Christmas comes early for Goodwill

COEUR d'ALENE — Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest received an early Christmas gift this year through a donation of $10 million from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.

The $10 million gift to Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest is the largest single donation the 81-year-old nonprofit organization has ever received, according to a Wednesday press release.

Goodwill is one of 384 organizations to receive a total of more than $4 billion this year through Scott’s philanthropic commitments. The agency is one of 47 Goodwill agencies, including Goodwill Industries International, to be supported with a gift from Scott.

The Goodwill store in Coeur d'Alene is at Fourth and Harrison.

“We are honored that Ms. Scott values the work we are doing in our communities,” said President & CEO Clark Brekke. “We are grateful that she has chosen to empower the mission of Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest through her philanthropy.”

Goodwill received notice in mid-November that an anonymous donor was interested in making a large gift to the organization. Thanksgiving week, Brekke learned who the donor was and the amount of the gift.

“We were stunned and humbled at the same time,” said Brekke.

Because the $10 million donation from Scott was unsolicited, Goodwill has not determined specifically how to utilize the funds yet.

Brekke said Goodwill plans to put this gift "to the highest and best use to empower and grow the mission of Goodwill" in Eastern Washington and North Idaho.