Room to Grow Receives $3 Million from MacKenzie Scott's Yield Giving

We’re excited to announce Room to Grow has received a $3 million gift from Yield Giving, the granting organization founded by philanthropist and activist MacKenzie Scott. These funds will further our work in creating a more equitable world by supporting thousands of families raising babies in low-income circumstances.

Nearly half of the babies born in the U.S. are born into poverty and achievement gaps between low- and high-income infants are measurable before two months of age, resulting in long-term implications, such as lagging behind in school, higher dropout rates, and billions in lost earning power. Room to Grow addresses resource and support gaps low-income parents experience by offering material, emotional, and social support so that children can thrive from the start. Our in-depth program provides families with one-on-one counseling and coaching, essential baby and toddler items, and connections with community partners to help families address issues ranging from housing to healthcare to employment.

“We are incredibly honored that Room to Grow has been chosen by Yield Giving to receive these funds, which allows us to lay the groundwork to expand our program, enroll more families, and open in new cities,” said Akilah King, CEO of Room to Grow. “As a champion of social change, MacKenzie Scott continues to revolutionize charitable giving and we are committed to using this gift to continue our work to increase our impact and create a more equitable world.”

Room to Grow currently supports more than 1,300 families in Boston and New York. Our wrap-around approach yields strong outcomes with 90% of Room to Grow children meeting physical, cognitive, and communication milestones on par with their higher income peers. With a commitment to its unique program model and a focus on building deep bonds with families, this recognition from Yield Giving comes as we prepare to celebrate our 25th anniversary and makes inroads to expand to additional cities.

Watch Room to Grow’s CEO Akilah King and Founding Board Member Uma Thurman share the news with MSNBC’s Katy Tur!