SPOKANE, Wash. – This year has been a tough one for many reasons, and local non-profit organizations have been strained by both higher demand and less support.
Two Spokane organizations are receiving an early gift this year in the form of a massive donation. MacKenzie Scott announced that she is donating $ 4.2 to nearly 400 organizations across the country. The Goodwill and YMCA chapters inside the Northwest learned last week that they are among the chosen organizations.
Both the YMCA and Goodwill will receive $ 10 million each in a donation from MacKenzie Scott – she added in her announcement that the pandemic was a devastating ball in the lives of Americans already struggling. Both organizations have known for a few weeks that a donation is coming, but they did not know the exact details and swore not to reveal anything.
ABOUT: Inland Northwest YMCA Receives $ 10 Million from Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott
When the leaders of both saw the amount, it was a surreal feeling.
“Humiliated, grateful and overwhelmed,” said Heather Alexander, Goodwill’s director of marketing.
“This can’t happen, it has to be a hoax, it doesn’t have to be real,” said Alan Lesher, president of the YMCA.
For the YMCA, this marks the largest donation in their history, but they will decide how to use it – they want to make this moment about the staff that has been with them for a long time.
“We’re trying to learn that as part of our Y culture. Let’s take some time, celebrate those successes, and they’re really why we feel we’ve received this award,” Lesher said.
At Goodwill, they are also in the process of determining where they can have the greatest impact on those they serve in the region.
“There is a great need throughout our country and throughout our region today. National unemployment is rising by about 10 million people and there is so much to do, ”said Alexander.
Although this gift will not solve all the problems facing organizations – despite this, the YMCA is expected to lose $ 3.5 million this year – it is still highly valued.
“It just means we’re going to be able to solve all this and come out stronger,” Lesher said.
Another regional organization that will receive a donation from Scott is Walla Walla Community College. They will receive $ 15 million.
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