60 DIVERSEability Magazine www.diverseabilitymagazine.com
BUSINESS 2 BUSINESS
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uthor and philanthropist MacKenzie Tdpuu-! gpsnfs! xjgf! pg! Bnb{po! nphvm! Jeff Bezos, has pledged gifts to 22 Easterseals Bgmjbuft! obujpoxjef! boe! jut! Obujpobm! Pgdf! to support life-changing services for the one jo! gpvs! Bnfsjdbot! dvssfoumz! mjwjoh! xjui! b! disability. Jo!obnjoh!uif!495!pshboj{bujpot!up!cfofu! from her philanthropy, Scott says that she'd asked a team of advisors to accelerate her 2020 giving to immediately support people suffering the economic effects of the pandemic. "We do our research and deeper diligence not only to identify organizations with high potential for impact, but also to pave the way for unsolicited and unexpected gifts given with full trust and no strings attached," said Scott. "Because our research is data-driven and rigor- ous, our giving process can be human and soft. Opu! pomz! bsf! opo.qsput! dispojdbmmz! voefs- funded, they are also chronically diverted from their work by fundraising, and by burdensome sfqpsujoh!sfrvjsfnfout!uibu!epopst!pgufo!qmbdf! on them." Tdpuu!tbzt!uiftf!495!dbsfgvmmz!tfmfdufe!pshb- nizations have dedicated their lives to helping others, working and volunteering and serving real people face-to-face at bedsides and tables, in prisons and courtrooms and classrooms, on streets and hospital wards, and hotlines and frontlines of all types and sizes, day after day after day.
Easterseals Receives $162 Million - Largest Donation in 100 Year History
"We work with people who have been marginalized for many reasons. Some of our greatest moments of success come through small gestures when a client's hope is restored."
- Author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott She continues, "The response from these organizations in talking with us often included personal stories and tears, which invariably made me and my teammates cry. This kind of chain reaction was captured perfectly by a longtime advocate for people with disabili- ties: 'Feeling valued is an amazing sensation. I see the eyes of our clients light up when their efforts are appreciated. Good begets good. I have always believed this, but I have been sorely tested over the past few years.'" Scott had this to add, "Me too." In addition to the gift provided to the Fbtufstfbmt! Obujpobm! pgdf! jo! Dijdbhp-! Tdpuu! tfmfdufe!uif!gpmmpxjoh!Fbtufstfbmt!Bgmjbuft!up! cfofu!gspn!ifs!qijmbouispqz;! Fbtufstfbmt!Dfousbm!boe!Tpvuifbtu!PI Fbtufstfbmt!Fbtu!HB Easterseals Greater Cincinnati Region Easterseals Greater Houston Fbtufstfbmt!JB Fbtufstfbmt!MB Fbtufstfbmt!NB Easterseals MI Fbtufstfbmt!Njexftu!)NP!boe!LT* Fbtufstfbmt!Opsui!HB Fbtufstfbmt!Opsuifbtu!Dfousbm!GM Fbtufstfbmt!pg!Dfousbm!JM Fbtufstfbmt!Tbo!Boupojp Easterseals Serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford Fbtufstfbmt!Tpvui!GM Fbtufstfbmt!Tpvuifbtufso!QB Fbtufstfbmt!Tpvuixftu!GM Fbtufstfbmt! Tpvuixftu! Ivnbo! Efwfmpq- nfou!)Qipfojy-!B[*! Easterseals TN Fbtufstfbmt!XB Easterseals WV Rehabilitation Center Fbtufstfbmt!Hppexjmm!Njbnj!Wbmmfz!)PI* "This gift from Ms. Scott represents a trans- formational gift for Easterseals as we begin our second century of service to people with ejtbcjmjujft!jo!Bnfsjdb-!tbje!Fbtufstfbmt!qsft- jefou! boe! DFP! Bohfmb! G/! Xjmmjbnt/! Uiftf! funds will allow us to grow our Network and expand our services to meet the increasing needs of children and adults with disabilities so they can fully participate in their communities and in society." In 2019, Scott - whose current net worth is %6:/9!cjmmjpo-!nbljoh!ifs!uif!tfdpoe!xfbmuij- est woman in the world - signed the Giving Pledge, a project that encourages billionaires to promise to give away at least half of their wealth throughout their lifetime. Wealthy individuals, including Warren Buffett, Bill and Melinda Gates as well as Reed Hastings boe!Qbuuz!Rvjmmjo-!ibwf!bmtp!tjhofe!uif!Hjwjoh! Pledge. Esjwfo!cz!jut!qvsqptf!up!dibohf!uif!xbz!uif! xpsme!efoft!boe!wjfxt!ejtbcjmjuz!cz!nbljoh! profound, positive differences in people's lives every day, Easterseals has been an indispens- able resource for individuals with disabilities, including veterans and seniors, as well as their families and communities for more than 100 years. Together, its national network of Bgmjbuft! tfswft! 2/6! njmmjpo! qfpqmf! boovbmmz! uispvhi! ijhi.rvbmjuz! tfswjdft! boe! qpxfsgvm! advocacy. Join Easterseals in ensuring that everyone - regardless of age or ability - is 100 per- cent included and 100 percent empowered to gvmmz!qbsujdjqbuf!jo!mjgf/!Mfbso!npsf!bu!fbtufs- seals.com.
Source: Easterseals
MacKenzie Scott
PHOTO BY EVAN AGOSTINI/INVISION/AP, FILE
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