Amazon chief Jeff Bezos announced Wednesday he and his wife MacKenzie have committed $2 billion to launching a fund to help homeless families and create preschools in lower-income neighborhoods.
The investment will be split equally between financing existing organizations that combat homelessness and its new preschool initiative. The most important principle will “be genuine, intense customer obsession,” Bezos tweeted, where “the child will be the customer.” The “Day One Fund” takes its name from a favorite Bezos expression, with the 54-year-old exec always aiming to have a hungry, “day one” startup attitude.
“The Day 1 Families fund will issue annual leadership awards to organizations and civic groups doing compassionate, needle-moving work to provide shelter and hunger support to address the immediate needs of young families,” Bezos said in his statement. “The vision statement comes from the inspiring Mary’s Place in Seattle: no child sleep behind.”
The announcement is the latest charitable donation from Bezos, after the Amazon co-founder has seen his net worth balloon to a staggering $150 billion in 2018. Last week he donated $10 million to a non-partisan group working to elect military veterans in the upcoming 2018 U.S. midterm election. Bezos also pledged $33 million for undocumented immigrants to attend college earlier this year.
The “Day One Fund” also launches amid mounting criticism of Amazon and Bezos. The e-commerce giant has battled with its hometown of Seattle over taxes, and has been lambasted by Sen. Bernie Sanders for paying its facility workers substandard wages — a claim Amazon has pushed back against.
10 Most Shocking Russian Troll Posts on Facebook and Instagram, From Hillary Clinton to Police Brutality (Photos)
The U.S. House Intelligence Committee on Thursday released more than 3,500 advertisements and posts spread by Russian trolls before and after the 2016 U.S. election. Below is a look at 10 of the most shocking examples that stood out from Congress's reveal.
House Intelligence Committee
Many posts pushed the narrative that Hillary Clinton would confiscate guns if she were elected President.
House Intelligence Committee
This graphic meme painted cops as KKK members attacking a young black child.
House Intelligence Committee
Only "sissies" and other undesirables wouldn't support Donald Trump, many of the memes said.
House Intelligence Committee
President Obama was a "pawn" and "traitor" in the hands of "Arabian Sheikhs," said one 2016 ad.
House Intelligence Committee
The "Black Matters US" page touched on hot button issues like police shootings.
House Intelligence Committee
The "Army of Jesus" page shared a bible verse, along with this meme.
House Intelligence Committee
Russian trolls also used Instagram to spread sponsored political memes.
House Intelligence Committee
The "Blacktivist" page routinely shared memes on Colin Kaepernick and other football players kneeling during the national anthem.
House Intelligence Committee
"Heart of Texas" routinely posted on "Killary Rotten Clinton," and threatened to secede from the union if she won the election.
House Intelligence Committee
The "Being Patriotic" page labeled ex-cons as "Obama voters."
House Intelligence Committee
1 of 11
Congress just released 3,500 posts touching on a myriad of topics
The U.S. House Intelligence Committee on Thursday released more than 3,500 advertisements and posts spread by Russian trolls before and after the 2016 U.S. election. Below is a look at 10 of the most shocking examples that stood out from Congress's reveal.