Arizona couple makes list of top 50 US philanthropists of 2021

PHOENIX — An Arizona couple made the list for the top 50 philanthropists in the U.S. in 2021.

Real estate developers Daryl and Christine Burton came in at No. 23 for top donors nationwide last year, giving $123.9 million, according to The Chronicle of Philanthropy.

The Burtons’ top cause was education and their biggest gift was to nonprofit Arizona Community Foundation, according to the list.

“The real estate developers’ ongoing efforts to provide underserved youths with college and career-readiness training, STEM education, and mentorship and leadership-development programs got a boost last year,” according to the write-up of their ranking.

The philanthropists, through their Burton Family Foundation, have given money to a number of education-related causes in Arizona.

Recent examples include the Beat the Odds Leadership Academy, A for Arizona Expansion and a collaborative partnership with the Phoenix Union High School District and the Arizona Community Foundation’s Black Philanthropy Initiative to fund historically black college and university tours.

Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates were the No. 1 donors for 2021, the fifth time they topped the list since 2000.

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