Bezos Gift Boosts NYC Preschool Funding

The family of Jeff Bezos has pledged up to $150 million to support preschool education and child-care programs in New York City through the anti-poverty nonprofit Robin Hood.

The organization announced Monday that it is launching a $1 billion endowment campaign designed to strengthen its long-term efforts to combat poverty across the city. The initiative is anchored by a $100 million donation from the Bezos family to establish the Jackie Bezos Endowment for Early Childhood, named in honor of Jeff Bezos’s late mother, Jackie Bezos.

In addition to the initial contribution, the family committed another $25 million contingent on matching donations, bringing the potential total gift to $150 million.

Mark Bezos said the endowment reflects his mother’s lifelong dedication to helping children succeed.

“My mother saw the innate potential in every child and never stopped working to ensure that potential was met,” he said. “This gift honors her legacy and makes permanent the work she helped build at Robin Hood.”

Robin Hood CEO Richard Buery Jr. said the funding will help address urgent challenges facing New York City’s child-care system, with a focus on delivering immediate support and long-term stability.

Speaking to The New York Times, Buery emphasized the broad agreement around the importance of early childhood education and affordable childcare.

“In a world where it’s so hard to break through the noise, where even people who should be able to agree on facts can’t agree on facts, I think this is a place where we have a set of facts all aligning and pointing in one direction,” he said.

A spokesperson for Zohran Mamdani welcomed the initiative, saying expanding childcare access will require cooperation between government agencies, providers, labor groups, philanthropists, and working families throughout the city.

The donation was announced during Robin Hood’s annual gala at the Javits Center, a high-profile fundraising event attended by business leaders, celebrities, and public officials. Guests included Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and New York Governor Kathy Hochul. The gala reportedly raised $73 million for Robin Hood’s anti-poverty programs.

Kenneth Tropin, chair of Robin Hood’s board, said the endowment campaign is intended to ensure the organization can continue supporting vulnerable New Yorkers for decades to come.

He noted that Robin Hood has played a major role in responding to major crises, including the September 11 attacks, Hurricane Sandy, and the COVID-19 pandemic, while also maintaining long-term programs focused on reducing poverty and expanding opportunity across New York City.