Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos at a gala dinner benefitting disaster relief. Photo: Greg Doherty / Getty Images
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has donated $33 million to TheDream.US, the nation’s largest scholarship program for Dreamers.
Why it matters: The donation is the single biggest in the history of the organization, and will fund 1,000 college scholarships for immigrants with DACA status.
Bezos, whose net worth reached $105 billion Monday, released the following statement:
“My dad came to the U.S. when he was 16 as part of Operation Pedro Pan. He landed in this country alone and unable to speak English. With a lot of grit and determination – and the help of some remarkable organizations in Delaware – my dad became an outstanding citizen, and he continues to give back to the country that he feels blessed him in so many ways. MacKenzie and I are honored to be able to help today’s Dreamers by funding these scholarships.”— Jeff Bezos, Amazon CEO