MacKenzie Scott donates $10 million to George M. Pullman Educational Foundation

MacKenzie Scott Hands Out Life-Changing Gift: $10 Million Donation to Support Cook County Students' Higher Education

In a significant move, philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has donated $10 million to the George M. Pullman Educational Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to providing Cook County students with access to higher education. This generous gift is part of Scott's ongoing efforts to support underprivileged communities.

The donation will help the foundation provide resources such as full-ride scholarships of up to $40,000 over four years and services designed to ensure that recipients graduate debt-free. Additionally, Pullman Scholars will receive monthly check-ins, career guidance, and mentorship from alumni who have successfully navigated their own educational journeys.

Scott's contribution comes at a critical time when the student debt crisis continues to plague the nation. The cost of attending Chicago-area universities can range from $22,000 to over $100,000 per year, making higher education increasingly unaffordable for many students.

In line with her philanthropic mission, Scott has donated more than $19 billion of her wealth amassed through Amazon shares as part of her 2019 divorce from Jeff Bezos. This latest donation is a testament to her commitment to empowering marginalized communities and providing them with the tools necessary to succeed in life.

The Pullman Educational Foundation's program offers a unique approach, allowing scholarship recipients to attend any accredited four-year college or university without restrictions on major or enrollment location. Currently, 109 students are enrolled in the program at institutions across the country, including five near Chicago.

With this $10 million donation, the foundation is poised to sustain and deepen its programming, ensuring that it can continue to meet the evolving needs of its scholars. As Eric Delli Bovi, executive director of the George M. Pullman Educational Foundation, noted in a statement, "This award gives us the breathing room to focus on students where they are, providing them with financial support, community, and critical skills that allow them to thrive."

I'm not sure why MacKenzie Scott needs an extra $10 million donation. Can't she just use her own wealth to fund it? Like, how many times does one person need to donate a billion dollars to charity before people are like "girl, stop"? The fact that there's still a student debt crisis is a major issue, but isn't this just a Band-Aid solution at best? Full-ride scholarships and career guidance aren't going to fix the root problem of unaffordable education. And what about those who can't attend any accredited college or university? This program seems like it's just catering to those who have access in the first place...

[Image of Elon Musk and his spaceship X on fire ]

[gif of a kid crying, but then suddenly smiling with $100k in their hands ]

[a screenshot from the movie "The Pursuit of Happyness" where Will Smith is trying to pay for college tuition ]

[Image of a piggy bank on fire, getting burned ]

[meme of a guy with a surprised expression, holding a check for $10 million ]

[gif of a student graduating from college with no debt, surrounded by confetti and balloons ]

$10 million is like, wow... for some people it's just Tuesday afternoon . But seriously though, MacKenzie Scott is a saint in my eyes . She's already donated 19 billion and this latest $10 million is just the cherry on top . It's great to see her supporting underprivileged communities, but can't we just get everyone free education and food like in that one country in South America? Anyway, I'm just glad these Cook County students are getting a leg up... now let's see if they actually use the money wisely .

I don't know how I feel about this... I mean, $10 million is a ton of money, but at the same time, it's not like MacKenzie Scott didn't already give away billions or something? Like, what's another $10 million gonna do? And isn't that just gonna get lost in the system or something? But on the other hand, these students are actually getting some decent resources - full-ride scholarships and all that jazz. And it's not like they're just gonna sit there collecting checks, either... they've got monthly check-ins and career guidance and mentorship from alumni who actually did it themselves. So I guess that's kinda cool? Wait, no, maybe it is too easy for them. Like, what if they don't know how to make a plan or something? Does the foundation just give them a participation trophy?

I'm loving this news! MacKenzie Scott is literally changing lives here. $10 million is a huge sum of money, but it's not just about the amount - it's about the impact it can have on people's lives. The fact that these students will be able to graduate debt-free and have access to resources like career guidance and mentorship is massive. But what really gets me is that this donation is coming at a time when student debt is such a big issue. It's like, finally, someone is listening! However, I do wish more people were doing this kind of work. $19 billion is still a lot of money to be donated by one person, no matter how generous she is. Maybe there are ways for others to get involved and make a difference too?

just got wind of this news and i'm totally impressed by macKenzie scott's generosity! $10 million is a massive donation for those students in cook county who need it most . it's crazy how one person can make such a huge impact on their community . the fact that she's committed to providing these scholars with full-ride scholarships and career guidance means they'll have a real shot at success . what i love about this donation is that it's not just a handout, but rather a long-term investment in people's futures . can't wait to see the ripple effect of this generosity!

omg can u believe macenzie scott is donating 10 million dollars 2 help cook county students pay 4 college it's like she's tryna change the game 4 these kids. student debt crisis r real tho, but someone gotta step up & help out

I'm loving this! $10 million is crazy generous. I mean, what's the worst that could happen? Scott's got more money than we'll ever know what to do with, lol. But seriously though, it's about time someone stepped up and helped out these kids. They're gonna need all the support they can get with student debt being so crippling. And I love that this foundation is giving them the freedom to choose their own path - major, college location, whatever! It's like Scott's saying, "Hey, you got this!"

I mean, can you even imagine having $10 million just drop into your lap for no reason other than you're from Cook County? I feel like I'd be more grateful if I won the lottery . But seriously, MacKenzie Scott is a total boss for giving back to her community like this. It's about time we started valuing education over debt and all that drama . And I love that she's setting up these scholarships without any restrictions – it's like she wants everyone to have access to higher ed, regardless of where they're from or what they want to study . Now if only our politicians would take a page out of her book...

I gotta say, $10 million is a huge deal, but I'm not sure if it's enough. I mean, we're still talkin' about the student debt crisis here... 109 students is cute, but what about all the others who need help? And full-ride scholarships of up to $40k sound great, but are they really gonna make a difference when the cost of tuition keeps goin' up?

And I'm not sure about the "no restrictions" thing - how's that supposed to work in practice? Are we just expectin' some magic solution where students can just magically attend any college without worryin' about the financial implications? It sounds like a nice idea, but it's gonna take more than just donations to make real change happen.

Still, I guess it's a start. And Eric Delli Bovi's right - this donation is like gettin' a second wind for the foundation. Let's hope they can keep it goin' and actually see some results.

I'm like super stoked about MacKenzie Scott's latest donation! $10 million is a massive amount of money to be handing out to help kids from Cook County get an education. I mean, think about it - 109 students already got scholarships and now the foundation can expand its program even more. It's not just about giving them cash, either; they're getting all this support with career guidance, mentorship, and monthly check-ins. That's like, totally genius!

ugh I just remembered my mom's birthday is coming up ... anyway back to this cool story, $10 million sounds crazy lol how much money does one person have like MacKenzie Scott? is she rich or something? also what's with all the scholarship stuff, can you get scholarships for anything? can I apply too if I'm not from Cook County?

Just 10 mil for scholarships? That's cute, but what about actual solutions to the student debt crisis?

I mean, 10 million bucks is crazy generous but think about it from their perspective - those kids in Cook County are gonna be drowning in debt no matter what. It's not like they're just gonna magically find a way to pay off $40k in four years. And it's great that she's trying to help but I wonder if it's enough to actually make a difference. We all know the system is rigged and those scholarships might just be propping up some of the most privileged students. Plus, have you seen the cost of living in Chicago? It's like they're not even offering scholarships for housing costs or something...

Yooo just saw that MacKenzie Scott dropped $10 million to help out those Chicago students with big-time scholarships it's about time someone gives back like this, you feel me? I mean, student debt is a major thing right now, and this donation could really make a difference for some of these young folks trying to get an education. 109 students already enrolled in the program is crazy it just goes to show that when we come together as a community (or in this case, philanthropists ), good things can happen.

MacKenzie Scott is literally a lifesaver . I mean think about it, 10 million bucks for these kids and their families can make all the difference in the world. It's not like she's just throwing money around, no way! She's got this whole strategy thing going on where she's providing resources and support for a year, then checking in monthly to make sure those students are good to go. That's what I call commitment . And let's be real, student debt is a total scam . We should all be supporting MacKenzie Scott's philanthropic efforts and making sure these kids have the best shot at success .

Yaaas, MacKenzie Scott is literally changing lives over here! $10 million for scholarships alone is insane - think of all those students who'll be debt-free and able to pursue their dreams without the weight of student loans holding them back. The fact that these kids can attend any accredited college they want, no strings attached, is genius. It's clear Scott gets it - higher education shouldn't be a privilege for the few, but a right for everyone. And kudos to Eric Delli Bovi and the George M. Pullman Educational Foundation for doing their part in supporting these students. Can't wait to see the impact this donation will have on Cook County students!

I'm loving this news ! MacKenzie Scott is literally changing lives here. $10 million might seem like a lot of money, but when you think about the 109 students already benefiting from her program, it's mind-blowing . And can you imagine having to choose between food and textbooks? That's not a reality for these kids, thanks to Scott's generosity .

I'm also super impressed by the flexibility of Pullman Scholars' education plans - no restrictions on major or university location means they get to pursue their passions without worrying about what others think . It's all about empowerment and providing students with the tools they need to succeed in life . Eric Delli Bovi is right, this donation will give them "breathing room" to focus on their scholars and make a real impact .

$10 million is defo life-changing for those kids from Cook County. I'm glad MacKenzie Scott's doing her part to help 'em out - 19 billion she's given away already? That's some serious love for these underprivileged communities . It's crazy how much debt these kids gotta deal with when they wanna get an education, but at least now they got a shot at it without breakin' the bank . I wonder if this'll start a trend and other folks'll follow suit?