Spy Hop is thrilled to share the news that MacKenzie Scott has made a transformational one-time unrestricted gift of $3 million to the organization. This is the largest gift in Spy Hop’s history and will have a lasting impact on Utah youth for generations to come.
“We are honored by Ms. Scott’s generosity, not just to Spy Hop, but to organizations like ours around the country. Her stunning gift validates the work our staff does to mentor young people to find their voice, tell their stories and create positive change in their lives and the world,” says Executive Director, Kasandra VerBrugghen. “These funds are truly a gift to our community. They will enable us to increase our impact for generations of Spy Hop students. This unrestricted donation comes at a pivotal time for our organization, it gives us the ability to think deeply, dream big, and ultimately create a plan that will guide our organization forward,” she continued.
Scott announced her gift to 286 organizations via a blog post on Medium. “We chose to make relatively large gifts to organizations both to enable their work and as a signal of trust and encouragement, to them and to others,” Ms. Scott wrote. She concluded her post by sharing, “Generosity is generative. Sharing makes more.”
“The work Spy Hop does for the young people in our community is life-changing. As Board Chair, I am witness to the front lines of the tireless work, passion, and commitment that goes into fulfilling Spy Hop’s mission. Our staff and board are deeply committed to our community and our vision for the future is aspirational. A gift of this magnitude for this organization is a game-changer,” commented Nathan Thomas, Spy Hop Board Chair upon hearing the incredible news. He continued: “The recent opening of Kahlert Youth Media Arts Center along with this gift gives Spy Hop the resources it needs to implement a long-range plan to ensure the organization’s longevity and commitment to positive youth development for Utah youth. We are immensely grateful to Ms. Scott for her faith in us.”
For more information, Read Spy Hop’s blog post about this transformational gift.
To learn more about Spy Hop: spyhop.org