{"id":51114,"date":"2026-01-13T11:16:30","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T10:16:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ket.brussels\/?p=51114"},"modified":"2026-01-13T11:16:32","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T10:16:32","slug":"american-billionaire-mackenzie-scott-gives-record-45-million-to-the-trevor-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ket.brussels\/fr\/2026\/01\/13\/american-billionaire-mackenzie-scott-gives-record-45-million-to-the-trevor-project\/","title":{"rendered":"American billionaire MacKenzie Scott gives record $45 million to The Trevor Project"},"content":{"rendered":"

American philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, ex\u2011wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has donated 45 million dollars to The Trevor Project, the leading U.S. crisis\u2011support and suicide\u2011prevention organization for LGBTQ youth. This is the largest single gift in The Trevor Project\u2019s 27\u2011year history, according to CEO Jaymes Black. The donation lands at a critical moment, as queer and trans young people face mounting mental\u2011health pressures and shrinking public funding.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who is The Trevor Project and why it matters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Trevor Project runs 24\/7 phone, chat and text lines for LGBTQ youth in crisis, as well as research, training and advocacy to make schools, families and communities safer. The organization is widely known for its work on suicide prevention among lesbian, gay, bi, trans and questioning young people in the United States. Its services are often a lifeline for teens and young adults who feel isolated, rejected or under attack by hostile laws and rhetoric.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the Trump administration, The Trevor Project lost key federal grants dedicated to suicide prevention and support for LGBTQ youth, with the organization estimating a loss of around 25 million dollars in public funding. Scott\u2019s donation helps to fill part of that gap, but Trevor\u2019s leadership stresses this does not end the crisis \u2013 it only strengthens the tools they have to respond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mental health crisis among LGBTQ youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In an internal longitudinal study conducted between September 2023 and March 2025, following more than 1,600 LGBTQ young people in the U.S., The Trevor Project found rising rates of anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. These results echo other research showing that LGBTQ youth are at least four times more likely to attempt suicide than their non\u2011LGBTQ peers. Behind the statistics are familiar risk factors: family rejection, school bullying, social isolation, anti\u2011LGBTQ legislation and online hate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trevor\u2019s leadership has warned that this situation represents \u201cone of the greatest public\u2011health crises of our time\u201d for queer and trans youth. The new funds will help expand crisis services, invest in technology, and reach more young people who may not yet know the organization exists \u2013 especially in conservative or rural areas where local support is thin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MacKenzie Scott\u2019s giving and what this means<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since 2019, MacKenzie Scott has donated an estimated 26 billion dollars to thousands of non\u2011profits through her philanthropic vehicle Yield Giving, with a strong focus on racial justice, gender equity, education and community\u2011based organizations. Her approach is notable for being fast, relatively low\u2011bureaucracy and often unrestricted, allowing groups like The Trevor Project to decide how best to use the money rather than tying it to narrow projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For queer communities, this record gift sends a strong signal that LGBTQ youth work is not just \u201cniche\u201d charity but central to public health and human rights. It may also encourage other high\u2011net\u2011worth donors and foundations to follow suit, especially at a time when state and federal support is being cut or politicized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why this matters to LGBTQ readers (and how to help)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For LGBTQ people and allies, this story is a reminder of two things: first, that queer and trans youth are not \u201ctoo sensitive\u201d \u2013 they are navigating a real, documented mental\u2011health crisis; second, that large\u2011scale solidarity and material support can shift what\u2019s possible. Scott\u2019s donation does not solve everything, but it buys time, staff and infrastructure for a service that literally keeps kids alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re reading this as a young LGBTQ person in distress, you deserve support, and reaching out is not a burden \u2013 it\u2019s your right. If you\u2019re an adult ally, you can help by learning the warning signs of suicidal ideation, supporting affirming policies, and amplifying the existence of services like Trevor so that young people know where to turn before they hit breaking point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n