Author, philanthropist gifts $3.2M to area nonprofit

BRADENTON — A local nonprofit is on cloud nine after it was presented a gift of $3.2 million. 

MacKenzie Scott, an author and philanthropist, recently pledged a gift of $281 million to be distributed to 62 Boys & Girls Club organizations, one of which is the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County. The organization plans to use the gift to provide more access to high-quality programs for area youth. 

“The impact of this investment is powerful,” says Dawn Stanhope, the president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County. “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 Boys & Girls Club gift is part of Scott’s pledge from 2020 to give back a majority of her wealth. Scott is also known for her 25-year marriage to Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos, which ended in 2019. 

“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,” says Stanhope.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County provides homework assistance, STEM learning, sports and recreation, fine arts, and leadership programs for youth in the area. The organization has six club locations within the county. 

“There has never been a more perfect time to support our young people,” Stanhope says. “As Manatee County continues to grow, so must our reach.”