MacKenzie attends the 2018 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 4, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California.

Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has made a monumental donation to another historically Black college or university (HBCU), which the school is touting as a "defining moment."

In a social media post on Monday, Oct. 27, Alabama State University President Dr. Quinton T. Ross Jr. confirmed that Scott, the former wife of billionaire businessman Jeff Bezos, gifted the school $38 million.

"I am filled with immense gratitude and proud to announce that Alabama State University has received the largest single donation in its 158-year history," Ross said in the statement.

The public four-year institution known for its black and gold colors is based in Montgomery. It has notable alumni from the likes of civil rights activist Ralph Abernathy, comedian Rickey Smiley and former NFL player Reggie Barlow. Grammy-winning rapper 2 Chainz also attended for a time on an athletic scholarship.

It's been an exciting week for the university as they are coming off a 56-13 win against their in-state rival, Alabama A&M University, in the spirited football game and tailgating event known as the Magic City Classic. It was held in Birmingham, Alabama, on Oct. 25.

"Ms. Scott's generosity affirms Alabama State University's reputation as a catalyst for excellence and innovation in higher education. This is truly a pivotal moment in ASU's history," Ross continued.

Scott recently donated to a Maryland-based HBCU

Scott's donation is the latest in her philanthropic efforts to Black institutions and programs. This month, she donated $63 million to Morgan State University in Baltimore and $38 million to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne.

Another one of Scott's recent donations includes $40 million to the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, part of the Washington-based National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The Action Fund said in a press release on Oct. 15 that Scott's $40 million donation comes after another $20 million investment made just four years ago.

The Action Fund's efforts include the preservation of historically Black sites such as churches and hotels, as well as raising money for HBCUs.

Who is MacKenzie Scott?

Scott was married to Bezos for over 25 years, and the pair announced they were divorcing in early 2019. When the couple reached a divorce settlement, Scott received a 4% stake in Amazon, worth more than $38 billion, according to Bloomberg. After the split, Scott pledged to give the majority of her wealth to charity.

Scott, who has an estimated net worth of $33.9 billion, also made Forbes’ 2025 list of the 400 richest people in the United States, ranking No. 28.

In 2020 alone, she donated millions to several other HBCUs, including Hampton University, Howard University, Morehouse College, Spelman College, Tuskegee University, and Xavier University of Louisiana.

Contributing: Saleen Martin, Coral Murphy Marcos, USA TODAY

Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Pivotal moment': MacKenzie Scott makes $38M donation to Alabama HBCU

Reporting by Taylor Ardrey, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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