ODESSA (June 15, 2021) – Odessa College is among a group of organizations and institutions recently selected by MacKenzie Scott and Dan Jewett as the recipients of significant gifts “to enable their work, and as a signal of trust and encouragement, to them and to others,” according to Ms. Scott. It is because of Odessa College’s collective impact and proven results that it is the recipient of the $7 million gift.
In her blog, Seeding by Ceding, Ms. Scott describes her motivations for making so many donations, “…because we believe that teams with experience on the front lines of challenges will know best how to put the money to good use, we encouraged them to spend it however they choose. Many reported that this trust significantly increased the impact of the gift.” Ms. Scott added “…by acknowledging that people working to build power from within communities are the agents of change. Their service supports and empowers people who go on to support and empower others.”
This remarkably generous contribution to the College is the largest single donation ever made to OC, and comes without any qualifications or restrictions upon its use. It is a true gift to the institution.
“This amount of unrestricted funding is a game-changer for the college, our students and our community,” said Dr. Gregory D. Williams, president of Odessa College. “The possibilities are endless, and we look forward to providing our stakeholders with updates regarding the fund’s use and impact. Odessa College is extremely grateful for the generosity of Ms. MacKenzie Scott, and humbly accepts this extraordinary gift on behalf of both the students and the community that we serve.”
MacKenzie Scott has a long history of supporting educational causes and institutions, both in the United States and abroad. Most notably, Ms. Scott’s donations to high-performing colleges and historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) has exceeded $800 million.