Current:Home > ScamsJeff Bezos fund donates $117 million to support homeless charities. Here are the recipients. -Aspire Financial Strategies
Jeff Bezos fund donates $117 million to support homeless charities. Here are the recipients.
View
Date:2025-04-26 02:16:39
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' fund to support homeless families announced $117 million in new grants on Tuesday to organizations across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, part of a $2 billion commitment that the billionaire made in 2018 to support homeless families and to run free preschools.
That brings the amount granted by the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund to benefit homeless families to almost $640 million.
Bezos' partner, former news anchor Lauren Sánchez, who is also the vice chair of the Bezos Earth Fund, thanked the grantee organizations in a video posted to both her and Bezos' social media accounts.
Bezos, the world's third richest person with a fortune of $170 billion, last year told CNN he planned to donate much of his fortune to charity over his lifetime. That came after Bezos had come under fire for what critics said was a lack of philanthropic initiatives, especially amid the charitable activities of his ex-wife, Mackenzie Scott.
Scott, who divorced Bezos in 2019, is the world's 39th richest person with a fortune of $34 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
The Bezos Day 1 Families Fund did not give a timeframe for when the pledged $2 billion would be distributed or what portion would go to homeless families.
Bezos stepped down as CEO of Amazon in 2021 to spend more time on his other projects, including the rocket company, Blue Origin, and his philanthropy. Bezos and Sánchez have not signed the Giving Pledge, which asks billionaires to make a similar commitment.
Flexible grants
The Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte received a second grant this year after first being awarded $5 million by the fund in 2018. Deronda Metz, director of social services, said they can use the funding in more flexible ways than the government grants they receive, including the renovation of a 100 room hotel, hiring additional staff and expanding the facility for an on-campus Boys & Girls Club.
Rents rose sharply in her city following the pandemic, as it did in many cities, meaning that more families are losing their housing and that the cost of getting them into apartments has risen, she said.
"When you have flexible dollars in a rental market like this, you could pay your high rent, you could pay a higher deposit," Metz said.
Here are the 38 recipients
- Abode Services, Fremont, CA — $5 million
- American Indian Community Development Corporation (AICDC), Minneapolis, MN — $5 million
- ARVAC Inc., Russellville, AR — $1.25 million
- BronxWorks, New York, NY — $5 million
- Bolivar County Community Action Agency, Inc., Cleveland, MS — $1.25 million
- Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami, Inc., Miami, FL — $5 million
- Catholic Community Services of Western Washington, Seattle, WA — $5 million
- Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, Burlington, VT — $5 million
- Community Action Partnership of Kern, Bakersfield, CA — $5 million
- Community of Hope, Inc, Washington, DC — $3.75 million
- Council for the Homeless, Vancouver, WA — $5 million
- Crossroads Rhode Island, Providence, RI — $5 million
- Everyone Home DC, Washington, DC — $2.5 million
- Family Promise of Athens, Athens, GA — $400,000
- Family Promise of Cheyenne, Cheyenne, WY — $150,000
- Family Promise of the Triangle, Raleigh, NC — $1 million
- Family Service Lincoln, Lincoln, NE — $2.5 million
- Hogar Ruth para Mujeres Maltratadas, Inc., Vega Alta, PR — $2.5 million
- Hospitality House of Northwest North Carolina, Boone, NC — $2.5 million
- Interfaith Community Services, Escondido, CA — $5 million
- Ka Mana O Na Helu, Pearl City, HI — $2.5 million
- La Fondita de Jesús, San Juan, PR — $2.5 million
- Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, Salem, OR — $5 million
- Native American Connections, Phoenix, AZ — $5 million
- Neighborhood Place of Puna, Puna, HI — $2.5 million
- Northern Circle Indian Housing Authority, Ukiah, CA — $2.5 million
- Primavera Foundation, Tucson, AZ — $5 million
- Shelter House, Inc, Fairfax, VA — $2.5 million
- Stewpot Community Services, Inc., Jackson, MS — $1.25 million
- Tarrant County Homeless Coalition, Fort Worth, TX — $2.5 million
- Temporary Emergency Services, Inc., Tuscaloosa, AL —$1 million
- The Salvation Army, Fort Myers Area Command, Fort Myers, FL — $2.5 million
- The Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte, Charlotte, NC — $3.75 million
- UMOM New Day Centers, Phoenix, AZ — $5 million
- United Communities Against Poverty, Inc. (UCAP), Capitol Heights, MD • $1.25 million
- United Way of Yellowstone County, Billings, MT • $2.5 million
- Wisconsin Balance of State CoC, Eau Claire, WI — $1.25 million
- YWCA Greater Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH — $1.25 million
- In:
- Jeff Bezos
- Fire
- Puerto Rico
veryGood! (34969)
Related
- 'As foretold in the prophecy': Elon Musk and internet react as Tesla stock hits $420 all
- Gabby Thomas leads trio of Americans advancing to 200 track final at Paris Olympics
- T.I. arrested over case of mistaken identity, quickly released
- Swollen ankles are a common problem. From compression socks to elevation, here's how to get rid of them.
- Which apps offer encrypted messaging? How to switch and what to know after feds’ warning
- Billy Ray Cyrus Settles Divorce From Firerose After Alleged Crazy Insane Scam
- TikToker David Allen, Known as ToTouchAnEmu, Mourns Death of 5-Week-Old Baby Girl
- Body believed to be Glacier National Park drowning victim recovered from Avalanche Creek
- Bill Belichick's salary at North Carolina: School releases football coach's contract details
- ‘David Makes Man’ actor Akili McDowell is charged with murder in man’s shooting in Houston
Ranking
- Which apps offer encrypted messaging? How to switch and what to know after feds’ warning
- 2024 Olympics: Gymnast Carlos Yulo Wins Condo, Colonoscopies and Free Ramen for Life After Gold Medal
- A Virginia man is charged with online threats against Vice President Kamala Harris
- Democratic primary in Arizona’s 3rd District is too close to call, AP determines
- Hackers hit Rhode Island benefits system in major cyberattack. Personal data could be released soon
- Gunmen kill New Zealand helicopter pilot in another attack in Indonesia’s restive Papua region
- British Olympian Harry Charles Is Dating Steve Jobs' Daughter Eve Jobs
- Olympic medals today: What is the medal count at 2024 Paris Games on Tuesday?
Recommendation
Current, future North Carolina governor’s challenge of power
What Iran’s attack against Israel could look like with the support of regional allies
2024 Olympics: Gymnast Laurie Hernandez Addresses Her Commentary After Surprising Beam Final
Houston mom charged with murder in baby son's hot car death; grandma says it's a mistake
'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean
Body believed to be Glacier National Park drowning victim recovered from Avalanche Creek
Michigan man pleads no contest to failing to store gun that killed 5-year-old grandson
Cystic acne can cause pain, shame and lasting scars. Here's what causes it.