Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos Make Historic Gift of $2.5 Million To Protect Freedom to Marry Law in Washington State

Contact: 

Andy Grow: 206-713-1792; andy@washingtonunited.org 
Drew Herdener: herdener@amazon.com 

 

SEATTLE—July 27, 2012—Washington United for Marriage (WUM), the statewide coalition working to defend the state’s law protecting civil marriage for same-sex couples, today announced an historic, $2.5 million gift from Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos.  It is believed to be the largest individual gift in the country to secure or protect the freedom to marry.  With the Bezos’ gift, WUM has now raised over $5 million towards its broad, statewide campaign to approve Referendum 74 in November.

“I am thrilled by Jeff and MacKenzie’s staggeringly generous donation,” said Jennifer Cast, who serves as WUM’s volunteer finance co-chair and spent over seven years in various senior positions at Amazon.com. “Their support of our efforts to approve R74 comes at an important time and will have great impact.  I am deeply grateful to both of them as this donation is going to help us make history.”

“The extraordinary contribution from Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos will make an enormous difference for our campaign to defend Washington’s marriage law,” said WUM’s campaign manager, Zach Silk. “While it provides an amazing base for the work ahead, we hope it spurs others to invest because we’re a long way from November and we face opponents with deep pockets who are committed to spending millions to defeat us.”

About Washington United for Marriage
Washington United for Marriage (WUM) is a coalition of organizations, congregations, unions, and businesses working together to defend civil marriage for loving, committed same-sex couples.  WUM believes marriage and family are about love and commitment, working together, bettering the community, raising children, and growing old together. It believes in a Washington that supports strong families and values freedom and equality. And it believes that marriage matters.

Washington United for Marriage is a Political Action Committee (PAC) and a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, formed in October 2011. The coalition is led by a Governance Board of 11 individuals representing 9 organizations.

###