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| [Photo: James Brown/ WXXI News] |
Local and national support for a non-profit that helps individuals construct their own houses with the aid of volunteers is on the rise.
A $3.75 million contribution from MacKenzie Scott has been described as "transformational" by Flower City Habitat for Humanity.
She is Jeff Bezos' ex-wife and has made a public vow to donate the bulk of her money.
Scott has donated $436 million to Habitat for Humanity across the country, and this donation in Rochester is just a small part of that total. Rochester is one of 83 individual affiliates that will get a portion of the funds.
Habitat for Humanity CEO Matt Flanigan serves as the organization's local president and president. He said the $3.75 million will help with both current and long-term costs, including housing and materials.
Additionally, it enables us to invest part of those monies in our future, so that we may be prepared for the things we can't even imagine today," added Flanigan. For the last two years, I believe, we've learned that it's smart to prepare for things you may not have anticipated.
Part of the money will go to Habitat International's advocacy and dismantling of systemic racism in housing projects. Reckford said, "Habitat seeks to tear down barriers... and construct a society where everyone, no matter who we are or where we come from, has a good place to live." Scott's contribution, according to Reckford, makes this work feasible.
Mackenzie Scott has contributed $20 million to the United Way of Greater Rochester and $10 million to Goodwill of the Finger Lakes in the previous several months.