Heavenly Mansions<\/b><\/h4>\n
Mackenzie Scott, novelist and former wife to Jeff Bezos, both of Amazon fame, is increasing her reputation for generosity with a significant donation to the California Community Foundation. This week she donated two mansions in Beverly Hills estimated at worth around $55 million. The foundation announced that 90% of the proceeds will go toward providing grants for affordable housing. The remaining 10% is slated to be used for programs for integration of immigrants.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n At the end of 2020, Scott\u2019s net worth was estimated at around $62 billion. In the past couple of years, she has donated billions of dollars to a variety of causes concerned with racial equality, LGBTQ+ equality, democracy, and climate change. Her gifts also include millions to Historic Black Colleges and Universities, tribal colleges and universities, and Hispanic-serving institutions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Hundreds of charities have benefited from her generosity. In May 2019, Scott signed the Giving Pledge<\/a>, a charitable-giving campaign in which she undertook to give away most of her wealth to charity over her lifetime or in her will.\u00a0 <\/span>Despite its name, the pledge is not legally binding.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Critics say Amazon and many large companies create wealth by underpaying their workforces around the world. Ms. Scott\u2019s positive use of that wealth certainly goes a long way to making more friends than enemies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost<\/b><\/p>\n Amos 8:4-7<\/a><\/p>\n 1 Timothy 2:1-7<\/a><\/p>\n Luke 16:1-13<\/a><\/p>\n (Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser<\/a>. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year C at Lectionary Readings<\/a>.)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2022\/09\/iStock-1255274133.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nDiscussion Questions<\/b><\/h4>\n
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