While it may not be news to some that Mackenzie Scott has made another impressive donation to a deserving cause, this powerhouse woman remains committed to her pledge to give away half of her wealth through the Giving Pledge initiative, which is commendable. Joining the impressive list of recipients who have received donations from Scott is I.C. Stars, an innovative organization taking a new approach to workforce training, leveling the playfield for those seeking positive change in their lives.
Shortly before her divorce from Amazon mogul Jeff Bezos, Scott signed a pledge with the Giving Pledge initiative made by some of the world’s wealthiest people to dedicate most of their wealth to worthy and charitable causes. However, this pledge had big names on it before Scott joined in, with Warren Buffett, Melinda French Gates, and Bill Gates launching this philanthropic initiative in 2010. This pledge is about setting a new standard among the wealthy on what being philanthropic means, setting a new definition for generosity among the world’s richest.
Melinda French and Bill Gates’ pledge is to help break down barriers in health and education that prevent others from living healthy and meaningful lives. Warren Buffet pledges 99% of his wealth to philanthropy, recognizing that even 1% of his wealth will provide him and his family with all they need and that 99% of his wealth could have a massive impact on the lives and well-being of others. Other pledgers include Barry Diller, Diane von Furstenberg, Mark Zuckerberg, and Michael Bloomberg.
And in 2019, Mackenzie Scott – who found inspiration from Annie Dillard’s The Writing Life. Finding the underlined words, “Do not hoard what seems good for a later place in the book, or for another book… The impulse to save something good for a better place later is the signal to spend it now,” led Scott to pledge to give away half of her $37 billion wealth.
Scott’s methods when selecting the recipients of her large donations remain a mystery, but the commonalities between the recipients are clear. The philanthropist often donates to causes surrounding equity, education, justice, and health, with organizations working on “race and ethnicity” and “youth development” as the two largest categories to receive attention from Scott.
I.C. Stars, a nonprofit organization that helps educate underserved adults for careers in technology, announced Scott’s donation this past Monday. The billionaire philanthropist donated $5 million to I.C. Stars, helping expand the organization in Kansas City, MO.
Rooted in Chicago, IL, I.C. Stars was founded by a former teacher who, after a chance encounter with a former student cleaning hotel rooms, wondered what she could do to help underprivileged workers reach their full potential. With the ever-evolving digital landscape, I.C. Stars opted to focus on information technology training, hoping to open new doorways to positive change in the lives of low-income young adults.
Currently, the nonprofit includes a 16-week tech boot camp that teaches essential skills to underserved individuals. Scott’s $5 million donation has positioned this worthy cause to expand further into Kansas City, where I.C. Stars can continue to empower those without a college degree to advance their careers.
