KILLEEN, Texas — The Boys and Girls Club of Central Texas received a generous donation of $5.2 million from MacKenzie Scott, Jeff Bezos' ex-wife, on Friday in Killeen.
"BGCTX feels incredibly fortunate to have received this generous donation," the organization said in a news release. "Fundraising is a priority for us to ensure that we don’t have to pass expenses on to our families. In most communities, charging as little as $20 for membership fees per year or providing scholarships to families who need it."
The organization said there are plans underway regarding how these funds will be used in its nine local communities, including programs and activities that were offered before the pandemic, as well as continued opportunities for growth and impact to children in their communities.
Central Texas locations include clubs in Killeen/Harker Heights/Nolanville, Copperas Cove, Lampasas, Gatesville, Georgetown, Taylor and Marlin.
“I am excited that the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Texas was selected by Ms. Scott and her foundation to be recipients of her generous gift," said Board Chair Charles Kimble. "This organization has created so many amazing opportunities already, I look forward to being a part of what comes next and how we can have an even bigger impact in our communities with this funding.”
Scott, who is the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, donated a total of $281 million to the organization's clubs across the United States. Her donation is one of the largest donations from one person in the organization's 160-year history.
In Killeen, one of the beneficiaries will be the Clements Boys and Girls Club. Deputy Chief Executive Chief Calvin Darthard Sr. couldn't believe it when he heard the news.
"This is special. This means so much to these kids and their families, to us. We'll be able to do so much more for these kids than we already do."
Darthard says the kids at his Boys and Girls Club location struggle with reading and with this donation will be able to provide more resources to help their kids catch up to appropriate reading levels.
He echoed the sentiments of BGCTX CEO Tiana Quick who says the organization feels very fortunate to have received such a generous donation.
"We were delighted that we were one of the 62 organizations chosen," Quick said. "There's approximately 1100 organizations across the nation and so hopefully that means that we're doing something well because you know that was a huge donation for us."
Quick also says there are new programs in store that are coming to the clubs in Central Texas that were made possible thanks to Scott.
Her donation gives the BGCTX community even more ability to provide a home away from home, which Darthard says is essential to the job.
"We are that extension of the home. We want the best for these kids and this donation will change everything. There's so many things we can improve. I can't wait."