Missouri’s sole abortion clinic gets millions from philanthropist’s Amazon fortune
MacKenzie Scott donated $9 million from her fortune to Planned Parenthood in the St. Louis region and southwest Missouri.
Scott’s divorce from former Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos left her with billions in Amazon stock. Forbes magazine estimates her net worth at $48.8 billion.
Missouri’s and southwest Illinois’ Planned Parenthood network was one of 465 nonprofits that received part of a total $3.8 billion in donations. In a statement about her donations, Scott said she focused on investing in organizations that help women and girls.
“Only a tiny fraction of global humanitarian assistance today is given directly to local and national organizations, and to organizations focused on the disproportionate challenges experienced by women and girls,” Scott wrote.
Scott’s donation comes as Missouri plans to strictly limit access to abortion and as a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court on the future of Roe v. Wade looms.
Yamelsie Rodríguez, president and CEO of the region’s Planned Parenthood affiliate, said the reproductive health care provider is “caught between two realities — a red and blue state.”
“Our patients face some of the most complicated landscapes when accessing the care they need,” Rodríguez said in a prepared statement. “This gift empowers our boots-on-the-ground teams. We commit to rebuilding a future where abortion, birth control, (sexually transmitted infections), testing and treatments, and all reproductive health care is accessible and affordable, no matter what.”
“Ms. Scott’s gift will have a ripple effect across countless communities in our region, including the seven-states from which patients regularly travel,” Rodríguez said.
Planned Parenthood has sued Missouri, alleging the state is illegally withholding Medicaid payments to the organization. Public dollars are already prohibited from paying for abortions, but Planned Parenthood also provides other services, some of which are covered by Medicaid. Missouri Republicans have long sought to stop any public funds from going toward Planned Parenthood.
Missouri lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow individuals to sue people who who help women obtain abortions out-of-state. It goes further than a law in Texas that allows people to sue those who receive an abortion in-state. The Supreme Court is expected to deliver its abortion decision by July.
Planned Parenthood estimates 14,000 out-of-state patients will rely on southern Illinois for abortion care if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. The organization also provides health care to Medicaid patients, including cancer screenings.
The St. Louis area Planned Parenthood was one of 21 affiliates nationwide that received a donation from Scott. The Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Louis is the only remaining place in Missouri where patients can seek abortion care.
The San Francisco native was married to Bezos for 25 years before their divorce in 2019. She has since pledged to donate most of her wealth.
The Star’s Jonathan Shorman contributed to this story.
This story was originally published March 23, 2022 at 2:14 PM.
