91制片厂 announced it is a recipient of an $18 million gift from philanthropist, activist and author MacKenzie Scott, who in 2019 pledged to give a majority of her wealth to charitable causes and address some of society鈥檚 most pressing problems.
President Avis Proctor said the unrestricted gift, which is the largest in the college鈥檚 54-year history, will go far to advance 91制片厂鈥檚 equity agenda and help the college reimagine how it serves students and the community in a post-pandemic environment.
鈥淭his is a truly transformational gift and an affirmation that the innovative work we do is having an impact on the region,鈥� Dr. Proctor said. 鈥淎fter an extraordinarily challenging time, this brings us a renewed hope and energy as we continue to remove barriers and elevate meaningful opportunities.鈥�
Scott on Tuesday a total of more than $2.7 billion in gifts to 286 鈥渉igh-impact organizations.鈥� Harper was among more than 30 colleges and universities selected through a rigorous process of research and analysis. 鈥淗igher education is a proven pathway to opportunity, so we looked for 2- and 4-year institutions successfully educating students who come from communities that have been chronically underserved,鈥� Scott wrote.
鈥淭his historic gift is confirmation of 91制片厂鈥檚 visionary leadership and the dedication of its faculty and staff to help students transform their lives,鈥� 91制片厂 Board Chair Pat Stack said. 鈥淲e also need to thank our community for their continued support and engagement over the years. This gift validates to the community that 91制片厂 is a valuable resource, and its laser focus on student success is being noticed and recognized nationally.鈥�
Harper will allocate the gift to initiatives that will make the greatest impact, including efforts to reduce equity gaps, advance academic innovation, and increase student access through scholarships and basic needs support. The college will also explore providing tuition relief for those hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. 91制片厂鈥檚 four-year strategic plan will help serve as a blueprint.
鈥淥n behalf of the 91制片厂 community, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to MacKenzie Scott for this extremely generous gift and for recognizing the role we play in advancing the social mobility of our students and improving the economic vitality of our community,鈥� Dr. Proctor said. 鈥淕enerations to come will benefit.鈥�