(RNS) — Novelist and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has awarded Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service $15 million in donation funds, the one largest contribution within the advocacy group’s 83-year historical past.
Scott introduced donations to LIRS and greater than 340 different organizations in a Medium publish on Monday (Nov. 14), totaling almost $2 billion in total donations dolled out over the previous 7 months.
In keeping with a press launch from LIRS, Scott’s $15 million donation comes because the group works to resettle Afghan refugees, folks fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and asylum-seekers alongside the U.S.-Mexico border.
“This unprecedented and well timed present will make a monumental distinction within the lives of probably the most susceptible refugees and asylum seekers as they try to attain their very own American Dream,” mentioned Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, president and CEO of LIRS, within the press launch.
LIRS is one in all 9 teams that associate with the federal authorities to assist resettle refugees — six of which, like LIRS, are faith-based. The Lutheran group, like many others, not solely assists the refugees, but additionally advocates publicly for his or her trigger.
“We’re extraordinarily grateful to MacKenzie Scott for this recognition of our decades-long legacy of service. Her assist represents a transformational alternative to increase modern programming and reimagine how the U.S. welcomes new Individuals,” mentioned Vignarajah.
It’s the second time Scott has listed religion teams — together with different immigration rights teams and liberal-leaning spiritual advocacy organizations — among the many recipients of her grants. In 2021, she additionally awarded funds to Religion in Motion, Religion in Public Life, HIAS, Restore the World, Internal-Metropolis Muslim Motion Community, Muslim Advocates, Pillars Fund, Homeboy Industries and Repairers of the Breach.
Scott’s ex-husband, tech mogul Jeff Bezos, additionally revealed on Monday his intention to donate the vast majority of his huge wealth to charity — though it’s unclear what organizations the Amazon founder will prioritize.
