FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 16, 2020
Contact: Heather Alexander
509-444-4383Christmas comes early for Goodwill through unexpected, unprecedented philanthropic gift
(Spokane, WA) – Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest received an early Christmas gift this year through a generous donation of $10 million from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. The $10 million gift to Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest is the largest single donation the 81-year-old non-profit organization has ever received.
Goodwill is one of 384 organizations to receive a total of more than $4 billion this year through Scott’s philanthropic commitments. Our agency is one of 47 Goodwill agencies, including Goodwill Industries International, to be supported with a gift from Scott.
“We are honored that Ms. Scott values the work we are doing in our communities,” said President & CEO Clark Brekke. “We are grateful that she has chosen to empower the mission of Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest through her philanthropy.”
Goodwill received notice in mid-November that an anonymous donor was interested in making a large gift to the organization. Thanksgiving week, Brekke learned who the donor was and the amount of the gift. “We were stunned and humbled at the same time,” said Brekke.
Because the $10 million donation from Scott was unsolicited, Goodwill has not determined specifically how to utilize the funds yet. “We are committed to investing the entire gift to help people in our communities experience dignity and independence,” said Brekke. Goodwill plans to put this gift to the highest and best use to empower and grow the mission of Goodwill in eastern Washington and north Idaho for many years.
“We intend to steward Ms. Scott’s generosity for years to come through our work and partnerships in eastern Washington and north Idaho, aligning her passion for others with Goodwill’s mission of helping people build independence,” said Brekke.
“In a year when so many people and organizations are struggling, this gift is a bright ray of hope for all of us in this region,” said Jessie Wuerst, chair of the Board of Directors for Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest. “This gift will provide a solid foundation upon which programs and services can be built and expanded for people who are marginalized so they may receive a helping hand to change their lives.”
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Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest is a 501 ©3 organization, founded in Spokane, WA in 1939. The organization serves thousands of people in eastern Washington and north Idaho every year through programs that provide employment and training, housing support, and financial stability for people who face barriers to independence. Goodwill’s programs are supported primarily through the sale of donated goods in their retail and online stores.