The Bezos family has donated $100 million to Robin Hood, a major New York-based anti-poverty nonprofit, to establish the Jackie Bezos Endowment for Early Childhood. The endowment will support education and early childhood development programs, an area also prioritized by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.<\/p>\n
The family of Amazon.com\u2019s (NASDAQ:<\/a>AMZN<\/a>) billionaire founder\u00a0Jeff Bezos\u00a0has also committed an additional $25 million, contingent on a match, potentially bringing the total donation to $150 million.<\/p>\n His mom, the late Jackie Bezos, served on Robin Hood Foundation’s Board of Directors for a decade, including as chair of its Early Childhood Committee, where she shaped the organization’s early childhood initiatives.<\/p>\n Robin Hood, a charity favored by Wall Street\u2019s elite, was established by hedge fund billionaire\u00a0Paul Tudor Jones\u00a0in 1988. The organization supports over 300 nonprofits across New York\u2019s five boroughs, has helped over 32,000 New Yorkers secure housing, and raised more than $115 million to assist\u00a0city residents during the COVID-19\u00a0pandemic.<\/p>\n Robin Hood CEO\u00a0Richard R. Buery, Jr.\u00a0highlighted the significance of philanthropic donations in achieving the city\u2019s childcare expansion goals, stating, \u201cThe\u00a0role of philanthropy is to\u00a0try to help the city\u00a0to fund and deploy those\u00a0resources more effectively.\u201d<\/p>\n Read Also: NYC’s New Health Commissioner Says ‘I Have A Plan’ For Medical Debt Woes\u2014 Aims To Prevent It As Mamdani Pushes Affordability<\/a> <\/p>\n Focus On Childcare Programs<\/p>\n Mamdani has advocated for expanded childhood education. Last month, the mayor announced\u00a0that 2-K programming, free early\u00a0care and education starting at\u00a0age 2, would be universally accessible year-round.<\/p>\n Since taking office in January, the mayor has reportedly worked<\/a> with the charitable organization on expanding universal child care efforts, including a citywide parent survey earlier this year to understand families’ child care needs and experiences.<\/p>\n On Tuesday, Mamdani announced an updated FY2027 budget aimed at addressing a $12 billion deficit he described as “historic.” The proposal includes new child care investments, including over $2 million for a program serving government workers and $40 million to increase contract rates for child care providers. Mamdani emphasized that the plan avoids property tax increases and cuts to public services.<\/p>\n Mamdani Skips Met Gala<\/p>\n In the past, Mamdani has often clashed with billionaires. In an NBC interview in June, he stated <\/a>that he does not believe billionaires should exist due to extreme inequality, but added that he would still be willing to work with them to make the city more equitable.<\/p>\n This month, the NYC Mayor and his wife, Rama Duwaji, skipped the Met Gala 2026, where Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren S\u00e1nchez were lead sponsors and honorary co-chairs, marking a departure from previous mayors who typically attended the event. While acknowledging his appreciation for the MET, Mamdani told Hell Gate New York that his focus is on improving affordability in NYC rather than participating in high-profile social events.<\/p>\n The Mayor has also drawn criticism for his stance on the rich. Billionaire investor Ken Griffin criticized NYC<\/a> for becoming less welcoming to businesses and wealthy investors amid proposed tax changes targeting luxury properties. His remarks follow Mamdani’s campaign video filmed outside Griffin’s Manhattan penthouse promoting a proposed tax on high-value second homes, which Griffin called “creepy and weird” and a sign of growing hostility toward successful individuals and firms.<\/p>\n Disclaimer:\u00a0This content was produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.<\/p>\n Image via Shutterstock<\/p>\n Read Also: New York’s Wealthy Push Back Against Mamdani’s Proposed Second-Home Tax<\/a> <\/p>\n Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge’s one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights<\/a> that can set you ahead in today’s competitive market.<\/p>\n Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga:<\/p>\n This article Jeff Bezos Just Pledged Millions To A Cause Zohran Mamdani Has Made Central To His NYC Campaign<\/a> originally appeared on Benzinga.com<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a9 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. 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