BGCNL Announces MacKenzie Scott Donation, Raises Awareness of Ongoing Need for Support

Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has identified Boys & Girls Clubs of North Louisiana as a local fund recipient as part of her contribution to 62 Boys & Girls Clubs locations across the country. The selection of this local chapter highlights the needs of the youth and families of North Louisiana and raises awareness of the importance of ongoing support from donors.

“It’s an honor to be among the recipients of MacKenzie Scott’s generous donation to local Boys & Girls Clubs,” said Eldontá Osborne, chief executive officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of North Louisiana. “We’re proud to carry out our motto, ‘great futures start here.’

This gift, along with the continued support of our local donors, will help ensure great futures for the children, families and communities we serve.”

Scott announced the list of recipients in a recent blog post, titled “Helping Any of Us Can Help Us All”.

“Communities with a habit of removing obstacles for different subsets of people tend to get better for everyone,” Scott wrote. “Each non-profit (listed) was selected through a rigorous process, and has a strong track record of serving under-supported needs. If you are looking for a way to serve humanity’s common cause, every one of them is a great candidate.”

Boys & Girls Clubs of North Louisiana was selected by Ms. Scott and her team of advisors in part due to their overall organizational performance, experienced leadership and the direct impact their programs have on the youth it serves throughout the communities of Dubach, Grambling, Jonesboro, Ruston and West Monroe. Fund allocations will be finalized in the coming weeks and will support the organization’s ongoing mission to provide youth in North Louisiana a safe, supervised environment where they can develop into positive productive members of society.

“We are proud to do whatever it takes to help close the opportunity gap for our young people,” said Dr. John Shepard, Boys & Girls Clubs of North Louisiana corporate board president. “Ms. Scott’s gift, along with the consistent backing of our individual and corporate donors, will ensure our kids and families have access to experiences and opportunities that change their lives and our communities for the better.”

There are currently more than 4,700 Boys & Girls Club organizations in the country, making this gift even more humbling as one of just 62 chosen to receive support from Ms. Scott.

“We are grateful to MacKenzie Scott for her support of Boys & Girls Clubs of North Louisiana,” said Drake Mills, chairman, president and CEO of Origin Bancorp and president of the North Central regional board of directors for Boys & Girls Clubs of North Louisiana. “This donation is a testament to the incredible leadership of our local organization and is a celebration of outstanding stewardship on behalf of our donors.

With their ongoing support, we will leverage this gift to ensure the most efficient and effective impact on our local youth.”