Jrue Holiday donating NBA salary to launch social justice fund
New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday is planning to put the remainder of his 2019-20 salary, worth up to $5.3 million, toward a social justice fund. And he’s not the only NBA player pledging to make a difference.
Alongside his wife, Lauren, Holiday will launch the Jrue and Lauren Holiday Social Justice Impact Fund, per ESPN’s Andrew Lopez, with funds going to charities across the country. The 30-year-old Pelicans guard detailed the origins of the idea to Rachel Nichols on “The Jump.”
“I’ve been so blessed to make this money and play basketball … but there’s people out there that need support.”
Jrue Holiday will donate the rest of his salary for this season, worth up to $5.3 million, to launch a social justice fund, he told @Rachel__Nichols on The Jump. pic.twitter.com/7LRRmHGmFT
— ESPN (@espn) July 15, 2020
“My wife just one night was like, ‘I really feel like you should pledge the rest of your salary.’ So, once she said that it was kind of like, ‘Damn, well, I mean you’re a genius,’” Holiday said. “I’ve been so blessed to make this money and to play basketball and still have a job but there’s people out there that need support.”
Incredible gesture by @Jrue_Holiday11 and @laurenholiday12 ??? pic.twitter.com/3hm9dsIPns
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) July 15, 2020
The fund will primarily help communities in New Orleans, Indianapolis and the Los Angeles area, cities where the Holiday family has ties. Holiday has played for the Pelicans for the past seven seasons, while his brothers, Justin and Aaron, play for the Indiana Pacers.
The Pelicans guard met his future wife, Lauren, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup winner, while they were both student-athletes at UCLA. Plus, Jrue’s family is from Los Angeles, while Lauren was born in Indianapolis.
Jrue Holiday is not only one of the most underrated players on the court but he’s just as VALUABLE off the court!!! Respect my brother @Jrue_Holiday11 ????????
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) July 15, 2020
The Holidays’ announcement comes as other NBA players have pledged to donate their salaries from the NBA restart to various charitable causes focused on combating racism and raising awareness for social justice.
Dwight Howard’s salary, a reported $700,000, will go toward the Breathe Again campaign, part of the Los Angeles Lakers center’s D12 foundation. Meanwhile, San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills will donate upward of $1 million to Black Lives Matter charities.
Jrue Holiday is the latest athlete to announce he is donating the remainder of his NBA salary to social justice causes, joining Patty Mills and Dwight Howard ?? pic.twitter.com/c9Ra3AixYN
— The Association on FOX (@TheAssociation) July 15, 2020
The call for action following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police has been heeded by a number of athletes across many sports. The Holidays, Howard and Mills are the most recent in a long line of those feeling compelled to act, and they likely won’t be the last.
