Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott is giving $16 million to Grand Prairie schools, which has spearheaded initiatives to propel and support students from low-income families.
GPISD Superintendent Linda Ellis thought the no-strings-attached money was a scam when she first received an email hinting at the donation about two weeks ago. She shrugged it off until a follow-up phone call in which Scott’s name was brought up.
“I’ve never dreamed a public school could get this kind of a gift,” Ellis said. “It’s too good to be true. But it’s true, and it’s gonna be great for years to come for our children and community.”
Scott, author and ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has donated about $12 billion to more than 1,200 groups — including multiple universities and organizations in Texas. In 2019, she pledged to give away at least half of her wealth over the course of her lifetime, according to The New York Times.
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Last month Scott donated $3.8 million to The Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas, part of a larger $84.5 million donation to Girl Scouts of the USA.
"Basically what I was told is, what is happening in Grand Prairie is in line with the philosophy that Mackenzie Scott has in her giving team. We feel like we have a legacy in Grand Prairie of being innovative," Ellis said Thursday, referring to why Grand Prairie ISD was chosen as a donation recipient.
Financial decisions are made by the district's Board of Trustees, which Gloria Carillo oversees as board president. Carillo said the board will seek input from stakeholders. Potential ways of spending could include hiring more staff if needed and enhancing programs, she said.
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"We’re one of the districts that has a pilot program for Native American studies. We do Mexican American studies. We do African studies. Our STEM program is outstanding," she said.
Click here to read more about Scott's gift from our partners at the Dallas Morning News
