The year 2020 has affected thousands of lives and local businesses across the nation in unfathomable ways, due to the uprisings of the global pandemic and the epidemic of racial and social injustices.
In July, New Orleans Pelicans player, Jrue Holiday, and his wife Lauren boldly pledged the remainder of Jrue’s 2020 NBA salary as a progressive step toward combating systemic racism as well as social and economic inequality that continues to prevent Black communities from upward mobility.
Jrue and Lauren Holiday will support local Black-led non-profit organizations, city-wide initiatives that seek to bring about equitable outcomes for Black and Brown communities, and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) of higher education in New Orleans, the Los Angeles area, and Indianapolis.
Additionally, across over 10 U.S. cities, a portion of the funds will go to local Black-owned small businesses that have been devastated by the impact of COVID-19 but are now known to have received less than 2% of the Paycheck Protection Program loans provided.
The total commitment of the fund amounts up to $5M over a 3-year commitment and will be dedicated to non-profit organizations in New Orleans, Indianapolis, L.A. and Compton, among other cities. Additionally, grants will be awarded to Black-owned small business owners and Historically Black Institutions of Education.
Visit https://www.jlhfund.org/ for more information.