Milwaukee Bucks Point Guard Jrue Holiday and Olympian Lauren Holiday have donated $1 million to Black-led nonprofits and Black-owned businesses. Each donation is directed toward an organization in Milwaukee, New Orleans, Indianapolis and Los Angeles.
"When we first decided to start this fund, it was at an inflection point of two pandemics -- the disproportionate effects that COVID-19 had on the Black community and businesses, and equally as devastating, the murders of George Floyd and many other unarmed Black people -- resulting in an overwhelming feeling of helplessness," the Holidays stated.
"We are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to help people through the JLH Fund and will continue to do this work and make the greatest impact possible."
The Holidays made a renewed commitment to supporting Black-led nonprofits and Black-owned nonprofits last summer. As teams returned for the NBA bubble, Holiday announced that he would be distributing the remainder of his game checks to Black-led organizations.
"We were just kind of sitting in the house, in the bed, thinking about it, and my wife said, 'I think you should do this and you should do the rest of your salary,'" Holiday told ESPN.
"That's a great idea. Because we want to make an impact. God has blessed us with so much. We know a couple of things that are important are time and money, and right now, we have both. To be able to give away our money to help further this movement and Black-owned businesses that have taken a hit in COVID-19, to us, it felt like the perfect time and opportunity."
Photo Credit: Getty Images