When Lehman College President Daniel Lemons received a cryptic email message from a team of advisors to America’s second wealthiest woman, he had no idea what was to follow. A few weeks later, he received a phone call confirming that Lehman College was selected to receive a $30 million donation from MacKenzie Scott. It is the largest single gift in the history of the college which was founded in 1968.

The school made the announcement in a press release on Dec. 16. “It was completely out of the blue,” Lemons told the Norwood News. He adds that incredibly, “There are no strings attached.”

It’s been reported that Scott has given away more than $4 billion in the last four months. Although she is an author and philanthropist, she is perhaps best known as the ex-wife of Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon. When they divorced last year, Scott received a 4 percent stock in the company which was valued then at $37 billion.

For Lemons, though, it’s not only about the money. “She’s taking a really radical approach to philanthropy,” he said. “She’s looking at where the greatest need is at and asking where [her donations] can get things done.”

Scott’s search for where the donations could have the greatest impact has resulted in $4,158,500,000 being distributed to 384 organizations throughout the 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. The money will benefit a variety of organizations from academic institutions like Lehman, to nonprofits like United Way, to food distribution groups like Meals on Wheels.

It will take some time for administrators at Lehman to determine how best to use a donation that represents a five fold increase in the school’s $6 million endowment. Two things that Lemons makes clear, is that some of that money should be used as soon as possible to address the food insecurity that affects many students, instead of being used to solve issues with the college’s general operating budget.

Last month, Norwood News reported on a food distribution event at Lehman College, partnering with the Foodbank of New York and Montefiore Health System to help students meet basic meal needs before the Thanksgiving holiday. Campus-wide research before the pandemic found that almost 50 percent of the students experienced some type of food insecurity. In 2018, the latest published figures available on the school’s website, revealed enrollment in the school at 14,787 including 2,148 graduate students.

Among the undergraduate population, 60 percent of students are from the Bronx, and 53 percent are Hispanic. The school has been designated a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI), and among the City University of New York’s (CUNY) network of schools, is the only majority Hispanic college.

Susan E. Ebersole is vice president of Lehman College Institutional Advancement and will play a role in working out the details and timing of the $30 million gift. In the school’s press release, she expressed both gratitude and excitement for the future of her students.

“So often, Lehman College is referred to as CUNY’s ‘hidden gem’ in the Bronx,” Ebersole said. “It is our hope that this extraordinary leadership gift from Ms. Scott will bring further recognition to Lehman College and its remarkable history of accomplishments, and of the achievements of our students, most of whom live in the Bronx.”