Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott makes historic gift to area nonprofits in North Texas

Area nonprofit groups that provide children with much-needed support so they can remain in school will receive millions from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott as part of a larger $133.5 million donation across the country. Communities in Schools of North Texas will receive a $3.3 million donation, the largest private gift in the organization’s 28-year history. CIS of the Dallas Region will also receive $3.3 million and the nonprofit based in Tarrant County will receive a $4 million donation. The donation comes at a time when students face tremendous challenges — from mental health strains to learning loss — sparked by two years of pandemic disruptions. “It is not a stretch to say that this gift will save lives,” Adam Powell, the Dallas-area CIS president and CEO, said in a statement.

The Dallas-area nonprofit works with students at 148 elementary, middle and high school campuses. The North Texas chapter of CIS supports students in Denton, Wise and Cooke counties, partnering with 53 campuses. The groups offer daytime and after-school programming along with mental health counseling as well as college and career readiness activities. The donation to the Dallas-area CIS affiliate will help expand the nonprofit’s work to new campuses and add additional employees at high-need campuses. It will also support an expanded clinical team to help students with immediate mental health needs. Ann Pape Wilson, the CEO of Communities in Schools of North Texas called Scott’s gift transformative. “We hold fast to the promise that education is the key to transformed lives,” Pape Wilson said in a statement. “This gift ensures the stability of our work and the fulfillment of our mission and our promise to students across North Texas.” CIS North Texas will use the investment to sustain existing programs and grow after school programming and mental health services.