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MacKenzie Scott, a billionaire philanthropist and ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, made another whopping donation to an HBCU.
This time, Scott, 51, donated $20 million to Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, the only HBCU in California.
Dr. David M. Carlisle, CEO and president of the university, said in a statement, “CDU has been on a tireless pursuit to cultivate diverse health professional leaders dedicated to social justice and health equity for underserved populations. This investment will advance that goal by providing resources to support and enhance our outstanding education, research, clinical service, and community engagement.”
Benjamin Quillian, Ph.D., Chair of CDU’s Board of Trustees, added, “The mission of Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science is noble, and it takes noble people like MacKenzie Scott to help bring it to fruition,” Benjamin Quillian, Ph.D.
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Founded in 1966, CDU is one of four historically Black medical schools in the U.S. alongside Meharry Medical College (Meharry), Howard University College of Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine. The college provides undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs.
The diverse educational institution is located in the heart of South Los Angeles and has over 80 percent of students and 71 percent of faculty from communities of color. CDU is also a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities.
According to Forbes, since her divorce from Bezos in 2019, Scott has given away a total of $8.8 billion in less than two years to more than 780 organizations. With donations ranging from $20 million to $50 million, Scott has set herself apart as a philanthropist by focusing
on institutions that serve students of color and those from low-income backgrounds. Several tribal colleges have also received donations. She does not seem like she will stop giving any time soon.