Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Louisiana recently received a $10 million gift from renown philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. This donation to Goodwill SELA is the largest single donation in the 73-year history of the organization.
According to Scott, we are one of 384 organizations receiving gifts totaling $4.1 billion. Scott’s team vetted over 6,000 potential recipients paying special attention to those operating in communities facing high projected food insecurity, high measures of racial inequity, high local poverty rates and low access to philanthropic capital.
“We are incredibly grateful and honored that our organization received this recognition,” said Jodee Daroca, President and CEO. “Receiving this gift after the due diligence of her team is a validation of the work we do in the communities we serve.”
Goodwill is widely recognized for our retail stores, but this gift will help further workforce development programs, the Goodwill Technical College and the number of custodial and grounds keeping contracts we service for local, state and federal customers. The mission of Goodwill is to help people with barriers find meaningful employment, in turn allowing them to become economically self-sufficient. This is done through programs including disability employment services, ex-offender reentry services, veterans housing program, Good Transitions foster care services and STRIVE intensive job readiness program.