Friends of the Children has announced a $44 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott in support of its mentoring program.

The largest single gift ever received by the organization, which serves 26 locations across the United States, includes $15 million to expand services of the national office to serve more children at new locations. In addition, chapters in Austin, Texas; Boston; central Oregon; Chicago; Detroit; Klamath Basin in the Pacific Northwest; Los Angeles; Portland, Oregon; San Francisco; Seattle; Tacoma, Washington; and Tampa Bay, Florida, will receive direct gifts totaling $29 million.

The organization’s mentoring program pairs youth who have been impacted by systemic inequities, including poverty, foster care, and criminal justice system involvement as well as other traumatic childhood experiences, with paid, professional mentors called “Friends” from as early as age 4 through high school graduation. According to the organization, 83 percent of youth with Friends graduate high school, while in some communities graduation rates are as low as 55 percent for youth without Friends. And 93 percent of youth with Friends avoid the juvenile justice system, compared to 74 percent without a Friend.

“We are honored to kickstart our 30th anniversary of serving children with this extraordinary gift from MacKenzie Scott. This catalytic investment means we will continue expanding across the country to provide a Friend to thousands more youth,” said Friends of the Children—National CEO Terri Sorensen. “In 2020, nearly 32,000 children ages 4 to 6 entered foster care in the U.S.—that’s 32,000 children and families who may have avoided foster care involvement if they’d had a Friend by their side.”

(Photo credit: Friends of the Children)