Golden Harvest Food Bank is proud to announce that it is the recipient of a financial gift from author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. Her gift recognizes Golden Harvest’s 38-year history of addressing food insecurity in Georgia and South Carolina, including its essential work to feed local families in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. Scott’s $9 million donation marks the largest gift from a single donor in the Food Bank’s history.  

“I am deeply humbled by and grateful for MacKenzie Scott’s extraordinary investment into our mission,” said Amy Breitmann, Golden Harvest’s Executive Director. “Her gift shines a light on the decades of service faithfully carried out by this community on the front lines of hunger. From our community partners and volunteers to the individuals, corporations, and foundations that entrust us with their support -- we should all feel proud to receive this national and international recognition.”

Scott’s donation comes at a critical time for Golden Harvest, which provides more than 14 million meals to almost 366,000 families annually but has seen a 22 percent increase in food insecurity across its 25-county service area since the pandemic began. In response to the coronavirus, the Food Bank has reimagined its food distributions, created new community partnerships, and worked to expand its reach into underserved areas. These changes require increased investment in capacity building, food procurement, and pathways to healthier nutrition by Golden Harvest and its 175 Community Partner agencies. 

“This gift will accelerate plans for program expansion and fund aspirational projects that will transform Golden Harvest’s ability to address food insecurity in our region during this crucial time,” Breitmann said. “Our board of directors and leadership team are building a plan for funneling this gift directly into our community. We’ll be investing in programs and partners across the twenty-five counties we serve to empower, nourish, and uplift local families and communities for years to come.”

Scott announced the generous donation on her personal blog on Dec. 15. This is her second set of donations to deserving nonprofits since she signed the Giving Pledge in 2019. Golden Harvest is one of 384 organizations included in this round of giving that have worked to resolve public health, social and economic issues during the pandemic. The Food Bank was chosen for this gift from a pool of 6,490 charities nationwide. 

“This pandemic has been a wrecking ball in the lives of Americans already struggling,” said Ms. Scott in a statement about this set of donations. “Economic losses and health outcomes alike have been worse for women, for people of color, and for people living in poverty.”