Bezos’ Ex-Wife Giving Most of $640M Donations to Extreme Left Groups Boosting Migrant Criminals, Trans Athletes
MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, recently announced a significant charitable donation totaling $640 million, with a considerable portion earmarked for organizations that support left-leaning initiatives.
This includes a substantial $122 million directed towards 67 migrant advocacy groups aimed at providing legal assistance and other forms of aid. Among the notable recipients are the Florida Immigrant Coalition and the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition, organizations which have been vocal in their opposition to conservative immigration policies led by figures like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
In addition to migrant advocacy, Scott’s philanthropic gesture extends $117 million to 67 organizations focused on prisoner advocacy and reintegration efforts, alongside $72 million allocated to 43 groups championing LGBTQ rights, including the support for transgender athletes competing in sports categories that align with their gender identity rather than their biological sex.
Another segment of Scott's donations, $18 million, is dedicated to clean energy initiatives.
Critics, such as Mike Gonzalez from the Heritage Foundation, argue that Scott's utilization of wealth derived from capitalist success is ironically fueling agendas that they believe could undermine capitalist principles, drawing parallels to historical critiques of philanthropic efforts by entities like the Rockefeller Foundation.
Scott, who is among the wealthiest women in the United States following her divorce from Bezos, which netted her $38.3 billion in Amazon stock, has previously donated $16.5 billion to various causes.
Her recent philanthropy comes via Yield Giving, a platform she launched to facilitate her charitable giving, which encourages applications from grassroots nonprofits aiming to empower economically disadvantaged communities.
The $640 million awarded marks a significant increase from her initial pledge, benefiting 361 of the 6,350 applicants with donations ranging between $1 million and $2 million each. This move has been applauded by leaders of beneficiary organizations, such as Megan Peterson of Gender Justice, who emphasized the importance of such funding in the fight for gender equality and the rights of transgender youth in sports.
While Scott’s contributions have been criticized by some for promoting "lefty causes," others, like Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), acknowledge the right to personal philanthropy, contrasting it with the use of public funds for similar purposes by Democratic leadership in various U.S. cities.
Scott, for her part, has expressed gratitude for the support of Lever for Change in the selection process, identifying it as a crucial element in driving change. Her philanthropy has even drawn criticism from figures like Elon Musk, highlighting the divisive nature of her donations within the broader context of societal and political debates.