United Way of Southern Nevada received its largest gift in the organization’s 63-year history: a $10 million donation from one of the world’s leading philanthropists MacKenzie Scott. Recognizing the organization’s opportunity for high impact within the region, Scott selected UWSN as one of 384 organizations from across the country, and one of only two organizations in Nevada, to gift a combined $4.2 billion. These funds, along with ongoing donor support, will help further UWSN’s mission of improving the lives of Southern Nevadans.
“We are humbled to receive such a generous gift to further support our essential work, which has now been underscored by Ms. Scott,” said Kyle B. Rahn, President and CEO of UWSN. “This gift shows that she believes in our Board of Directors, the meaningful work of our staff, partners and volunteers, and that Ms. Scott believes in the generosity and commitment of our donors by standing with them in support.”
Scott is the former wife of Jeff Bezos, the world;s richest man. After their divorce, Scott announced that she would be giving away much of her fortune. So far, she has given away $6 billion this year, much of it to small charities and nonprofits.
In the past nine months, UWSN has:
- Raised $2.4 million to assist 127,000 individuals with various essential needs such as food scarcity, shelter and utilities
- Partnered with more than 200 local and national nonprofits to cast a wide net of services
- Distributed 274,000 face coverings and 6,780 bottles of hand sanitizer to create a safer environment for local businesses
- Received $1.7 million in CARES Act funding to provide childcare so parents could return to work
Although UWSN helps ensure a stronger future for Southern Nevada residents, this is only the beginning as the needs of the community are drastically increasing due to the world’s current landscape. Thousands of Nevadans are losing their jobs, facing eviction, and struggling to put food on the table so local and national support is more vital than ever to effectively assist those who need it most.
