By Conor Hughes
chughes@postandcourier.com
Callebs said he felt honored and blessed and pointed to the work the YMCA of Greater Spartanburg has done during the pandemic as a contributing factor in receiving the gift. He specifically cited working with local health organizations to provide a safe atmosphere during the pandemic and extending summer day camp, as well as the more than $1 million in scholarships, services and subsidies the organization provides each year. The staff pivoted very quickly to meet the needs of the community during the pandemic, Callebs said.
YMCA of Greater Spartanburg was one of 43 YMCAs on the list of 384 organizations. Scott s post said 6,490 groups were considered.
BY THE EDITORIAL STAFF
Other S.C. organizations receiving a donation were Goodwill Industries of the Upstate/Midlands South Carolina, YMCA of Greater Spartanburg, CommunityWorks of Greenville, and Meals on Wheels Greenville. Some organizations said they could not disclose the amount of the gift.Â
The gifts were part of about $4.2 billion in donations announced by Scott, who said she had accelerated her pace of giving in response to the economic effects of the coronavirus. This pandemic has been a wrecking ball in the lives of Americans already struggling, she wrote in announcing donations to 384 organizations across the country.
Scott s assets have been buoyed by the increase in the stock price of Amazon, which she helped Bezos to create, and her personal wealth recently was estimated at $60 billion. She wrote that she was looking to help organizations that are striving to overcome poverty and to help the disadvantaged.Â