Blockchain Registration Transaction Record

MacKenzie Scott's Record $38M Gift Transforms UMES Future

MacKenzie Scott donates record $38M to University of Maryland Eastern Shore, the largest gift in UMES history. Funding will expand scholarships and boost regional economic development.

This donation represents a significant investment in educational equity and regional economic development. Historically Black colleges and universities like UMES have long served as crucial pathways to higher education for underrepresented students while facing substantial funding disparities compared to predominantly white institutions. Scott's unrestricted giving model empowers these institutions to address their most pressing needs directly, whether through scholarship expansion, infrastructure improvements, or program development. For students and communities on Maryland's Eastern Shore, this translates to enhanced educational opportunities, improved campus resources, and strengthened regional economic partnerships. The timing is particularly significant as HBCUs nationwide continue to demonstrate their outsized impact in producing diverse graduates in STEM fields and other high-demand industries, making such investments essential for building a more equitable educational landscape and workforce pipeline.