Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley Receives $10 Million Dollar Gift from Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott

December 16 – Dayton, OH –

Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley (GESMV) announced today it has received the largest gift in the organization’s history, an unrestricted $10 million dollar gift from author and philanthropist, MacKenzie Scott, to help support the agency’s mission of helping people with disabilities and other disadvantages achieve independence and improve their quality of life. GESMV was one of 384 organizations selected from a review of over 6,400 organizations nationwide by MacKenzie Scott’s team to receive this extraordinary gift.

“We are very grateful for this amazing gift,” said Lance Detrick, President and CEO of Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley, “which will allow us to significantly expand services that help people in poverty and people with disabilities to achieve independence and a better quality of life.”

Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley currently provides more than 40 life-changing programs, including Employment Services and Job Skills Training, Adult Day Support for Adults with developmental disabilities, Behavioral Health Services, plus many other programs that meet numerous human service needs in our community.  In 2019, Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley improved the quality of life for more than 20,545 individuals in its 23-county service area.

In announcing the 384 organizations to benefit from her philanthropy, Ms. Scott indicated that she’d asked a team of advisors to accelerate her 2020 giving to immediately support people suffering the economic effects of the pandemic.  “We do our research and deeper diligence not only to identify organizations with high potential for impact, but also to pave the way for unsolicited and unexpected gifts given with full trust and no strings attached,” said Ms. Scott.  “Because our research is data-driven and rigorous, our giving process can be human and soft.”

Goodwill Eastserseals Miami Valley announced earlier this year that it plans to build a West Campus Community Services Center, which will allow the organization to provide new opportunities and better access to services for citizens living in the West Dayton and Trotwood area.

“This generous gift to our great Goodwill Easterseals organization will help us to more rapidly expand support for people in need in the Miami Valley during this challenging time.” said Gary Hunt, Board Chair of GESMV.

This gift will ensure the long-term stability of many important programs and have a great positive impact throughout our region.  The organization plans to continue to collaborate with its many community partners as it works to expand services.