Billionaire Donates $25M To Bowie State As Part Of $4.1B Campaign

BOWIE, MD — Bowie State University welcomed a $25 million donation on Tuesday. The gift is the largest in the historically Black university's 155-year history.

Philanthropist and novelist MacKenzie Scott offered the gift as part of her $4.1 billion charitable effort launched in July. She gave to 384 organizations most-affected by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

"We are so grateful to MacKenzie Scott for her vision that will help transform Bowie State University," President Aminta Breaux said in a press release. "This gift underscores the urgent need for support of higher education for marginalized communities."

Scott explained that coronavirus has expanded the country's wealth gap.

"This pandemic has been a wrecking ball in the lives of Americans already struggling," Scott wrote on her blog Tuesday. "Economic losses and health outcomes alike have been worse for women, for people of color, and for people living in poverty. Meanwhile, it has substantially increased the wealth of billionaires."

Scott, who is worth more than $60 billion, is the 18th-richest person in the world, Bloomberg reported. In May of 2019, Scott promised to continue her charity work "until the safe is empty." Scott is the ex-wife of Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos.

"It is our hope that others will use the example of Ms. Scott’s informed generosity to inspire further giving to BSU, especially in this holiday season," Breaux said, pointing to The Campaign for Excellence, the school's largest fundraiser ever. "Every gift, no matter the size, is a vote of confidence affirming BSU and its students."

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