Habitat for Humanity Receives $436M Gift From Jeff Bezos' Ex

MIDDLE ISLAND, NY — Habitat for Humanity Suffolk announced they will receive part of a "transformational gift" from Jeff Bezos' ex-wife and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. Scott recently pledged $436 million in an unrestricted gift to Habitat for Humanity International. Suffolk's affiliate will receive $3.75 million of the donation.

Habitat for Humanity Suffolk announced in a news release Tuesday that the donation will fund new programs, as well as assist the nonprofit in continuing to build affordable houses for families on Long Island:

"Over the next three to five years, Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk will use the donation to increase the supply of affordable housing on Long Island, expand community outreach, and start a home repair program to help hardworking, low-income families, military veterans and senior citizens improve their homes and quality of life, so they can flourish in the communities in which they live."

On an international scale Habitat for Humanity will use the gift to address systemic racism in housing.

“We are overwhelmed with gratitude to Mackenzie Scott for bestowing us with this transformational gift and believing in the ability of our affiliate to fulfill Habitat’s mission to use God’s love to bring people together to build homes, communities and hope here on Long Island,” Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director Lee Silberman said in the statement.

“When families work side by side with our construction staff and volunteers to build their forever home, they are not only creating a better community, but they are building a better life for themselves and the future for their children.”

The billionaire Scott has donated $8.6 billion, around 18 percent of her net worth to various organizations, since her divorce from the Amazon founder—and world's richest man—in 2019. Bezos has gifted $1.5 billion, or about 0.01 percent of his net worth, according to the Robb Report.

The donation to Habitat for Humanity is the single largest donation Scott has made since she embarked on her philanthropic efforts.

On Long Island the high cost of housing means that more than half of all families spend over 30 percent of their income on housing, which is considered being "housing-burdened" by the federal government.

"People vital to making Long Island a great place to live, such as classroom aides, home health care aides, volunteer firefighters and EMTs cannot afford to live in or near the communities they serve. This gift will give us the tools to help them, and in turn, help the community at large,” Silberman explained.