Philanthropists Melinda Frank-Gates and MacKenzie Scott jointly donated $40 million to four gender equality organizations on Thursday as part of the “Equality Can’t Wait to Challenge.”
The four organizations were selected from more than 500 applicants. They were selected to promote equality in nursing, technology and higher education, and to support minority communities. Each organization will receive US$10 million.
Scott recently divorced Jeff Bezos, the world’s richest man, and became the world’s third richest man with a fortune of $64 billion. According to the Bloomberg Billionaire Index. France-Gates, who recently divorced Bill Gates, the fourth-richest man in the world, has a net worth of US$3.2 billion.
Scott said in a statement: “The winners are strong teams working on the front lines and in the community to help women build strength in their lives and careers.”
“We can break historical patterns and advance gender equality, but we must work to improve organizations, just like the organizations that won awards today, ready to promote women and girls,” Gates of France said in a statement.
The two finalists for the challenge were also recognized-one dedicated to domestic violence and the other to help guide women on how to gain political empowerment. They will allocate a bonus of US$8 million to continue their work.
Scott describes these groups as “strong teams working on the front lines and in the community, helping women build strength in their lives and careers.”
Scott is accepting donations and plans to continue to provide support. Her contribution to the challenge has enabled her to donate more than $8 billion in the past year.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation plans to donate US$2.1 billion in the next five years to continue to support the development of gender equality.
France-Gates announced the divorce in May, and Scott has divorced Bezos since July 2019.
MacKenzie Scott and Melinda French Gates did not spend their money in space, but instead used their money to help women in nursing, technology, higher education, and minority communities.https://t.co/pQ8RtWShTB
— Amy Diehl, PhD (@amydiehl) July 29, 2021
