Area nonprofits receive portion of $4 billion national donation

At least five nonprofit organizations in the region have received significant donations from Mackenzie Scott, ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Scott, in a Dec. 15 blog post on Medium, announced she had given $4.16 billion to 384 organizations across all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.    

The United Way Suncoast, which works in communities in Tampa Bay, Sarasota and Manatee counties, received $20 million, according to a statement from the organization. Other organizations in the area among the 384 entitles in Scott’s Medium post include Easterseals Southwest Florida, which works with children, youth and adults with special needs in Sarasota and Manatee counties; Goodwill Manasota; Meals on Wheels of Tampa; Meals of Wheels Plus of Manatee; and the Sky Family YMCA, which has branches in Charlotte, Lee and Sarasota counties. Scott’s blog post didn’t include a breakdown of the amount given to each nonprofit.