MERCEDES — The South Texas Independent School District received an $8 million donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott this week, the largest in the school system’s history.
A news release from the district describes the gift as unsolicited
Scott —Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s ex-wife — has also given almost $2 billion away over the past seven months. She’s been a donor in the Rio Grande Valley before, giving millions to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
STISD says its donation was unsolicited and that the funds are not tied to any specific purpose. The district can use them how it sees fit.
Marco Antonio Lara,Jr., Ed.D., superintendent of schools for South Texas ISD, expressed gratitude for the gift received on Nov. 16 and excitement for the future.
“We are humbled by this recognition and grateful to Ms. Scott for her generous donation to STISD,” Superintendent Marco Antonio Lara Jr., wrote in the release. “We have an important mission — to provide middle and high school students within the Rio Grande Valley with the best educational opportunities possible to prepare them for life. Every single member of our educational community has played a part in our success to-date, and we look forward to continuing our work.
“Here, we are always innovating, and these funds will allow us to achieve even higher goals for our kids.”
