PAC RECEIVES SIZABLE CONTRIBUTION FROM MACKENZIE SCOTT

Palo Alto College is the recipient of an eight-figure gift from author and philanthropist, MacKensie Scott. This marks the largest one-time donation in the college’s history. This sizable contribution is a game-changer for Palo Alto College – a Hispanic-Serving Institute – which has emerged as a difference-maker in the community, impacting the lives of over 150,000 students in its 35-year history.

“I am deeply humbled by Ms. MacKenzie Scott’s generosity and thank her for entrusting and empowering us to accelerate progress,” said Dr. Robert Garza, president of Palo Alto College. “This gift is a testament to the impact of Palo Alto College in the community and will allow us to enhance support for students in three different areas including scholarship assistance, student and community advocacy, and continued access to higher education.”

The College will allocate the unrestricted funds to three areas of need: 1) scholarships for AlamoPROMISE students – an Alamo Colleges District program, which eliminates financial barriers to higher education, making a college degree a reality; 2) programming provided through the S.H.A.R.E. Center, an on-campus

resource that helps address students’ basic needs, like food and healthcare; and 3) Educate South – a Palo Alto College-led initiative to be announced in early 2021, that will focus on beginning educational awareness at the earliest years by building public and private partnerships that create and sustain a college-going culture.

“I would like to congratulate Dr. Garza and the entire Palo Alto College family for being recognized with this very generous gift. In this season of giving and joy, is provides all of us at Palo Alto College and the Alamo Colleges District a very special reason to be thankful and hopeful for the future, at the end of a year when hope and faith in our future is sorely needed,” Alamo Colleges Chancellor Dr. Mike Flores.