Largest Individual Donation in Organization’s History to Support the Growing Need of Addressing Hunger + Isolation within Maryland’s Aging and Homebound Communities
Baltimore, MD: Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland (MOWCM) whose mission is to “enable people to live independently at home through the provision of nutritious meals, personal contact, and related services” is pleased to announce the award of an $8,000,000 unrestricted gift from philanthropist and author, MacKenzie Scott. Meals on Wheels thanks Ms. Scott for her incredible kindness and generosity. This is the largest individual donation in Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland’s sixty-year history. The organization served its first home delivered meals in Baltimore in 1960.
In what has been a most challenging and difficult year, the incredible news of the gift will be transformative to the organization, allowing MOWCM to not only sustain the level of service to feed thousands of aging and homebound Marylanders necessitated and revealed by the pandemic, but also to continue to expand their impactful mission-focused “More than a meal™” projects in innovative ways. Since mid-March, the organization has delivered more than 2.3 million meals to those unable to cook or prepare meals for themselves.
“We are honored to have been among those chosen for this award. It is a tribute to every volunteer, donor, and employee of Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland, whose dedication to and confidence in our work have made us an organization worthy of selection,” said Executive Director Stephanie Archer-Smith. “It will not change our mission and it will not immediately change the need in our community. Rather, it will deepen our resolve, making it possible to continue to meet a growing need, made worse by the pandemic, the effects of which will be long lasting for so many.”
The selection process in consideration for this gift, took a data-driven approach to determine organizations with strong leadership teams with proven results in serving communities with high needs including food insecurity, high racial inequality, high local poverty rates, and low access to philanthropic capital.
“We thank MacKenzie Scott for her remarkable generosity,” said Board President Alan Peljovich. “Her gift will make a meaningful impact in our community and region by allowing us to serve more of our neighbors than ever before and helping to guarantee the long-term stability of our organization through these unprecedented times. What is most important is that the true beneficiaries are going to be Marylanders who rely on our programs every day to help sustain their health, promote their independence, and improve their overall quality of life.”
Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland is grateful and honored to be selected among 384 organizations throughout the U.S. who drive impact and positive change where it is needed most. Learn more about the selection process and the inspiration behind Scott’s year of giving here.