United Way of R.I. the Recipient of $10 Million from Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott
Gift made in support of organization’s mission to create transformative change and build racial equity and opportunities for all Rhode Islanders
Providence, R.I. (December 15, 2020) United Way of Rhode Island has received a gift in the amount of $10 million from philanthropist and novelist, MacKenzie Scott. The funds are among nationwide gifts announced today by Scott as part of her commitment to the Giving Pledge to give the majority of her fortune to charity or philanthropic causes.
The gift from one of the world’s wealthiest women was made in support of United Way’s vision for a Rhode Island where every individual in each community has equal opportunity for justice and prosperity.
“Beyond being an incredible and generous act of philanthropy, this gift further validates the critical importance of the work we have in front of us to reverse the root causes of the racial inequities that hold back our state,” said Cortney Nicolato, president and CEO of United Way. “These funds will provide long-term support for the ambitious goals we have set for the next five years and that are part of a larger initiative we’ll be announcing in January.”
“We are extremely grateful to Ms. Scott for believing and trusting in our work, and for making a tremendous investment in the future of our state,” added Nicolato.
For 95 years, United Way of Rhode Island has united its community and resources to address the state’s most pressing needs and to move individuals and families from crisis to stability. The organization is committed to building racial equity and opportunities for all Rhode Islanders and will be outlining its goals and community investments in early 2021.
Since signing the Giving Pledge in 2019, MacKenzie Scott has donated more than $5.8 billion to nonprofit organizations, with a focus on racial equality, meeting basic needs, LGBTQ+ equality, democracy, and climate change.
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United Way of Rhode Island is changing lives and strengthening our communities by investing in proven programs that work over the short-term, and are scalable over the long-term. www.LIVEUNITEDri.org