Wheels America provides meals and support services to seniors, helping combat hunger and social isolation. The development was confirmed by Wheels America last Thursday which stated that MacKenzie Scott’s contribution comes at a time when one in three local Meals on Wheels America providers have a wait-list, with elderly citizens having to wait an average of four months for meals and services.
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“We are deeply grateful for this extraordinary act of generosity and trust that will help us move closer to a world where every senior who needs Meals on Wheels gets it,” said Ellie Hollander, president and CEO of Meals on Wheels America. “This investment will help accelerate our strategic plan and strengthen the capacity of local providers so more seniors can access the meals and social connection they need to live nourished, independent lives.”
MacKenzie Scott’s $70 million donation is only a small part of her massive $26 billion in charitable giving since 2020. The early Amazon employee and former wife of Jeff Bezos, with a net worth of $41.1 billion, is reshaping the way billionaire philanthropy works.
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How MacKenzie Scott’s $70 million donation will support America’s isolated elders
MacKenzie Scott’s $70 million donation is set to boost support for isolated seniors across the US. With this funding, Meals on Wheels America says it will focus on strengthening its long-term capacity and providing greater resources to local service providers.
The organisation currently backs more than 5,000 community-based programmes tackling senior hunger and isolation. While Scott’s contribution will have a meaningful impact, it may not fully meet the country’s growing needs. Meals on Wheels hopes the donation will also encourage others to step forward and contribute.“We will steward the investment thoughtfully and responsibly to help generate economies of scale and impact that strengthen the capacity of local providers so they can reach more older adults with meals, connection and care,” Kristine Templin, chief development and marketing officer at Meals on Wheels America, tells Fortune in a statement.
“Ultimately, success means more seniors are able to access the support they need to live more nourished, independent, and healthy lives.”
A look at past donations
MacKenzie Scott has quietly given away billions since 2020 with no strings attached. Recently, she donated $7 million to Red Lake Nation College. Prior to that, she gave $42 million to Elizabeth City State University, pushing her total contributions to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) past the $1 billion mark. Since 2020, she has continued to support these institutions, including $20 million each to Xavier University of Louisiana and Morehouse College, $80 million to Howard University, and $38 million to Spelman College.
Not just education, she has also donated $436 million in unrestricted funds to Habitat for Humanity to support housing initiatives. She has also contributed $90 million to the Forests, People, Climate initiative aimed at ending tropical deforestation, and around $84.5 million to Girl Scouts of the USA to promote leadership and programming for girls.
In 2025 alone, Scott donated $7.2 billion and is now ranked among the world’s most generous philanthropists, having given away about 46% of her wealth, according to Forbes. In comparison, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez have donated around $4.7 billion combined over their lifetimes. Overall, Scott’s giving through Yield Giving spans more than 2,700 donations worth $26 billion—reshaping how billionaire philanthropy works.
