FARGO (KFGO) – The YWCA of Cass-Clay in Fargo has announced that it will receive $2.5 million from the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund.
YWCA CEO Erin Prochnow called the gift inspiring and truly uplifting.
“We’re just absolutely honored and thrilled to have the largest gift in history of YWCA come from Jeff Bezos and his Day 1 Families Fund,” Prochnow said. “It’s actually a leadership award that he provides to homeless providers across the country.”
The fund was created in 2018 by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
Prochnow said the one-time gift was part of $123 million given to 40 organizations around the country.
The YWCA will use the money to make improvements to its emergency shelter in south Fargo for battered women and children. Prochnow said $400,000 of the amount will be spent next year on rest room and security upgrades.
The gift will also help the organization in its work to support families from rising costs of rent, limited services, and incomes that don’t cover their needs.
Last week, Bezos’s ex-wife announced a $10 million grant to the Dakota Medical Foundation.
Over the past five years, the Day 1 Families Fund has provided 170 grants totaling more than $520 million to organizations around the country.
