Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott Makes Second Landmark Gift to Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has made a $27 million gift to Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU) in South Los Angeles, one of the nation’s four historically Black medical schools and a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities.
This marks the second gift Scott has made to the University, having donated $20 million in 2022, the largest private donation in the University’s history at the time.
“This gift marks a tremendous boost to our momentum and accelerates our trajectory toward becoming a larger, stronger institution,” said Dr. David Carlisle, President and CEO of CDU. “Ms. Scott’s generosity affirms our mission, reflects her trust in our work, and inspires us to keep advancing as we embark on our 60th anniversary.”
Since 2020, MacKenzie Scott’s philanthropic efforts have included donations to public and private institutions, with an emphasis on historically Black colleges and universities.
“Support like this extends far beyond the CDU campus and beyond this moment,” added John Baackes, Chair of CDU’s Board of Trustees. “It exemplifies Ms. Scott’s leadership in advancing the equitable distribution of wealth and inspiring a new generation of philanthropists.”
Located in the Watts-Willowbrook neighborhood of South Los Angeles, CDU was founded in 1966 by local activists and organizers in the wake of the Watts Uprising. CDU is a designated minority-serving institution (MSI) and recognized as a Historically Black Graduate Institution (HGBI). The University’s Medical Education program is one of four Historically Black Medical Colleges in the nation.
The University provides undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs to over one-thousand enrolled students looking to start or accelerate careers in healthcare. Outstanding education, clinical service, and community engagement are at the core of the CDU experience and graduates often return to underserved communities to work as healthcare providers.
Last year, CDU also received its largest ever appropriation when Bloomberg Philanthropies gifted $75 million as part of a $600 million gift to help bolster the endowments of the nation’s four Historically Black Medical Schools.
Learn more about Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science at cdrewu.edu.