In the season of giving, professional basketball player Jrue Holiday of the Milwaukee Bucks has decided to donate the rest of his “2020 NBA salary to small Black-owned businesses, nonprofits, and initiatives,” according to an Instagram post from over the weekend.
“With the COVID-19 Pandemic and heightened racial injustices in 2020, many of us have been looking for answers. Lauren and I found ourselves searching for ways to help our community at a time when they needed it most. Pledging the remainder of our 2020 NBA salary to small black owned businesses, nonprofits and initiatives is how we felt we could make a lasting impact. According to @google, in 2020, worldwide searches for “support small business” doubled compared to the previous year. It’s encouraging to know that in a time when we could all use a helping hand, we are still searching for ways to help one another. Know that you are not alone in your search for answers.”
NBA players have been generous this holiday season.
Toronto Raptors shooting guard Norman Powell just recently donated $100,000 to help the families of students who attend the high school he attended, Lincoln High School in San Diego.
Utah Jazz shooting guard Donovan Mitchell has donated $12 million to his former school in Connecticut, Greenwich Country Day School.
Portland Trail Blazers’ small forward Robert Covington has donated funds toward the construction of a practice facility for Tennessee State University.
In addition the newly formed NBA Foundation has committed a total of $2 million in inaugural grants to drive economic empowerment in Black communities through employment and career advancement.
