLOOMINGTON – Two area charitable organizations are receiving what their leaders describe as “transformational” gifts from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.

Scott, former wife of Amazon Founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, is donating $5 million to Goodwill of Central Illinois. She’s giving an unspecified amount to Easterseals Central Illinois.

The agencies are among nearly 400 organizations nationwide to receive a total of almost $4.16 billion. Scott decided to accelerate her financial giving in response to a pandemic that “has been a wrecking ball in the lives of Americans already struggling,” a statement said.

Scott’s team vetted almost 6,500 organizations to narrow the recipients down to 384.

“To say we are honored by this significant gift is an understatement,” said Goodwill of Central Illinois President and CEO, Don Johnson.

“It means so much to be selected for who we are and how we serve the community, he said in a news release.

Steve Thompson, President and CEO of Easterseals Central Illinois also expressed gratitude for what he said was a “transformational” gift.

“We envision a world where every child is 100% included and 100% empowered. We are extremely grateful to MacKenzie Scott for this remarkable gift that helps move us towards achieving that vision.” Thompson said in a prepared statement.

Scott signed the Giving Pledge in 2019, a project encouraging billionaires to promise they’ll give away at least half of their wealth throughout their lifetime.

Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected]. 

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