Jrue, Lauren Holiday agree to donate his game checks to charity

At times of crisis, some folks really, truly step to the plate and knock it out of the park. Or in this case, come down with a highlight-reel assist.

Jrue Holiday of the New Orleans Pelicans, and formerly a UCLA Bruins star, has agreed to donate his game checks for the remainder of the NBA season. Alongside his wife and fellow former UCLA athlete Lauren Holiday, Jrue is set to earn up to $5.3 million and it’s all going to differing charities.

According to their website, Jrue and Lauren are committed to intentionally moving communities forward by boldly creating change when and where it’s most needed.

The Pelicans also took to the news with an announcement of their own.

Their full statement from their website is below:

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, of which up to $1.5M will be dedicated to non-profit organizations in New Orleans, $1M to non-profits in Indianapolis, and $1.5M to non-profits in L.A. and Compton. Another $1M will be awarded to Black-owned small business owners and $500,000 to the HBCUs of higher education.

Jrue and Lauren chose to focus the majority of their support on the three cities they have personal and heartfelt connections to—Los Angeles, Jrue’s native hometown area and both his and Lauren’s UCLA college town; Indianapolis, Lauren’s hometown; and New Orleans, the city of the Pelicans and the place they now call home.

In hopes of quickly forging a united front and also encouraging other gifts, Jrue and Lauren have already partnered with local organizations and leaders, including Mayor LaToya Cantrell of New Orleans, Mayor Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles, Mayor Aja Brown of Compton, Mayor Joe Hogsett of Indianapolis, The New Orleans Business Alliance, 100 Black Men of Los Angeles, and others dedicated to make donations and awards.

If you or your business qualify, can head to jlhfund.org for eligibility requirements as well as how to apply.

Kudos to you, Jrue and Lauren, for stepping up at a major time of need. We’re proud your Bruins!