Claflin University, Voorhees College, and over 30 other colleges, universities, and higher education foundations received historic, unprecedented gifts from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott on December 15. Claflin’s $20 million gift and Voorhees’ $4 million award were part of Scott’s $4.2 billion total distributed to 384 organizations.
“The pandemic has been a wrecking ball in the lives of Americans already struggling,” said Scott in her Dec. 15 Medium post. “Economic losses and health outcomes alike have been worse for women, for people of color, and for people living in poverty. Meanwhile, it has substantially increased the wealth of billionaires.” In 2019, Scott pledged to give away the majority of her wealth.
“We are grateful to Ms. Scott for her generous recognition of Claflin’s exemplary leadership and record of innovation in producing stellar academic outcomes,” said Claflin President Dwaun J. Warmack. “This gift will have an immediate, transformational impact, not only on the university but on the greater Orangeburg, South Carolina community and the state. We are also inspired by the long-term impact it will have in preparing students to champion and shape the nation and world we all need – one that is more just, fair, and equitable.”
“This is the largest single gift ever given to Voorhees, and we are sincerely grateful to Ms. Scott,” Voorhees former President W. Franklin Evans said. “Her gift will be used in a variety of ways to include scholarship dollars for students, financial support to non-traditional and international students, healthcare for employees, facility upgrades and deferred maintenance, and the establishment of endowed chairs.”
