ベゾス氏、米スミソニアン協会に２２０億円寄付　史上最高額

【ワシントンＡＦＰ＝時事】米小売り・ＩＴ大手アマゾン・ドットコム創業者のジェフ・ベゾス氏が、米国立研究機関スミソニアン協会に２億ドル（約２２０億円）を寄付することが１４日、発表された。１８４６年の協会設立以来、最高額の寄付金となる。（写真はジェフ・ベゾス氏）
　民間宇宙開発企業ブルー・オリジンの創業者でもあるベゾス氏の寄付金額のうち、７０００万ドル（約７７億円）はスミソニアン国立航空宇宙博物館の改修費用に充てられる。残る１億３０００万ドル（約１４３億円）は、ベゾス氏の名前を冠した教育施設の設立資金とする。
　国立公園ナショナル・モール内に新設される施設にできる「ベゾス学習センター」は、科学、技術、工学、芸術、数学といった専門分野に対する生徒・学生らの興味をかき立てるプログラムや体験を提供する。
　ベゾス氏は寄付に当たり、「わが国の未来を創造する者たちや夢を追う人々の想像力に火をつけるという重要な役割を、スミソニアンは担っている」と述べている。
　「すべての子どもは大きな可能性を持って生まれる。その可能性を解き放つのは、インスピレーションだ。私にとっては、科学や発明、宇宙に夢中になったことがインスピレーションになった。この（寄付の）贈り物が、他の人たちにとってそうなることを願う」
　ベゾス氏は今月２０日、ブルー・オリジンの宇宙船で、同社初の有人飛行に臨む予定だ。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/07/16-11:35）

Amazon and Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos will donate $200 million to the Smithsonian, the largest gift in the history of the institute, a statement said Wednesday.
A $70 million portion of the donation will support the renovation of the National Air and Space Museum while $130 million will launch a new education center to be named after the world's wealthiest person.
The Bezos Learning Center will be housed in a new facility to be constructed on the National Mall, and will feature programs and activities to inspire students to pursue science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
Since its inception, the Smithsonian has benefited from both federal funding and the generosity of visionary donors, said Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch.
This historic gift will help the Smithsonian achieve its goal of reaching every classroom in America by creating a world-class learning center with access and inspiration at its heart.
The Smithsonian plays a vital role in igniting the imaginations of our future builders and dreamers, added Bezos, who is set to fly to space on Blue Origin's first crewed rocket launch on July 20.
Every child is born with great potential, and it's inspiration that unlocks that potential. My love affair with science, invention and space did that for me, and I hope this gift does that for others.
Bezos, who has an estimated net worth of $212 billion according to Forbes, has a long history of supporting the Smithsonian.
He was a founding donor to the National Museum of African American History and Culture and has previously contributed to the National Air and Space Museum.
He also has strong ties to the nation's capital, with a mansion in the upscale Kalorama neighborhood, as well as owning the Washington Post newspaper.
Established in 1846, the Smithsonian Institute is the world's largest museum, education and research complex.
Named after its founder, the British scientist James Smithson, it is funded through federal appropriations, gifts, its own revenue-generating activities and philanthropy.
In 2000, late real estate tycoon Kenneth Behring donated $80 million to the Smithsonian, then its biggest single gift ever.