MacKenzie Scott, philanthropist, author, and former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has married a Seattle science teacher who expressed gratitude “for the exceptional privilege it will be to partner in giving away assets with the potential to do so much good when shared."

Dan Jewett, who made the announcement in a letter to the website of the nonprofit organization the Giving Pledge on Saturday, said he never imagined he would be in a position to talk about giving away significant wealth during his lifetime in order to make a difference in other people's lives.

Jewett has been a teacher for decades and most recently taught chemistry at the private Lakeside School, where Scott's children attended.

“And now, in a stroke of happy coincidence, I am married to one of the most generous and kind people I know — and joining her in a commitment to pass on an enormous financial wealth to serve others," Jewett wrote.

After donating $1.68 billion to 116 nonprofits, universities, community development groups, and legal organizations last July, Scott asked a team of advisers to help her “accelerate” her 2020 giving with immediate help to those financially gutted by the pandemic.

Scott went on to donate a total of $5.7 billion in 2020 by asking community leaders to help identify 512 organizations for seven- and eight-figure gifts, including food banks, human-service organizations, and racial-justice charities.

She was listed as No. 2 among the 50 Americans who gave the most to charity last year, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s annual rankings.

Bezos topped the list by donating $10 billion to launch the Bezos Earth Fund.

Share:
More In Culture
In Uvalde the Day After: 'How Do You Come Back From That?'
After more than a decade of covering mass shootings, I am struck by the resilience of communities to rebuild after unbelievable tragedy. I am also struck by the numbness. The numbness we must maintain to tell the stories of the victims, explain the crimes of the shooter.
How to Talk to Your Kids About School Shootings
After the latest school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, it wouldn't be a surprise if the traumatic event takes a toll on your mental health — or that of your children. Amy Morin, the editor-in-chief of Verywell Mind and licensed psychotherapist, joined Cheddar News to share coping skills and offer advice about how to talk to your children about these increasingly common tragic events. “I think its important for parents to know what the school’s plan is, what the teacher's plan is, and then we can have our own plans with kids too," she noted. "It's so important for us to talk to kids about how they're feeling — guaranteed they've heard something about it, so ask them what they know already, use age-appropriate language, and rather than just dismissing their fears by saying don't worry about it or I'm sure you'll be safe, talk to them about their feelings."
Robb Elementary School Shooting Is Second-Deadliest in U.S. History
Cheddar News reporter Megan Pratz brings the latest from the scene of yesterday's horrific school shooting at a Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Now the second-deadliest school shooting in U.S. history with 19 children and two adults killed, Pratz goes into comments by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, details about the deceased shooter, and reactions from members of the community.
Why All Apps Look Suddenly The Same
The world of mobile app design is changing quickly, and it’s farewell to color, quirks and exotic fonts. Gather one and all, for a new age of app interfaces has arrived right under our noses, with simplicity being the style of choice. With nearly 3 million apps available on Google Play Store, and 1 in 4 apps getting deleted after just one use, you’d think standing out would be a wise move. Watch and see why blending in can help an app’s chances of survival.
Load More