Mackenzie Scott donates $8 million to organization that gives scholarships to students

ATLANTA — The former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is giving back to a local organization that offers scholarships to students in our area.

Philanthropist Mackenzie Scott recently donated $8 million to Achieve Atlanta.

The organization provides need-based postsecondary scholarships and help to students of Atlanta Public Schools.

“This gift will strengthen our ongoing efforts to support APS students and Achieve Atlanta Scholars, and we are committed to being good stewards of all the precious resources we receive. In the coming months, Achieve Atlanta will kick off a process to engage stakeholders about how to increase its impact, including how to best leverage this generous donation,” the organization said in a news release.

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Since its launch in 2015, the organization has given more than $40 million in scholarship funds to thousands of students.

This gift is just the latest in a string of organizations that Scott has donated money to in the Atlanta area.

In July 2020, she gave $20 million each to Morehouse and Spelman colleges. That December, Scott donated $15 million to Clark Atlanta University. All three are historically Black colleges and universities located near downtown Atlanta.

Earlier this year, she gave $4 million to Communities in Schools of Atlanta to support work in dozens of schools in the city of Atlanta and in Clayton, DeKalb and Fulton counties.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution contributed to this article.

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