Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott Gives $1.9M to Support Mentoring in Puget Sound

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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound will receive $1.9M to help transform and expand youth mentorship in the Puget Sound region.

The gift supports us in furthering our mission to ensure young people have access to powerful mentoring experiences that improve mental health, empower them with a plan for their future, and build a more equitable, compassionate community.  

This donation comes at an important time in our region. Today, more than ever, young people are in need of critical emotional and social support to help them cope with the ongoing effects of social isolation and ongoing concerns from the last several years.  Nationwide, nearly 11 million kids live in poverty and more than 13 million young people experience emotional, behavioral, or developmental conditions like depression.

This unprecedented investment is the largest donation from a single individual in the organization’s history and serves as a powerful message in recognizing the importance of investing in mentorship to build and strengthen communities and society as a whole. 

This gift is a part of Ms. Scott’s historic gift of $122.6 Million dollars Big Brothers Sisters of America announced on the Today Show this morning. The gift will support the national office and 38 local Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliates across the country further mentoring, equity and leadership across the network. 

We are currently assembling a committee of key members of the staff and Board of Directors to make thoughtful decisions over the next few months about how this incredibly generous gift will be put to use. The committee will focus on exploring how this funding can best support the organization’s mission. 

“Ms. Scott’s gift is a testament to the important role mentoring plays in the lives of young people and is an endorsement of the commitment of our staff, volunteers and donors. Young people and mentors take their experiences of mentorship into our communities with them every day for the rest of their lives. This gift is so powerful because its effects will ripple out to impact our community in positive ways for years to come. “

-Alonda Williams, President & CEO, BBBSPS

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound believes no one person, organization, or gift alone can drive the significant impact mentorship can have on a young person’s life. It takes a village of mentors, volunteers, staff, families, and donors to positively impact young people’s lives.

This investment in Big Brothers Bigs Sisters of Puget Sound and our community is an invitation for more people and partners to join in transforming mentorship for young people today and for generations to come. 

Maurice James, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound’s Board Chair, has this message for the Puget Sound community “I hope when you hear about this gift you’re inspired to get involved. Donating, volunteering, becoming a mentor…these are actions you can take right now to change our community for the better, forever. 

To learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound and get involved as a mentor, volunteer, donor, or partner, visit our homepage or click an icon below. 

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For press inquiries, please contact Jennifer Haberman, BBBSPS Marketing & Communications Manager, Jennifer.Haberman@bbbsps.org or 206-456-9816.