Voorhees University just received a monumental donation thanks to a generous philanthropic move by MacKenzie Scott. The billionaire author and philanthropist has committed $19 million to the historically Black university in Denmark, South Carolina.
University President Dr. Ronnie Hopkins confirmed the news, calling the gift “a resounding affirmation of the extraordinary work being done at Voorhees University.”
According to university officials, the funds will be used to expand scholarships, grow the university’s endowment, and address facility maintenance that has been long overdue. These investments aim to ensure the school’s long-term growth and stability.
This isn’t Scott’s first time backing Voorhees. She gave $4 million to the school in 2020. Since then, the university has seen positive trends in enrollment and new academic programs in business, health care, and STEM.
Voorhees joins a list of HBCUs Scott has generously supported. She has donated $80 million to Howard University, $63 million to Morgan State, and $38 million to Spelman College. Her hallmark is unrestricted giving, which lets institutions decide how best to use the funds.
Since her 2019 divorce from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Scott has given over $19 billion to more than 2,000 groups, many focused on marginalized and underserved communities.
